The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-23
NO FANCY PRICES TO BE PAID
RAPACIOUS ENGLISH BROKERS SAID
TO BE DISAPPOINTED.
Cruiser New Orleans Taking on q
Heavy Cargo of War Munitions
Provisions of the Naval Bill.

WASHINGTON, March %. - With the
Cabinet officers at the White House and
with Mr.. Roosevelt at the Capitol before
the Senate naval committee there was a
lull in the usual activity about the Navy
Department to-day. Mr.. Long had a busy
hour, however, before he left for the Cab
met meeting. Judge Day came over from
the State Department and held an extended
conversation with the naval secretary.
President Orcutt, of the Newport News
Shipbuilding Company, also talked with Mr..
Long on the plans for the launching of the
new battle ships Kearsage and Kentucky at
Newport News next Thursday Owing to
the condition of affairs here Mr.. Long is
not likely to attend the launching. as
Thursday is the day on which the report
of the court of inquiry may be received.
For the same reason many of the naval
chiefs who had hoped to see these fine ships
glide into the water will be unable to at
tend the launching. distinguished party
is to leave here tomorrow night, however,
including members of the Senate and House
naval committees and such naval officers
as are not pressed by the present emergen-
cy conditions. Mr. Orcutt stated that the
Kearsarge would leave the yards at 10 a. III.
Thursday morning. and the Kentucky one
hour later. Mrs. Herbert Winslow, wife Of
Lieutenant Commander Wnslow, and Miss
Christine Bradley daughter of Governor
Bradley, two ladies who will christen the
Kearsarge and Kentucky, respectively, will
reach Newport News tomorrow. Governor
Bradley and party of 800 Kentuckians will
arrive at the same time to do fitting honor
to the ship which bears the name of their
-. .-l.s. -.
given to inspecting the shipyard. including
the work on the big battle ship Illinois. and
later a collation. will be served. Mr.. Orcutt
speaks in the highest terms of the two new
battle ships, and says that on pinch they
could be ready for service within eight
months and possibly less.
The negotiations for the purchase Of ships
abroad is going steadily forward. but there
was a regrettable disappointment in this
connection. The authorities had been ex-
ceedingly anxious to get the big torpedo
cruiser Tupy, built for Brazil She is one
of the most formidable torpedo craft afioat.
her size placing her in the cruiser class,
while her torpedo armament gives her the
effectiveness of a torpedo boat and cruiser
combined. 1t was learned positively to-day
however, that the Brazilian government
would not part with the Tupy, and this
closes the effort for one of the best ships
under negotiation.
SMALL BOAT SECURED.
In small measure this was offset by the
success of the Navy Department in securing
a trim little Carrow-built launchs which,
though very small, will serve as harbor
torpedo boat. She is only seventeen tons
displacement, sixty feet long, 9.3 beam, 3S
draft Her speed is 1s knots or better The
IIokoI lrfc nr4A-
pound quick firing guns and one torpedo
tube She is of the same class of boats as
the Moxoto, built for the Brazilian navy.
The price paid for her was less than $4,000,
with her armament complete delivered at
New York Being so small. she will be ship
ned over on one of the Atlantic liners
Owing to her size she has not yet taken on
the dignity of name, but one will be as
signed to her later.
AS stated, outside of the Cabinet meeting
the day was exceptionally quiet at the
Navy Department Secretary Long was
able to clear his desk at 3:SG O'Clock for the
first time since the Maine disaster occurred,
and he left the department before ofiice
hours closed to enjoy a walk During the
afternoon the Bureau of Navigation posted
the notice that the battle ship Massachu-
setts had sailed from Key West for Hamp~
ton Roads following the Texas. which left
yesterday. About the same time Comno-
dore Schley who has been suggested as the
probable commander of the flying squad
ron." centered at Hampton Roads, called
at the department and had a conference
with Assistant Secretary Roosevelt The
cruiser Brooklyn is at Newport News, and
the monitor Puritan Is under orders to pro-
ceed there, so that these vessels will be
near the Hampton Roads rendezvous IL 1t
is determined TO establish the squadron
there. Orders for this move have not yet
been made however, nor has Commodore
Schley received any information from of
ficials that he would be placed in command
of the squadron.
The Navy Department continues to keep
informed as to the Spanish torpedo fotilla.
now stopping at the Canaries. Word of its
departure has not yet reached the depart
inert 1t can be stated positively that the
report that President Mckinley has pro-
tested against the coming of this fiotilla is
unwarranted. There has been no such pros
test sd
AL the Navy Department nothing is
known of the reported ordering home of the
Maine officers aow at Havana. 1t is said
that these orders. if given. would come from
Admiral Sicard and not from the Navy
Department The several Maine survivors
who arrived here last Saturday came in
response to orders from Admiral Sicard. and
it was for this reason that their arrival was
a surprise to the naval officers here. IT Is
not expected that Captain Sigsbee, Lieuten-
ant Commander Wainwright and others
who are assisting in the work of wreckage
will leave Havana until the salvage OF the
Maine Is completed.
NEW COALING STATION WANTED.
Serious attention II being giyer by the