The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-16
They Arc All Kept Busy Making
Preparations for War.
TORPEDO BOAT DESIGNS OFFERED.
Thornycraft People Make the Gov
ernmcnt a Proposition.
NOT AFRAID or ANY BLUFFS.


Washington, March 1b.--Ihe meeting oil
the cabinet at an earlier hour than usual
today had the effect to suspend most oil
the active operations In the war ana navy
departments during the forenoon. II was
not long however, after the Geeting be-
gan till some officers OF the navy depart
ment were called upon by telephone ana
sent messages to supply ininrmn tion Q"
technical points showing that the cabinet
was more or less concerned In The situa-
tion
The agent in this country of the INoFny
craft Torpedo Boat company of England
Mr.. Plat, has submitted to Secretary
Long proposition for the sale to tNe
government Of designs aud complete work
ing drawings for the magnificent torpedo
boat dcstroyers built by his firm. Pre-
dieting that the department would find II
absolutely Impossible TO buy any Of these
craft IN Europe at this iuncture. Mr.. Platt
has urged the propiety OF having the gov
ernnent hero start Immediately u number
OF our shipbuhding firms TO work in the
construction OF these boats. The partleu-
lar pattern Is that OF the torpedo boat de-
gtroyer Fame, built for this British gov
ernnient This craft the type oil those
SO strongly desired by the navy depart |
mcut Just now, is OF more chan thirty !
knots speed and 400 tons burden. large !
enough to be thoroughly seaworthy aud
carrying sufficient coal at economical speed (
to run 1900 knots. THIS advantage Is not
possessed by any Of our boat and It's ma
portance Is fully illustrated by the DIM
cultles confrenting the efforts of the SpAu-
iards to got their torpedo boat notilia
across tho Atlantic TO Cuba Based upon
the attachments OF ship builders who have
been approached on the subject the de-
p2rtment has satisfied Itself that n number
OF these boats can he built in from six TO
eight months. We have now under con-
struction in the United States four boats
rated at thirty knots, but. with the eX-
eoption of ono built ut the Union Iron
Works, which is 60 per cent advanced to-
wards completion Very littlo progress has
been nalo Ia their construction One VI I
the boats is building at Horland G fIol-
lingsworths. enc at the Gas Engine and |
Power company and one at WolA |
zwiekers, Portland, Oregon
Not much concern Is expressed by otn
GERS OF the administration over the re-
ported intention Of European governments
ut the instigatlon of Austria 10 intervene |
between the United States and Spain IN the
settlement Of the questions pending be-
tween them. So far 1t can he stated that |
this has taken no official shape, at lenst |
no indication OF such 4 design has reached |
the State department What the attitude |
or our government would he Ii representa-. |
tionsll In that line We're addressed to II by |
European powers Is a question that ofH-
caals VIII not aaswor In anticipation. The
suggestion that the Spanish government
has protested against the sale by Brazil OF
the two cruisers TO tho United States like
wise falls TO cause any feeling OF concern
ka ,Nrat x.fG hi M .ul.tl
DC no question Of tho right Of the United
States to increase Its navy at any time
Senator Proctor called at tho state de-
parumcnt about noon today and spent come
time In conversation with Assistant Seq
retary Day. He appeared TO he deeply cou-
cerned about tho sad death OF Mrs. Thurs
BON. The president md secretary on state
have united In sending to Senator Thurs
ton, through Consul General Lee, condo
fences upon the cad event.
Lioutefhant Very, the representative of
the Howell Tornedo company, haa submit
ted TO the war department a proposition 10
supplement the defensoR OF the larger coast
ports, such as Now York and Boston. by
eamppmig number of light draft and
steam launches with torpedo outfits. Ho
urges that by the full use of this means of
defelise the haihors may DO kept open for
commerce UP to the last moment which
would not be the case II reliance were
placed on the ordinary fixed mines ana
torpedoes, These torpedoes have range
OF about two miles and start off at
ypeeh OF anout thirty knots. II tho boats
lrly sheltered, as proposed by Lieutenant
Very. y Is believed they will be valuable
kdjuncts to the steamers defense rn..
government, however, haa heretofore re.
gnrden auto mobile torpedoes as proper in
suuihents Tor naval use and is scarcely
uisposed 70 chance It's policy at this time.
sooa deal OF reimbursement was ere
ated at the naval department today nv
report that majority of the members ~
the naval committee We're disposed 10 sub
ktitute six battleships for two provided IN,
N the pending naval appropriation hnl
This number Is supposed to represent abont
the normal working capacity OF the throo
biipbniiding concerns in this country thai
are able at present to undertake the eon.
Btruction Of battleshlps.
THO fortifications bureau began its work
today OIL tho war department. Tho nro,
ceedings are guarded seriously against pub
lication. - -
The gnnboat Annapolis he's startc,, home
from the West indies. leaving Curacao
vesterday directly for Key West. She has
a number OF apprentices aboard. being
training shin and II Is not yet determined
whether she will be attached to the squad
rom
Tho torpedo beat Winslow arrived a,
Key West yesterday
J. The steel tug Sampson arrived at Bea,l
Tort Yesterday morning and proceeded i'm.
on her way to Key West In the
pftevnoon.
The torpedo bnat Footc also sailed from
Tor Jacksonville Yesterday.
The tug Leyden arrived at League IL. II
and today. She Will pick up a coal lighter
lpd tow = 20 KEY WEST for use In coallne