The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-08

i
these companies are so extensive that they
| could turn the arms out very rapidly. so
| that the Sprlnghelds in the hands of thS
militia could be replaced i'm short order.
| In connection with the subject of pur-
CHASING naval ammunition, il is said thar
no contracts have been closed, but the de-
| partment has informed itself fully as to
| now speedily ii could secure every kind
or ammunition and supplies in case of
emergency. This inquiry has shown in a
| general way that the facilities of this
country are ample to meet any demand for
| powder, projeetiles, cartridge cases, prim-
! ers, fuses, etc. These supplies are not
kept in stock, however, and in case of
emergency they would have to be made
on orders. 1t is said that the capacity of
one hrm for turning out the brown pris-
mauc powder required by the navy is s.
! 100000 pounds a month, which would more
IMAM meet the demand of a conflict.
While no exact estimate has been made
OF the share of the S5O,OOO0OO appropriation
to be allowed 10 ammunition, il is roughly
| estimated that at least $10000,00O would be
so assigned, owing to the enormous cost
| OF rehlling the ammunition chests of the
! warships now in service. At present there
is not enough ammunition on hand for one
renlling beyond that now on board. A
single re-filling costs 100000. Each first
| SieSS bdltlCSillp requires 4UU tons OF aIl-
munition. With the amounts on hand and
the reflls which are being calculated, the
navy would have an ample supply of am
munition, even if the ships were called into
frequent action.
Naval officers explain that refill will
i last through several engagements, owing
to the limit of endurance of men while in
action. If the guns could be worked con-
stantly refill would be exhausted in one
heavy engagement, but the guns as well
as the men, have their limits of endur-
| ance. These considerations have all been
| taken into account in the rough general
estimates that have been made as to the
refills requisite for a suitable equipment
of the American feet
The appropriation of $5O0O0,00O for aGdi-
| tional defense will not involve the issue
of bonds. This announcement was made
by the treasury officials, who stated that
the treasury was amply prepared TO meet
any demands that viii likely be made up
on ID. On Feb 1 the cash of the treasury
amounted to $S56,571 766, of which $2OlO63 =
971 was gold, SSH, ,S5S S34 silver, $107 564. .95S
! in paper currency, and $3S,0S4,002 in dis
! bursing officers balances, etc. The net
available cash on hand above all Habili-
! ties amounts to 1925, ,564,203.
1t is not felt at the navy department
that the people of the Montgomery are
| taking any particular risk in going to
| Havana at the time, for it is said that even
should hostilities break out it is n rule of
honorable warfare that they be given safe
convoy out of the waters of the hostile
country. OF course, Gen. Lee and the
members of the Court of Inquiry al Ha-
vana would be equally exempt from mo-
lestetion.
The personnel of the Montgomery is:
Commander Converse, Lieut. Commander
and Executive officer Be!d. Navigator
Lieut. Hutchinson, Watch officers Lieut..
! Fields and Ensigns Steiguer, Spear and
! Osborne: surgeon, DR.. Curtis; Paymastcr
Ramsey. Chief Engineer Reeves, Assist
ant Engineer Allen The ship carries a
crew of 22S men of all classes.
Without delay the officers of the Adju-
| tant Generals department gave the neces-
sary orders for the recruiting of the two
new artillery regiments authorized by Con-
| gress. The purpose is to enlist such men
as have had service in the artillery wher-
ever possible, and no doubt is entertained
that plenty of material of the right Kind
will offer Officers for the two new regi-
ments are now being selected. AS for the
men. the plan is to assign fifteen soldiers
from existing artillery regiments as the
! nucleus of each new company, to take hold
of and break in the new men who are en-
listed and it is expected that in a very
short time Uncle Sam will have two good
regiments The headquarters of one of
these regiments will be established at Fort
Slocum, on Long Island sound, command
ing New York as there are suitable quar-
ters available there The destination of
the other regiment has not been decided
upon.
No report has come to the navy depart
ment since Saturday relative to the work
of the court of inquiry at Havana and
the news is confined to the reports of the
newspapers, which are carefully scanned
by the officers.
The Castfne, which was docked at Port
of France, has sailed for Barbados.
The torpedo boat Wnslow has arrived
at Charleston en- route 10 Key West.
The Oregon. which has been fitted with
hilge keels at the Bremerton dock on Pu-
get sound, has sailed for San Francisco
The sentiment at the capitol to-day and
espeeially on the House side, was unani-
nous in support of the action of the Pres
ident in declining TO recall Gen. Lee. Inc
immense gravity of the situation seemed
nrofoundly to impress the members, who
stood about the lobbies before the House
met. Without regard TO party all united
in commencing the Presidents trm stand
and the unanimous desire expressed was
To support any measures he may deem
u6CeSSdiy.
senator Hale. chairman of the Senate
committee on naval affairs, and also chair
man of the sub-committee on appropria-
tions to consider the naval bill, said TO-
day he had suggested to Secretary Long
of the navy department the advisaoillty
of making the purchase of any supplies
which might be considered necessary in
the event of war with the understanding
tba+ the funds for them would be provided
by Congress.
There was a conference last evening at
the residence Of Senator Hoar of Massa-
chusetts. which was attended by members
Of the cabinet, senators and representa-
tives Some of those known to be present
ore Secretaries Long and Alger, Assistant
Secretary of State Judge Day Senator Al
Iison and Representative Dingley ana
cannon. II is also known that some DEM
ocrats were present. Assurances were
oiven the representatives Of the admins
tration that any amount of funds
that were deemed necessary would be
nrovided by Congress to put the govern
ment in state of defense, and that the
COMMUNICATION would be backed up In
anytbing that was thought necessary
,.he result of the conference last evening
WAS meeting of Secretary Alger and
sneaker Reed to-day, and a conference