Connecticut western news., 1898-03-10

the expenditure of portion Of the ex- pected appropriation of 50.000000 in the purchase of ordnance and ammunition. General Miles said to your correspond ent:
 "We do not know how much of the new appropriation the president will de- eide to allot to the war department It is not likely that any definite appor- tionment will be made to each depart ment, but expenditures of different amounts will be authorized according to the necessities of the situation.
 "The foreign situation is confessedly serious but whatever may be the out come we shall improve our opportuni- ties to be prepared to meet any emer- gency The action of congress is en- couraging as showing the substantial support on which the administration can count in the hour of necessity
 The ordnance department Is consider ing plans for the enlargement or the Springfield arsenal, where all the kraR- jorgensen improved rifles used by the army are manufactured. as we'll as a large quantity of springfield rifles, with which most of the state national guards are now armed. Should the present serious condition of affairs con- tinue the doubling of the capacity of the arsenal will be ordered.
 Similar steps will also be taken in case of emergency with regard to Rock Island arsenal which manufactures gun carriages, cavalry and artillery harness. etc. and the Watertpwn and Watervliet arsenals.
 Major Charles Shades of the ordnance department met several representatives of ordnance manufacturing and supply firms and received from them assur- ances that they have ample facilities at their command to furnish the depart ment at short notice with large sup plies of ammunition and guns of vari- ous calibers.
 It is expected that large order will be placed immediately for rapid fire guns of 5-inch and 6-inch and smaller caliber. The American Ordnance com pany has on hand in this country 1t Is understood, a considerable supply of these guns, and through their agents in France and England they are able to put at the disposal of the govern ment immediately not less than 150 rapid fire guns, and this number could be greatly increased very soon. Other ordnance companies are able to either furnish immediately or to manufacture rapid fire guns, and. if necessary. sup plito Nodiu pt NAHNh AApiii NAN NAtt9'Ns of France, Krupps of Germany and Elswicks of England 4
 Steps will soon be taken by the en- gineer department looking to the forti- flying of all the more important harbors with torpedoes. The department can place these immediately. and more can be procured slrough the agents of ord- nance supply companies in this country or Europe. If necessary, large quanti- ties of improvised torpedoes can be manufactured by the engineer officers by the employment of casks and bar rels in which may be placed about 250 pounds of powder, and which may be equipped with double test tubes, one filled with sulphuric acid and the other with potassium chlorate and other com binations of chemicals which will pro- duce an explosion upon the breaking of the test tubes by passing keel
 Work of the engineer department at all Notifications is being hastened, and the guns and carriages under construc- ton are being hurried to completion as rapidly as possible. A duplication of the large shell and powder contracts of last week has been provisionally made, and this may be still further enlarged.
 President Mckinley signed the flaw ley bill, providing. for two additional regiments of artille.-eto man the coast defenses, this afternooh