The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-20
BIG ORDER FOR MUNITIONS
CONTRACTS AWARDED POWDER AND
PROJECTILE MANUFACTURERS.
Marked Activity at the Torpedo Sta-
tiOn-Armasaent for the Yacht May
acknowledgements of ships.


WASHINGTON. March 19.-Secretary
Long conferred with members of the Senate
and House naval committees and with a
number of ship owners to-day. L.eu-
tenant Commander Colwell has cabled
from England that the United States
flag was hoisted to the peak of the Anna
zonas with ceremony yesterday The press
reports have given the details of this cegs-
mony, but Commander Colwells official re- /
port of the fact has the effect of making
the Amazonas an actual part of the United
States navy. She is duly now enrolled 4
among the other cruisers, and from this
time forward will be subject to the usual
orders from the department. The trim
yacht Mayfower, which the government
purchased of Mr.. Goelet, of New York, has
been sent to the New York navy yard to
receive seven-eighths-inch belt OF armor.
This, with the guns to be mounted on her,
it is believed, will make her an effective
small craft. The special board sitting in
New York to inspect merchant ships suit
able for auxiliary ships has reported the 8
result of it's inspection on a number Of veg-
sells. Thus far, however, the authorities
have not taken further action as to secur-
ing these ships, as the inspection is mainly
to afford full information in case merchant
ships are called into service later.
The battle ships Texas and Massachusetts,
have not yet started northward from Key
West. Secretary Longs present purpose IL
TO have them make this move some time
next week. The secretary expressly contra
dicted a report to the effect that the orders
to the Texas and Massachusetts, had heen
rescinded and that they would remain at
Key West. The day OF their leaving will be
left largely to Admiral Sicard, as the pres
ent orders are restricted to detaching them
from the squadron at the most avaiiable
moment.
There is no doubt that the authorities
are keeping themselves fully advised as to
the movement of the Spanish torpedo fo-
tilla, now en- route from Spain. Up to last
night the official advtces were to the ef-
feet that the fiotilla had not left the Ca
naries, where a stop was made to await the
arrival of a Spanish cruiser Persons ac-
quainted with the facts say that the stop
at the Canaries is only temporary and than
there is no purpose on the part of the Span
ish government to turn back the torpedo
boats because of the removal of the Texas
and Massachusetts, from Key West On the
contrary, the purpose as made known In
Washington is that the torpedo hotilla will
continue its trip to Cuba and Porto Rico.
1t was stated to-day by one high in naval
authority that no steps had been taken
toward intercepting this fotilla or warning
1T away. There has beer considerable con-
lecture in this line by naval officers based .
on the idea that If an emergency was in fact
near at hand 1t would be inexpedient to al
low a large torpedo fotilla to rendezvous
on this ssde.
Commodore Farquahar, formerly chief OF
the Bureau of Yards and Docks OF the Navy
Department, and now in command of the
Norfolk navy yard, was in conference With
the naval officials to-day. He reported that
the finishing touches have been put on the
monitor Puritan and that she is In fine con-
dition for sea service. 1t Is expected that
the Puritan will leave soon for Port Royal.
at which place it has been reported the
Navy Department will locate fleet of tor
pedo boats which may be called on for as
sistance either by the fleet at Hampton
roads or that at Key West should necessity
arise. Port Royal is at a convenient dis
tance from either of the two places. and.
although the torpedo boats are slewer In
movement than the cruisers they could
reach either place within reasonable time
The monitors which it has been said viii
compose the fleet include the Amphitrite,
Terror, Miantonomoh and Puritan.
The armament for the yacht Mayfower
purchased by the Navy Department during
the present week is still under conssdera-
ton by the naval officials. Captain O'Neil,
chief OF the Ordnance Bureau, is expecting
daily a recommendation on the subject by
the commandant of the New York navy
yard. The yacht now carries several rapid
fire guns and the probability is they will be
supplemented by a few others of four. five
or six-inch calibeT of the same character
Several torpedo tubes may be fitted in the
vessel, although it is said she Is rather
slow for torpedo service. The two BRAZIL
ian vessels recently purchased by the gov
ernment, it is said will be taken to New
York.
The magnificent frst-class battle ship
Oregon has left San Francisco for her trip
along the southern Pacific coast This fact
was reported TO the Navy Department to-
day and her destination was set down as
Callao, Peru. This latter fact caused some
surprise, for ii was generally expected the
vessel would stop at Acapulco. Mexico. and
probably at some other place Her trip to
Callao is an unusually long one. without a
step. The statement is made that the Ore
gon will await orders at Callao.
Late in the day the prospects became
much brighter for the acquisition by the
United States of the two exceptionally fine
foreign war ships. namely, the armored
cruiser San Martino, belonging to the Ar
gentina Republic. and the battle ship Gen.
OHiggins. belonging to Chile. The hope
of getting these ships had been almost
given up, but cablegrams received to-day
from Commander Brownson. now in Eu-
rope, made the outlook more encouraging.
Up to the close OF office hours an actual
purchase had not been concluded. but ,