Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-13
THE MONTGOMERY IN HAVANA HARBoR.

closed will form splendid record of
what can be accomplished by the nation
in a short space of time under the pres
sure of necessity 10 provide for the ma
tionaI defense.
Beginning with the appropriation of
$50, 100000 to be expended by the presi-
dent without limitation, there followed
rapidly the placing of orders for enor-
NOUS quantities of war supplies, the in
stitution of negotiations for the purchase
of ships abroad, the enlistment of men
for the navy, the creation of two addi-
tional regiments Of artillery. the COM
missioning of monitors, cruisers and
rams, the manning of new posts along
the sea coast, and finally The rearrange-
ment Of the great military departments
to meet modern conditions i'll military
practice.
The sending of TIE Oregon. now at
Mare Island, away from San Francisco,
is an exhibition of farsightedness with
which the secretary of the navy is OBJ
serving the situation of today. The yes
sells orders are to cruise down the Pacif-
ic coast, touching from time to time at
exist to receive any orders that the de-
partment may have to give. In this
way it is expected that she will work as
far south as Valparaiso, Chill, where
she will await orders. Valparaiso is
very much nearer to Cuba and to Ad-
miral Sicard's fleet than Mare Island,
while If it should be desired to send the
ship to the Asiatic station, this can be
done almost as conveniently from Val
iTla frfrp1 Saf ENfs1f1 A al
paraiso, therefore, the Oregon win be
where she can be most usefully manip-
ulated in case of an emergency.
The president held long conference
at the White House about noon today
with Secretaries Alger, Long and Gage.
1t is presumed that the subject of dis
cusson was the finances of the situa-
ton, subject which could not be fully
treated at the cabinet meeting yesterday
owing to the short session. After the
conference the statement was again
made, with the emphasis that has char
acterized every dtterance on the sub
iect by the presidents constitutional adj
visers. that up to date the administra-
ton has absolutely no knowledge of the
cause of the disaster to the Maine, and
that it has no report of any kind from
the court of inquiry, or of any one con-
nected with 1t.
The board of naval bureau chiefs
finds 1t impossible to pass judgment in
Washington upon the fitness for naval
service of vessels that may be offered
for the auxiliary branch of the navy at
the various seaports, so it has been aid
ed in its work by the creation of
special board which will undertake to
visit each of the ports where ships may
be offered, and make a careful inspec-
ton of the various craft. The board
will consist of Captain Rodgers, Lieut.
Commander Kelley. Passed Assistant
Engineer Dixon. Assistant Naval Con-
structor Tawresy and Lieut. Sargent
Lieut.. eKlley, having been specially
charged with the inspection of merchant
vessels suitable for naval service, will
be of great service as member of the
board
The Nashville arrived al Key West to-
day, while the Marblehead arrived at
Tampa The naval officials will not
state the purpose of the Marblehead's
visit to Tampa.
The war talk has had the usual re-
suit of bringing before the war and
navy departments a perfect food of
suggestions and inventions. Many Of