The herald., 1898-03-10
METHOD SHOWN
IN MAKING PREPARATION FOR
EMERGENCY
APPREHENSION GROWS LESS
No Cessation Of Effort to Put the Army
and Navy in Efficient
Condition
'sociated Press Special Wire

feWer signs OF excitement ana haste al
the War and Navy Departments today
and preparations being made towards
putting the Army and Navy into eff
cient condition are now going on with
more method and less exhibition Of the
feverish spirit Of apprehension that
characterized the proceedings Of the last
few days. There is genetal expression
of belief that for the time at least there
is no prospect Of a hostile collision and
that what seemed to be a crisis has
safely passed.
Secretary Long paid several short Wis
its to the White House during the day
Secretary Day was among the callers
there and Secretary Alger went over
from the War Department to see the
President, all of which led to the sur
mise that special Cabinet meeting was
likely to be held. But II turned out that
these visits were not pre-arranged and
were connected only with matters OF
business pending before the respective
departments represented by the Secre-
taries.
In the Navy Department the officials
were devoting their attention largely
to the fitting out of the triple-screw
cruisers Minneapolis and Columbia,
Thanks to the ability with which the
officers Of the Navigation Bureau have
carried out the plans formed by Secre-
tary Long for the creation Of reserve
list Of naval vessels. both OF these flne
ships are in excellent condition and can
60 into service In an incredibly short
NIT ho hnf
would have been consumed had they
been put out of commission, as was the
practice whenever 1t was not found ex-
pedient to keep them in active service.
While lying in reserve at League Island
they have been In fresh water and so
have not accumulated crop of barna-
cles or retarding marine vegetation. As
to the destination of the two flyers, 1t is
said at the Navigation Bureau this
morning that that point has not been
settled. These ships were designed es-
pecially as commerce destroyers.
The first one launched, the Columbia,
was nicknamed 1.-THE Pirate" long before
the Navy Department could formally at
tach a name to the ship. They are not
calculated to fight warships, and owing
to their light batteries would make q
sorry showing against anything that
carried guns heavier than six-inch cali
ber, provided they were cornered and
prevented from fight, which would be
a strong point in such cases. They are
for running down fleet merchantmen,
and probably for looking after such
merchant vessels as might be pressed
into the navy from the auxiliary lists.
It is likely that the two vessels will go
to Hampton Roads as soon as they are
fitted out.and manned, which Is expected
to be about the 18th inst. according to
ordered to report. 1t is desirable to get
them down the Delaware and to Hamp-
ton Roads, where they will be ready for
quick work.
NEEDS OF THE ARMY
NEW YORK, March "a special to
the Herald from Washington says: Ma
jor- General Miles conferred with Sec
retary Alger on the general situation
and discussed with him particularly the
redistribution of the artillery and plans
for the expenditure OF the portion of ex-
pected appropriation Of $4,000. 900 in the
purchase Of ordnance and ammunition.
General MilnD said last night:
We do not know how much of the
new appropriation the President will de-
cidet 70 allot to the WarIDepartment, but
1t 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 necessity Ct the situation.
mo new contracts have yet been made
by the department in view Of the new
appropriation, but many large ones are
under consideration for rapid fire and
large calibre seacoast guns, ammuni-
tion, etc.
"Some of these contracts will be for
ordnance ready to hand and others for
supplies to be manufactured.
Representatives of the more import
ant ordnance manufacturers were at the
department today and Important con-
tracts will be awarded in a day or two
All the preparations which will be
made will. in all probability, be no great
er than the department would have made
long ago II we had had adequate appro-
priations. The War Department alone
could easily ana economically spend the
entire $50.000,000 in putting the country
It can be stated that every dollar that
the President feels Justified in allotting
to the War Department will be expend-
ed within the limit Of the advisability Of
the appropriation.
"The foreign situation IL confessedly
serious. but whatever may be the out
come we shall improve our opportunities
to be prepared to meet any emergency.
The action Of Congress is encouraging
as showing the substantial support on
which the administration can count in
the hour Of necessity
THE PACIFIC FLEET
SAN FRANCISCO. March s.-The
Oregon arrived here this
from Puget Sound, and anchor
ed in the harbor.
It is reported that the protected cruis-
Or Olympia, now on duty at the Asiatic
Station, has been ordered to proceed to
Honolulu from the Orient ON the 18th
Of this month. and remain there until
further orders are received from the
It IL expected. however.
that the vessel will be sent orders to re-
turn to San Francisco by the next
steamer for Hawaii. The cruiser Balti
more will leave Honolulu for the Asia
tic Station on April /.
The Olympia and Baltimore win be
IN port at Honolulu for some DAYS be-
fore the latter sails for the Asiatic Sta
ton.
a sAN1TARx 1rEAsuRE