The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-17

arms and ammunition. Pretty much all
of this money is needed to cover con-
tracts already made by the military cs-
adjustment
An encouraging telegram came to the
dcpartmcnt from Admiral Bunce, com
mandant of the New York Navy Yard,
1t was:
NAVAL constructor reports dock No. 3
pumped dry last night. Test Of the
structure satisfactory. CaissOn joint
leaks but easily remedied.'
The department places the date of the
final completion of the dock at April
Both in view of this report.
Surgeon General Van Reypen, of the
Navy returned today from Newport
News, where he went to examine into
the practicability of converting the Plant
Line steamer Grand Duchess into an
ambulance or hospital ship for use of
the Navy in the event of hostilities Twin
Snain. This steamer, which General
Van Reypen says, is large, rO0my ana
airy. formerly piled between New YORK
and Savannah. Ca, but was lald up
because of the disarrangement OF her
boilers. SO far as the accommodations
are concerned the vessel, after some
necessary work would make an admlra-
BILE ambulance ship, hut the lack of boil
en,. which it would take several months
to replace. limits her adaptability for
use ot the present time. The Surgeon
General has in view several other ShipS
which. with but Il limited expenditure Of
money. could be changed into ambulance
shiDs. but he will be compelled to await
the repOrt of the special board which Is
examining into the question of auxiliary
cruisers before taking any action.
The War Department Is making ready
for another big contract looking to the
procurement of a lot of shot and shell.
An advertisement has Just been issued
for ''cast+iron projeetiles for sea-coast
cannon"
The bids are made returnable next
Monday at 3 o'clock at the Ordnance
Office. War Department. The shot and
shell are of the heaviest description, 1877
ten inch solid shot, $40 twelve inch
mortar shells. weighing 800 pounds each,
and 500 twelve inch mortar shells, weigh
ing / 900 pounds each being wanted.
These prOjectiles are entirely different
from the million dollars worth ordered
Yesterday. Those were wrought steel
shot and shell known as armor piercers
ships, monitors and such armOred yes
sels. Those called for now are for use
either against lightly armOred or unar-
mored ships or else for deck piercere,"
being fired from mortars with a plung-
ing fire into the deck of vessels lying out
Mt sea. Being of cast metal these pro-
jectiles, 1T is expected. will he much
cheaper than the armOr piercers already
ordered.
The Equipment Bureau of the Navy
Department has prepared itself for the
equipment at very short notice of any
vessels of the auxiliary Navy that may
be acquired with the most approved
signalling devices now employed.
Considering the competition offered by
the Navy and Marine corps in the en-
listment of recruits, the War Depart
ment feels that it is doing very well in
| securing men for the artillery regiments.
The adjutant generals report to-day was
that 220 men had been secured. This is
ut the rate of 500 per month and about
as fast as the men can be properly taken
care of.
NAMES OFFICERS RESTLESS.
Havana March rs. The Offices of
| the Maine who remain here are disap-
pointed at not being ordered north, and
believe they will not he sent back to
the United States until it is certain the
Court of Inquiry into the loss of the
| battleship Maine viii not return to Ha-
yana.
With the arrival of the big derrick.
| Chief and other machinery the wreckine
work already shows signs of progress.
The Naval divers are still working
about the wreck, under the direction
| of Captain Sigshep and Lieutenant Com
| mander Wainwright. with Ensign Pow
elson, to make any changes in the draw
ings which may be called for by new
discoveries
According to Spanish report a col
umn of government troops, under Col
Palanca, was engaged on Friday and
Saturday last with the instirgent forces
under General AIaximO Gomez and
Brgadier General Jose Maria Gomez,
at the Majagua farm in the district of
Sancti Spiritus. province of Santa Clara
The inSurgGnt loss is said TO have been
considerable while the Spanish force
rs alleged to have lost only three men
killed and captain. a lieutenant and
thirteen soldiers wounded.
La Lucha, in it's leading editorial this
afternoon, says it is unable to explain
the bellicose attitude of the United States
and inclines to the belief that this is the
fault of business syndicates, like the
sugar trust, or due to some new desire
TO annex Cuba. which has changed the
Physiognomy of the American people"
1t claims that Spain has done nothing
TO hurt the pride of the United States,
and refers to the friendlineSs of Spain
for the American colonies when they
We're fighting England, and also to the
strict neutrality maintained during the
civil war"
La Lucha says it can only explain the
help given the insurgents from American
sources during the present insurrection
in Cuba by defective law. varying in
the different States of the American
union"
The editorial concludes:
''Fhe end of the journey will show
which nation has the more to lose in
contest that may come now. No doubt
Spain does not fear war. Public opinion,
il not demanding. does not repel HOSTILE
ties. 1t is believed by many that this
XVlV is tha oplv Iaaauy of ,,oac chino a N