The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-06

congress dpprOpTldLeS yearly, 50 THAT reg
islative body viii be induced to continue
to authorize expenditures for this neces-
sary adjunct Of national defense. Nat
urajly the public is now taking great in
terest in all that is going on and proba-
bly, observes with closer scrutiny every
thing being done. This, coupled with the
fact that no one except members of con-
gress is allowed to enter the Notifications
and they only by consent of the secre-
tary Of war, apparently makes the matter
all the more mysterious. No 1 would not
be at liberty to tell of any steps that are
being taken as the result of the pending
excitement, even if [ knew Of such
AT THE NAVY DEPARTMENT..
4 visit to the navy department, one
Of those made at not infrequent intervals
in the course Of duty by Lieutenant j. d.
J. Kelley, L. S. A, caused the immediate
circulation of a report that the govern
ment was embarking on the large under
taking in the inspection of all vessels of
our merchant marine that might be avail
able for naval service in case Of need
For more than six months Lieutenant
Kelley has been charged with the duty
rine to ascertain if they complied with
the terms of the so-caIled SUBSIDY act and
were thus fitted for naval service The
terms of the act which was passed sew
eraI years ago appear to be designed no
secure the creation of a class Of vessels
under the American flag built in American
shipyards that shall be, first. suitable for
the rapid and safe carriage of the United
States mails, and, second, suitable for
transformation in case of need into aux
iiary cruisers for the navy. Ever since
the passage of that act the navy depart
ment has had officers at work inspecting
merchant vessels, either in their prelimi-
nary stages Of construction or after COM
pletion when their owners sought to take
advantage of the act and claimed sub
sides for their ships. Many vessels have
been so inspected and the naval officers
have reported to the postmasteE general
fitness. or unfitness for naval service. As
already stated Lieutenant Kelley is now
in charge of that particular branch of
the navy and has been prosecuting it with
diligence. Without doubt the public eX-
element of the last few weeks induced
a number of vessel owners who have
never before sought to take advantage
OF the subsidy act to submit their ships
to the navy department now for exami-
nation and this has resulted in unusual
activity on the part Of the inspecting OIL
GERS.
WATCHING VENEZUELA.
The armored cruiser Brooklyn arrived
at La Guayara. Venezuela. yesterday and
reported last night by cable TO the navy
department. It is the intention of the au-
thorities to keen the ship at that port
fer "a few days or at least until il is dem
onstrated that the insignificant revolu-
tionary movement in the eastern portion
of the country is shown not TO endanSer
any American interests Then the pl2n
is for the Brooklyn to proceed TO Colon
and await orders from the department.
The Newport with the Nicaragua canal
commission aboard. arrived At Colon yes
teday with the expectation Of remaining
until the 10th inst. The training ship Es-
sex has sailed from Fort Monroe TO
Tompkinsviua.
The departure Of General Wilson. chief
Of engineers of the war department. for
the south. it is now admitted. is for the
purpose Of inspecting Qualifications and
river and haYbor Improvements. His trip
may extend to Dry Tortugas in the Calf
( of Mexico.
REVIEW AT FORT THOMAS.
/ Cincinnati. OHIO. March Colonel Coch
ran. commandaut OF Fort Thomas. re-
/ viewed the First regiment O. n g., a. lis
armory. Numerous officers eff the nation
al guard from other parts of Ohio and
( from other states were present. In respect
I to military equipment and bearing the
4 regiment made good showing.
ABLE-BODIED SEA3IEN
Vallejo. Cal. March admiral Kirk
land has received Jelegraphic orders 10
. instruct Capt2in Louis Eeupn. az the re-
ceivirs ship Independence. TO slSn all tae
ah.e-bod5ed seamen he oan possibly pass.
I The shipment of BOYS wuIc1 has been SC
ing on for some months. VIZ continle.
The Charleston. the NorStova and the
/ Philadelphia are she besg shI9s now here.
but ntr-e Ygork IS being dose on them at
present Admiral kirkland says that ha
can prepare the vessels for sea within
six weeks. There ara sd men employed IL
the construction department. and orders
have been issasd Tor Jhe employment OF
additional laaer
HIGH-POWER AMMUNITION.
San Francisco. Nareh 5.-Iugreased sun
plies of smmunition Cor hsgh-povyer guns
have been ordered oy Tse war department.
from the Benecl3 arsenal 10 tHe forts az
the Preside aD5 Lime Point Today
twenty tons of powder and large Supply
of projectiIes were placed abaar5 barges
~ BenecIa and towed 10 tie Preside