The state herald., 1898-03-11
PLANNING FOR WAR
APPROPRIATION OF FIFTY MIL
LIONS.
All branches of the Government Unite In
Preparing to Meet spain's Attack
cali

uO less tlluH I'VE lllUoTtullt tNtuts W
day having Il bearing more or less di-
rect upon the troubled relations be-
tween the United States and Spain.
viz, the introduction in Congress by
! Mr.. Cannon of resolution carrying
fifty million dollars for the public de-
fense, the withdrawal by the Spanish
government of its intimated objection
2 to the continuance in office of Consul
| General Lee, the order for the cruiser
' Montgomery to proceed to Havana in
place of the Fern. the passage through
the House of the bill increasing the
army by two artillery regiments and
the institutions of negotiations looking
TO the purchase of warships for our
| navy.
| Mr.. Cannon's resolution probably led
all other topics in interest, particular
ly when II became known that II was
the result of n conference between the
author. the President. Senator Hale
and other leading spirits in Congress.
Mr.. Cannons bill is as follows:
| That there Is hereby appropriated,
out of any money in the treasury not
otherwise appropriated. for the nation
al defense and for each and every pur-
pose connected herewith. to be ex-
pended at the discretion of the Presi-
dent and to remain available until
June 30 1899. fifty million dollars.
II was referred to the committee on
appropriations.
As there has been no explanation so
far of the purpose which promoted the
introduction of Mr.. Cannon's resolu-
tion, 1t may be said that the money is
wanted primarily as an emergency
fund. 1t is said by officials who will
have the disposition of this treasure
that 1t by no means follows because
Congress places such sum of money
in the control of the President that he
will feel bound To spend all of II.
Those who look for wholesale pur-
chase Of warships from the bargain
counters of European builders are
likely TO be disappointed. The Navy
Department at present is inclined to
make but one purchase of this kind,
at first at least, in the shape of a sub
stantial ironclad. II does desire to get
possession of several OF the larger
class of torpedo boat destroyers, such
as the Sekul of the Russian navy, YES
sells Of 1900 tons, able to keep the sea
In bad weather, weak point with our
own boats, and capable of enormous
speed. such as thirty-two knots. But
such crafts are not for sale at all
times. They are built to order gener
ally, and could not he procured in this
manner in less than six months from
the date of contract, even in Europe.
unless special prices were paid. There
is no disposition on the part Of the
Navy Department to lumber the navy
with lot of unserviccable craft In n
spasm OF fear, but rather to get few
of the best vessels 10 be had
The offers of ships 10 the Navy De-
partmcnt are now assuming definite
and formal shape During the day
Secretary Long received a call from A.
+. Lane, representing the Maxim Nor
denfeldt Company, and the agents for
several war ships now nearing compile
tion in large foreign ship yards. These
include two cruisers of the type Of the
Cincinnati. which are designated to be
twenty knot vessels. and two ironclads
Of fourteen knots, which would be
called thlrd-class battleships under our
rating.
There are things that are wanted
much more than warships In case Of
trouble and the army shares these
needs, so that fair proportion OF the
fifty million dollars would have to go
TO the War Department. These are
abundant supplies Of shot, shell and
powder. The army Is ms short as the
navy of some essential stores.
While no exact estimate has been
mad. Of the share OF the fifty million
dollars appropriation TO be allotted 10
ammunition. II Is estimated at least
ten million dollars would he so con
signed owing to the enormous cost OF
rcillllng the ammunition chests Of the
warships now In service. At present
there l. not enough ammunition on
hand for one rciilling beyond that on
board, ms n single rciilllng costs three
million dollars Each Of the battleships
carries 100 tons OF ammunition. With
the amounts on hand. and the refills
which are being calculated on, the
navy would have an ample supply OF
ammunition. even n the ships We're
called into frequent action.
without delay the officers OF the ad.
iuinnt generals department to-day
gave the necessary orders for the re-
crulilng Of the new artillery regiments
authorized by Congress. The purpose
Is To enlist such men as have had sery.
lee Ia the artillery wherever possible.
and no doubt Is entertained that plenty
II material Of the right kind will offer.
The names NJ the officers Of the new
regiment are now being selected As
for the men, II i the plan TO assign
fifteen soldiers from existing artillery
regiments ~ the nucleus Of each new
company. 10 take hold NJ aud break IN
the new men who enlist. and II ls ex.
pcctc'l that In n very short time Uncle
sam VIII have two grand regiments.
The headquarters Of one Of these regl.
m"nis WIN bc established NJ Fort Slo.
cum, on Long Island Sound. command.
Ing New York. as there are suitable
quarters available there. The dcstinn.
lion NJ the other regiment has not been
decided upon.
II II not fcl, nj the Navy Department
TINT the people Of the Montgomery ARE
taking any particular risks In going
into Havana nj this time. for. II IL
said. should hostlllilos break out. II N
n rule Of honorable warfare that they
hc given snfc convoy ont of the waters
of the hostile country, or course, Gen.
ornl Lee mud the members of the court
uf Inquiry nj Havana would be equally
exempt from molrrinilon.
NAVAL BOARD ~ A. MOST DONE,