The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-03
Orders Also Issued for the Purchase
of Steamships to he Used as Col
Tiers for the Fleets.
PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENSE
ACTIVELY UNDER WAY ALL ALONG
THE ATLANTIC SEACOAsT.
Contracts Let for Large Quantities of
Provisions for the Army and
Navy-MOvements of Ships.

WASHINGTON, April 2.--Constant move
ments of the officials, numberless confer
ences and a large congressional contingent
that was on hand made to-day a busy one
at the Navy Department. Secretary Long
and Assistant Secretary Roosevelt were
kept busy with the chiefs of bureaus and
the sena tors and representatives. There
were, however, no new or sensational de-
velopments in the situation Secretary Long
said there had been no orders as yet issued
to the flying squadron" now at Hampton
Roads. The department is taking active
steps to secure number Of the smaller
class of ships The purchase of three,
namely, small cruiser constructed in Eng
land; the Creole belonging to line run
ming out of New York. and the yacht Jose
phine has been contaminated, while orders
have been telegra phed to agents of the gov
eminent to purchase the following: The
yacht Sovereign, belonging to a New
Yorker. and the Lebanon, the Saturn and
the Irrawady. The latter three are GOLFERS
and will be used if necessary to accompany
the fleets and carry extra supplies of coal.
The Saturn, it is understood, has been
practically secured by the department and
will be delivered to its agents in New York
early next week. The Creole will be used
as a hospital ship There will be urgent
need of vessels of the collier class if the
government fails to secure any foreign coal
ing stations. The officials were busy to-
day in telegraphing to the departments
representatives at the points where the
owners of these Golfers are to ascertain
the vessels carrying capacity and other de-
tails necessary for intelligent action on the
subject. The action of the Senate yester-
in rafn 10 he
from Denmark of the island of st. Thomas
as a coaling station was a source of much
regret to the officials of the department,
though the naval authorities have not yet
abandoned hope of securing a coaling sta,
ton. Captain Bradford, the chief of the
Bureau of Equipment in the Navy Depart
ment, was again in conference with Sec
rotary Roosevelt to-day when this ques-
ton was under consideration.
Notification of the purchase of the small
cruiser came tonight in the following press
dispatch from London: Lieutenant Com
mander Colwell the United States naval at
tache here, this afternoon purchased from
the Thames iron works for his government
cruiser of 1900 tons displacement and
capable of speed of sixteen knots. The
vessel carries six 4.7-inch guns and ten
smaller ones. She is fitted with twin screws
and has protected deck. AT 5 o'clock this
afternoon Lieutenant Commander Colwell
hoisted the star and stripes on the cruiser
and had then obtained a crew.. The vessel
will so to sea within three days. Lieuten-
ant Commander Colwell says the price paid
was very reasonable"
1t was reported at the Navy Department
to-day that a determination had been
reached for the inauguration by the govern
ment, in conjunction with the state naval
militia organizations. of number of signal
stations along the coast by which the
rival of foreign vessels may be promptly
reported. The naval organization of some
Of the States have heretofore worked along
this line. and this will be of material as
sistance to the government in the work
about to be undertaken. The matter, how
ever. said one official to-day, is in rather a
chaotic condition, the plans have not
yet been perfected. Captain Miller, of the
New York naval reserves, was at the Navy
Department to-day and number of
the officials concerning matters In which he
is interested.
The ten-inch disappearing guns at Fort
Washington, the principal defense of the
capital. were given a test in practice fir
ing before a distinguished party this after
noon the party included Secretary Alger,
General Flagler. chief of ordnance, Senator
Hanna. Representative Dingley, of Maine,
chairman of the ways and means commit
tee and Chairman Hull, of the military af-
fairs committee There were three shots
fired with gratifying success, demonstrat-