The herald., 1898-03-25

pendent of each other for the present at
least.
Secretary Long said today that he had
no knowledge of the purchase of torpedo
boat in Germany. 1t was reported that
this purchase had been closed yesterday,
but the fact is not known to the navy de-
partment.
GUNBoATS' MOVEMENTS
The navy department is informed of the
departure of the cruisers Cincinnati and
the gunboats Castine and Wilmington from
Point Antonio Jamaica, last evening, but
officials decline to state where they are
bound. 1t is regarded as probable when
heard from they will be at Key West or
some port in the United States. They are
not particularly strong ships and in their
present position they might fall a prey to
the more powerful Spanish fleet in Sudan
waters in the event of conflict. The Gin
cinnati and Castine were attached to the
South Atlantic squadron and their with
drawal for service on the home station
leaves the navy with a single representa-
tive in South American waters, just as is
the case with the European station. The
arrival of the six vessels named will add
greatly to the strength of the home squad
ron. The report of the Maine court Of in
quiry will be read at tomorrow's cabinet
meeting. This fact was officially an
nounced today.
CALLED ON ALGER
Senator Proctor of Vermont was one of
the callers at the war department and
spent considerable time with Secretary AL
ger. Gen. Wilson, chief of engineers, was
called in. 1t was said their conference re-
10, ,11 to ttar bar hor ba,,
on the general Cuban situation.
The secretary's time later was taken up
in conference with Gen. Wilson. chief of
engineers, Gen. Flagler, chief of ordnance,
and Gen. Greeley, chief signal officer.
CHARTS FOR ARTILLERISTS
An incident of the general plan of prep
aration for any emergency that may arise
is found in an order issued today by Adj.
Gen. Corbin. with the approval of the com
mandng general of the army. This order
directs commanders at all artillery posts
to have compiled the best charts possible
for the use of their respective commands
by detail of officers and men, from such
data as may be on hand or readily obtain
able. Suitable base lines are TO be laid off,
carefully measured and accurately marked
on the harbor chart. AT ports where eight
inch converted rifles and ten and fifteen
inch smooth bore guns are already mount
ed and bearing upon channels, especially
upon the proposed location of mine fields,
post commanders are TO place them in as
perfect condition as possible and where
suitable ammunition is not on hand requi-
sitions are to be made at once upon the
ordnance department.
THE EMERGENCY FUND
The officer of the ordnance bureau of the
war department already has determined
upon the manner in which the additional
81, 900 which has just been allotted TO
that branch of the service out of the $50,-
900, 900 emergency fund shall be expended.
Aside from a few unimportant items, ali
the money will be used in the purchase of
rapid-fire guns and ammunition and car
riages for the same The department is
making an extraordinary effort to secure
all the rapid-fire guns it possibly can fo-
the fortfications on the coast and the add:-
tional allotment made available will assist
materially in that direction. The maYim
rapid-fire guns, about twenty or more in
number, which have been purchased
abroad, will be shipped to the United
States at the earliest practicable moment.