Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-22
WAR PREPARATIONS.
CONTINUE WITHOUT INTERRUPTION
ON A GIGANTIC SCALE.
NO MORE WARSHIPS BOUGHT.
THE TWO ALREADY PURCHASED
HAVE BEEN RENAMED.
One Ii to He Called the New Orleans
and the Other the Aibnny-Navy
Needs Heavy Guns and
Hopes to Recover
the Maine's.
NO MORE WARsHIPs BOUGHT

Washington, March 2.-The army and
navy preparations are continuing without
interruption, although they have now be-
come so regular as to lapse into routine on
a gigantic scale. No further purchases of
warships were concluded to-day, and the
negotiations are not assuming promising
aspect, exceptIin showing that the United
States can command the market as against
Spain.
The ordnance Office of the war depart
ment presented very busy scene to-day
when bids were opened for furnishing the
department about 1600 cast iron projecties
for seacoast cannot, with which to man the
Notifications. The advertisement called for
1S7 ten-inch solid shot. $40 twelve-inch NOR
tar shells weighing 500 pounds each. and 500
twelve-inch mortar shells weighing 1000
pounds each. There was an unusually large
number of firms who bid for the contract
and the prices at which they proposed to
furnish the projectiles showed wide
range.
So far as figures are concerned, the Pc
tersburg, Va. iron works were the lowest
bidders, although other conditions may ex-
ist which may prevent them from getting
the contract. The company offered to sup
ply the ten-inch shot at $1.G6 each. one-halt
to be delivered in forty days and the re-
mainder in seventy days. The twelve-inch
shells of 800 and 900 pounds each, the COM
al ,ssSs pue ss.Iss le usIuIuJ o. pIq GuBd
spectively, Offering to supply fifty Of each
kind in forty days and the remainder at
quick intervals.
The 10-inch shot the Rome, N. Y, ma
chine works offered to supply at Sl4.2o
each, to begin the delivery in one week.
and they agreed to turn over the entire
amount in four weeks.
The battleship Texas started northward
from Key West to-day, thus settling the
question as to the formation of a second
squadron at or near Hampton Roads. 1t
is expected the Massachusetts will follow
in a few days. but the final orders for that
move have rot been made. The navy de-
partment received preliminary report to-
day from one of its agents who is at Ha-
vana watching the progress of the wreck
ing 1t is understood that this refers MAIN
ly to the technical work of salvage, and
not to the question of cause.
The navy has particular need OF nrst-
class guns at this time, and would regard
the recovery of the main battery OF the
Maine battery as consummation devoutly
to be wished Although there is not much
prospect of raising the Maine with its re-
ported broken backbone. there is good rea-
son to believe, from the reports of the
divers, that many, II not all. OF the guns
may be recovered eventually from the
wreck and put in places where they may
be able to render good service.
Secretary Long issued an order to-day
that the AmaZonas, the cruiser recently
purchased at Newcastle-on-Tyne from the
Brazilian government, hereafter shall bear
the name of New Orleans, in honor of the
principal city of Louisiana. TeleSraphic
instructions were sent to the naval officer
nf hn W
Immediate steps to carry them into effect.
New Orleans was chosen as the name OF
the warship acquired from the sister re-
public of South America for the reason
that Louisiana is one of the very few
states of the Union not represented in the
navy at this time. There was quite con-
test among several other cities to have the
new warship named in their honor. Albany,
n. Y. Providence, R. l., and Buffalo. n.
Y. advancing their claims quite strenu-
ously.
Secretary Long has also rechristened the
cruiser Abreull, recently purchased from
| the Brazilian government and hereafter
| she will be known as the Albany. in honor
| of the capital of the Empire state.
Captain William P. Duvall, of the Fifth
artillery, has reported at the war depart
| ment under orders for temporary duty in
| the offices Of the secreatry of war and the
major general commanding the army. Mr..
DuvalI is instructor in practical military
exercises at the artillery school. Fort Mon
roe, and is regarded as an expert in all
matters pertaining to the artillery branch
Of service. He has been promoted to his
present grade as a result of the recent in
crease of artillery regiments. Although not
officially admitted at the department. it is
generally understood that he was summon
ed to Washington to confer with the mill
tary authorities on questions involving the
employment of the artillery in active work
alcng the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
] The enlistment branch Of the navy to-day