The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-10
TO LOOK OVER GROUND
THE PURCHASE OF SHIPS TO BIZ,
FIRST CONSIDERED.
NO REPORT IS EXPECTED NEXT WEEK
Officials in Correspondence for Ammunition
and viii Buy 100000 Rihes--The Pres
ence of Mr.. HuIse in Washington
Gives Rise 10 Rumors
Gives Rise 10 Rumors.

Washington, ID. c., March 9.-The
feature of the days events was the
promptitude with which the Senate pass
ed the House bill carrying the appropria-
ton of $50,000000 for the national de-
Tense, and the haste with which it was
put through the formal proceedings, en-
crossed and signed by the President.
While the matter has been considered, it
can he stated that the fund has not yet
been allotted among the various branch
es of the government service. Each OF
these had prepared roughly and tenta-
lively an estimate of the funds it could
dispose of to advantage but upon looking
over the ground the President concluded
that it would be well perhaps 10 avoid
making the allotment until the necessity
became apparent, The reason back of
this is that the sum THAT can be profit
ably spent for war ships cannot even he
guessed ut with any approximation To
accuracy just now. As the ships are to
be the first choice in the steps for de-
fcnse until their cost is ascertained it
is no. possible to divide the remainder
of the appropriation among the other
branches of the military and naval SER
Ybices.
The Secretary of the Navy is making
every effort no secure from our naval at
taches and diplomatic officers abroad all
inflammation obtainabie respecting the
number of ships building. their price and
other data. This does not necessarily
interfere with the execution of the plans
confided to Captain Brownson, who SAIL
ed for Southampton to-day but rather
promises to assist him materially in MAX
ing speed with his inquiries. Up to this
moment not only has the United States
government bought no war ships, but
it has not even secured an option on
one. There are many applications COM
ing to the Department from persons
and firms who desire to sell ships to the
government but in most of these cases
one of two fatal obstacles are encounter
ed to the contamination of the sale:
Either the craft offered is not suitable
for naval needs or the date of posi-
bic completion is so distant, from three
months upward, that it cannot be re-
gartled as worthy of purchase to meet
an emergency.
TENDERS OF WAR MATERIAL.
There is less difficulty experienced in
securing tenders Of war material, such as
shot and shell and powder, and the
Navy Department has almost assured it.
self of an abundant supply of certain
kinds of smokeless powder abroad at
short notice. The officials of the de-
partment are daily in correspondence by
mail and telegraph with agents of am
munition houses, and besides are now
fully acquainted with the plans of do
nestle powder makers for enlargng
their plants to meet an emergency. The
representatives of tine armor making
firms are in consultation with the de-
partment steadily, generally relative to
the supply of gun forgings and such ma
teria for use in the gun shops here
and at WateryiCth. but the question
Of arInor is receiving little attention as
the armor makers report that they
canot undertake by any known agency
to turn out such armor as would be re-
qured for modern battleship in less
than seven months, for the reason that
tempering and face hardening canOnt be
FASTENED without destroying the value
of the armor. Thus, it has been demon
strated to the Navy Department that it
will not be possible to make the armor
for the superb battleships, three in
lumber, now building at Newport News
and at Cramps and at the Union Iron
Works in San Francisco, i'll time to
render these ships far better, it Is
claimed, than any offered from abroad
for sale, available for any emergency
that may arise this year.
The statement was made at the Navy
Department today that the report OF
the Maine Court of Inquiry probably
would come to the department some
time next week 1t did not appear, how
ever, that this statement was founded
upon any direct report from the court
but was rather an estimate based upon
the progress so far made as revealed by
the change Of methods on the part OF
the court.
Many congratulations are coming tC
the White House and the State Depart
ment from all parts of the country upon
the patriotic spirit exhibited in dealing
with the latest phases of the Cuban
question. Most Of them are official in
character, but many are personally di
ected to the President.
MACHINISTS ARE WANTED.
dmiral Sicard has been authorized
Mist suitable men for the Navy al
West, IL he can ind the material
eported that he had received some
atoms from machinists and sea
The department is still
vigorously to secure machinists
men who know how TO ruI
engines. These men car
taught how to run marine
nd require little training t,
valuable aboard ship.
ports indicate that the an
ne projected for Porto Rice
into successful operation
esting mainly because O
between the project ano
it is now sought to pu
4.
artment is arranging t.
1pply of the most mod
lent in time Of emcr
orce of 100000 men.
a, the Brazilian Min
at he has received III
the reported negotia