The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-13
OREGON TO SAIL SOUTH
TO STATION AT VALPARAISO FOR
PROBABLE EMERGENCY.
WEEK HAS BEEN ONE OF EXPEDITION
Summary Of the Preparation that Has Been
Effected Administration Absolutely
Denies Any knowledge, Up to Date.
of Cause of Explosion,
of Cause of Explosion.

of Cause of Explosion.
Washington. d. c., March 12-While
to-day was not marked by particularly
important events, the history of the
week just closed will form a splendid
record of what can be accomplished by
the nation i'm a short space of time under
the spur of necessity TO provide for the
national defense. Beginning with the ap-
propriation of $50,000,000 to be expend-
ed by the President without Limitation,
there followed rapidly the placing of or
ders for enormous quantities of war sup
plies, the instructions of negotiations for
the purchase of ships abroad, the enlist
ment of men for the Navy, the creation
of two additional regiments of artillery,
the commissioning of monitors, cruisers
an. rams, the manning of new posts
along the seacOasts and finally the re-
arrangement of the great military de-
partments to meet modern conditions in
military practice.
The sending of the Oregon, now at
Mare Island, away from San Francisco,
is an exhibition of the far-sightednesS
with which the Secretary of the Navy
is observing the situation of to-day. The
vessels orders are to cruise down the
Pacific coast, touching in from time TO
time at various ports where cable con-
nections exist, to receive any orders that
the department may have TO give. In
this way it lis expected that she viii
work as far South as Valparaiso, Chile,
where she will await orders. Valparaiso
is very much nearer to Cuba and To Adj
niral Sicard's feet than Mare Island,
while, III it should be desired to send the
ship TO the Atlantic station, this can
be done almost as conveniently from
Valparaiso as from San Francisco. At
Valparaiso. therefore, the Oregon will
be where she can be most usefully ma
nipulated in case Of an emergency.
The President held a long conference
at the White House about noon to-day
with Secretaries Alger. Long and Gage.
1t Is presumed that their subject of dis
cussion was the finances of the situation.
a subject which could not be fully treat
cd at the Cabinet meeting yesterday ow-
ing To the short session. After the con-
ference the statement was again made.
with the emphasis that has character
lzed every utterance on the subject by
ine RESIDENTS constitutional advisers.
mat up 10 date the administration has
absolutely no knowledge of the cause
OF the disaster to the Maine. and that
u mas no report of ana kind from the
court OF Inquiry or anyone connected
with IT,
Inc Board Of Naval Bllreau find il
impossible to pass judgment in Washing
ION upon the fitness for Naval service
7I vessels that may be offered for the
auxiliary branch Of the Navy at the va
rlous seaporfs. SO they have been aided
IN their work by the creation of n sneciol
board which will undertake to visit each
OF the ports where ships may be offera,l
ana make careful personal insnoction
81 me various craft. Passed Assistant
Ehsiheer DIXON. Assistant Naval Con
stfncior IaWresy and Lieutenant S.r-
geant. ga
IN" Nashville arrived at Kew West
t%iiy' Whlle the Marblehead arrived
at iampa. Inc Naval officials will moi
s.dte the purpose of the Marblehead's
visit to Tampa.
The war talk has had the usuoI rosr,,
Of bringing before the War and Navy
departments perfect flood of supma:
tions and Inventions
The War Department on Monday will
of shot and shell for heavy caliber guns
ever given, including armOr-piercing pro
JectIles and deck piercing and torpedo
smells The number and charac-
ter Of these are as follows
$50 twclve-inch deck piercing shells
weighing 1000 pounds each: 1,241
tweiye-inch deck piercing shells
weighing 800 pounds each; 4S1 tcn-incll
arnor piercing shells: 4S2 ten-inch armOr
arnnr piercing shells 100 eight-incll
armor piercing shot capped.
These projectilcs are for the heavy
I0rtihcati0n guns now mounted along the
sea coast The purchase is not to be
made under the fifty million defense ap-
preparation bill, but is in anticipation OF
tho fortification bill, which grants S94O.-
tnO for reserve supply of prOjectles
and DOwtler. AS the making Of the
heavy projectiles will take considerable
time the contract will be let ahead of
the passage Of the bill. assurances hay-
ing been given from men in Congress that
no question would be raised as to the
regularity Of this proceeding. The entire
amount is designed 10 give all the heavy
guns now Installed, and those 10 be put
i'm place during The coming year full
quota OF projectilcs, and powder. The
twelve inch shot are among the largest
made The cost Of q single round OF
fl1is class of prOjectiles is S511. Aside
from the large orders to he placed Mon.
day. the emergency bill will permit addi
tional orders to meet the requirements