The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-08


e- --
geney fund. 1t is said by officials who
will have the disposition of this money
that it by no means follows because Con-
eress places such sum in the control Of
the President that he will feel bound to
spend all Of it. Those who look for a
wholesale purchase Of warships from the
bargain counters of European builders are
likely to be disappointed. The Navy De-
partment at present is inclined to make
but one purchase of fhis kind, at first at
least, in the shape of a substantial iron
clad. 1t does desire to get possession OF
several Of the larger class OF torpedo
boat destroyers such as the Sokui, OF the
Russian navy, vessels of 800 tons, able to
keep the sea in bad weather, a weak point
with our own boats, and capable OF enor-
NOUS speed, such as 81 knots But such
craft are not for sale at all times; they
are built TO order generally and could not
lie procured in this manner in less than
six months from the date OF contract I'M
less special prices were paid. The offers
of ships to the Navy Department are now
assuming definite and formal shaps. To-
day Secretary Long received a call from
A +. Lane, representing the Maxim
Nordenfeldt COMPANY and the agent Tor
several war vessels now nearing com pie
ton in large foreign shipyards. These IN
clude two cruisers Of the type OF the Gin
cinnati, which was designed to be twenty
knot vessels and two iron clads of four
teen knots, which would be called third
class battleships under our rating. These
are now open to purchase, and 1T is under
st6oa that Mr.. Lanes visit was in this
connection. They are we'll along toward
completion and all four, it is said could
be in commits ion within few months.
They were designed for one of the South
American rep blics, but there is said to
be no obligation which would prevent
their acquisition by the United States.
Mr.. Lane recently sold the navy depart
ment sixty Of the Maxim Nordenfeldt
rapid fire guns and his standing with
officials is such as to give his representa-
tions as to ships much weight. There are
things that are wanted much more than
warships in case of trouble, and the army
shares these needs, SO that fair proper
ton OF the $50, DOC. 600 would have to &C to
the war department. These are abundant
supplies of shot and she'll and powder.
The army is as short ms the navy OF these
essential stores. 1t has been found that
there will not be nearly as much difficult
ty in securing modern arms for the navy
even ON q war footing as was anticipated.
This Is because certain private gun
makers have Just brought out type Of
repeating rifles very similar in general
same cartridge of thirty gauge and with
about as great rapidity OF fire. The
plants Of these companies are SO extern
sive that they could turn the arms out
very rapidly so that the Springfield in
the hands of the militia could be replaced
in shortssoIder. Q
1t is said that no contracts for the pur-
chase Of naval ammunition have been
closed, but the department has informed
itself fully as to how speedily it could
secure every kind of ammunition and
supplies in case of emergency This
inquiry has shown that the facilities Of
this country are ample to meet any de-
mand for powdss. prolectiles, cartridge
cases. prSSssrs, fuses, etc. These supplies
are ncs kept in stock, however, and in
case of emergency they would have to
be made on order. 1t Is said that the
capacity of one firm for turning out the
brown prismatic powder required by the
naval department. is five millions pounds
a month, which would more than meet
the demands of conflict.
While no exact estimate had been made
Of The share of the 1000, 900 appropri-
alton allotted to ammunition, it Is rough
ly stated that at last $40, 600, 900 would
be ASSIGNED, owing to the enormous cost
of reflling the ammunition chests of the
war ships now in service, AT present
there is not enough ammunition on hand
for one reflling beyond that now on
board. A single redlling cost $1,000, 600.
Each first class battleship carries 400
tons of ammunition with the amounts on
hand and the reflls which are being CAL
culated on the navy would have an
ample supply of ammunition, even ii the
ships were called into frequent action.
The appropriation of $50, 100000 for
the national defense will not involve the
issue of bonds.
This announcement YVES made by tine
treasury officiasl who stated that the
treasury was amply prepared to meet
any demand that will likely be made up
on it. On February l the cash in the
treasury amounted to 1856, GIL, 766, of
which S2Q4, 0s3, 81 was gold; $51l 1913, 1874
silver; S107, 564, 958 paper currency and
S33, 084, 002 dishursing officers balances,
ETC. The net available cash on hand
above all liabilities amounts to 1926, 1884,,
JOB
It is not felt at the navy department
that tbs people of the Montgomery are
taking any particular risks in going to
Havana at this time, for it is said that
even should hostilities break out, it is the
rule OF honorable warfare that they be
the hostile country. OF course Gen. Lee
and the members Of the court of inquiry
at Havana would be equally exempt
from molestation.
The commander of the Montgomery is
Commander Converse. The ship carries
a crew of 228 men of all classes.
Without delay the officers of the adju-
tant generals department. today gave
orders for recruiting the two new mill
tary regiments authorized by Congress.