Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-13
A SPLENDID RECORD.
What This Nation Can DO for De-
fence When Aroused.

WASHINGTON, March 12-While to-
day was not marked by particularly i'm
yortant events, the history of the week
just closed will form splendid record
OF what can be accomplished by the
nation in a short space Of time under the
spur Of necessity to provide for the ma
t.0nal defence.
Beginning with the appropriation of
100000, 10 be expended by the President
without Limitation, there followed rapidly
the placing of orders for enormous guam
titles Of war supplies, the institution OF
negotiations for the purchase OF ships
abroad. the enlistment of men for the
navy. the creation of two additional regi-
ments Of artillery, the commissioning Of
monitors. cruisers, and rams; the man
ming Of new posts along the sea-coasts,
and. finally. the Encouragement of the
great military departments 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 Cd
serving the situation Of to-day. The yes
Sers orders are TO cruise down the racine
coast, touching in from time 10 ume at
various ports where cable connections
exist, 20 receive any orders that the de-
partment may have 10 give. In this way,
il IS said. she will work as far south as
Valparaiso, Chile, where she VIII await
orders VALPARAISO is very much nearer
10 Cuba and TO Admiral Sicards fleet
than Mare Island while If IL should be
desired 20 send the ship 10 the Aslatlc
Station this could be done almost as con-
yaniently from Valparaiso as from san
Francisco. AT Valparaiso, therefore the
oregon will be, and there she can be
most usefully manipulated in case OF an
emergency.
IMPORTANT CONFERENCE.
The President held a long conference
al the White House about noon to-uay
with Secretaries Alger, Long, ana cage
IL Is presumed that the subject OF MS
cusslOn was the finances OF the sltuauoh'
a subject which could not be fully treat
cd az the Cabinet meeting owing TO the
short session. After the conference was
over the statement was again made WIN
the emphasis that has characterizeu
every utterance on the subject py the
Presidents executive advisers, that up
TO date absolutely no knowledge OF tne
cause Of the destruction OF the Maine,
and no communication Of any kind, had
been received from the court OF inquiry.
The Bureau Of Navigation chiefs ma
u impossible 20 pass judgment IN WASH
iugtOn upon the fitness for naval service
Of vessels that may be offered Tor inc
auxiliary branch Of the navy at the va
rous seapOrts; so they have been aideu
IN their work by the creation OF spe-
cial board, which will undertake 10 VISIT
ports where ships may be offered ana
make a careful personal Inspection OF
the various craft. The board VIII con-
sist Of Captain Rodgers, Lieutenant
Commander Kelly. Passed-Assistah'-hh
gineer Dixon, Assistant Naval-Construc-
tor Tawresy. and Lieutenant Sargent.
The Nashville arrived at Key west TO-
day while the Marblehead arrived at
Tampa. The naval officials will not state
The purpose OF the Marblehead's visit 10
Tsnpa.
The war talk has had the usual result
Of bringing before the War and Navy de-
partments perfect fiood OF suggestions
and inventions.
SHOT AND SHELL
The War Department on Monday WIZ
spsn bids for one OF the largest orders OF