The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-03-13
RhQI Hos Been Accomplished BY Ihe
Government in d Week.
RECORD OF QUICK Work
Ehc President Confers With socreIar.
tics AIGer, LOng ana Gnge-
Oregon to Cruise Down tho Paci-
nc-PositiveIy no Nows Received
from tho Court OF Inquiry.
Washington. d. c., March ~, 1898.

While to-day was not marked by par
ticulariyi i1,poCtart eN5nts, the history
of the week just closed will form a
splendid record of what can be accom-
pl!shed by the naticm in a short space
OF time under the spCr of necessity to
providia for the national defense. Be
gin,dng with the appropriation of S50,-
100000 to be eNranded by the Preside.aa
wGu.Jout limitation. there GolloNed rap
Idly the placing Of orders for enormous
quantities of war supplies, the insri-
tutions of negotiations for the purcha Sc
OF ships abroad. the enlistment OF mca,
for the navy the creation of two aI.hi-
tional regiments cf artillery, the cCa.r
missioning of monitors, CRUISES and
rams, the man:ing of iiaw posts along
the seacoasts and, finally, the rear
rlnSemcnt uf the great military de-
partmcnts to Cr,aet modern conditions IL.
military practice.
Tha sending of the Oregon, now at
Mare lSInd, &'wa61 from San Francisco
is a!1 exhibition Of tt.ia far-Sightcdness
with which the Secretary of the Navy
Is Observing the situation of to-day The
Nassefs orders ara tc, cruise dCiNn the
Pachc coaSH, touching LIN from time to
time at various ports where cable con-
nectiCms exist TO receive any orders that
the department mGUi have 70 give. In
this way 1t is expected that ST., will
work rs far south as Nalp iraiso, Chile
where she will await orders. Nulpara !so
Is very rmch raarer to- Cuba and 10
Admiral Scard's fleet than Mare Is
laH't whil2. II 1t should be desired to
sc::M the ship to the Asiatic station, This
can be done almost as conveniently from
FalpaGa iSo rs from San Francisco. At
Valparaiso, therefore, the Oregon lNill
he M:nare she can h;,most uscfully mani
lsl'ittcd in case OF aEn emergency,
The President held a bng conference
al ths White House about noon to-
day with Secretaries Algcr. Lorg and
Case. 1t is presumed tlrIe their sub
.Ject OF discussion was the iina:nccs or
the situa;asn, subject which could not
be fully treated ~ this. Cabinet nteetir :
yesterday owing 10 the short session.
After the conference the 81 ltemcr;' was
agaca made, witt, ths, emphasis that huss
characterized eveWl utrrrance on the
subject by the Presidents constitutions
nj advisors. that up 10 datc the admin
i:,catIon has absolutely no krowle'!g,
of the cause Of the disaster Of the Maine
and that /; has n2i report Of anEr kind
from the court Gf inquiry or uaytone
corrected ,Ai;h It,
The Boa:d of Naval Burcanr Chiefs
find it impossbh2, 10 pass judgment in
Washington upoc'r tiJa fitness for naval
service of vessels that may be offered
L'or the aulli:C'y branch OF tha navy at
the various scaports. So. thayi have
bd;l, aided in their work by che creation
OF special board which will undert Ak
To visit each OF the ports where ships
EIiiy be offered and make 4 careful per-
SopGl inspections OF THE various En.aft
Tha board will consist of Captain Rod
gers. Lieu,rnant-C Comm lndcr Kelley,
Passed Assistant Engineer DiXcm AS
sista!:t Naval Constructor Tawesy ana,
Lieutenant Sergeant.
The Nashvilie arrived at K:rn Yves;
to-day. while the Marblcheid arrived
at Tampa. The naval officials will not
state the rurposa of the Marbeheud's
visit to Taml%2,
Tnc NiiW talk has had ths, usual result
OF bringing before the War and Navy
Departments perfect flood Of sug-
gestions and iHvcntions.
The War Department on Monday will
Vpcc bids fcr one of h.in largest orders
OF shot &md shell ror heavy calibre
guns ever given. includhcg armor- -pierc-
ing projeCtilss and deck piercing and
torpedo shalis. Ths nG.mbar Q,w,i char
acter of these are as follows: Nine
hundred and thlrty-iive twelve-inch
deck-perNng shells. weighing 900
pounds sach; l.24l twelvc-nch deck
piercing s:9ells, weighing 500 pounds
each; ISL twelve-irch arla)r-piercing
shells, capped; li9 rght-inch armor-
rGcrcing shells; 100 cight-i2ch armor-
piercing shoa, cEpped.
Th Sc projsctles are for the heavy for
titicattn N guns now mounted along the
Seacoasa Ths' purchase is not 10. be
made under the fifty million defsCse
appropriations BILL but is in anticipation
Of the fortiicalsion bill. which grants
s9i0,OO0 for 4 reserve supply OF pu.,lec-
GHles and powder. AS the making <f the
h5avy projcctics will take, cCs.sgdera-
bic time, the contract will be let
ahead of the Tngs!sg5l or the b.ll, as
surances haNi::ls been given from men
III Congress thas no question would be
rafsscl .as ~ the regularity OF rhs
proceeding. The entirs' amcahat is de-
signed to- give all the heavy guns now
installed, a!m those to be put in place
during the coming year. q ful1 quota
or pro1ec;9l;'s ard powder. Thsl twelve
1nch shc'! are amC.g the largest made.
Ihe cost t'f siigle rcund of :His class
of projectiles IS S5l1 Aside from tho
large ords'rs to be placed Monday, tn
emergency bill will permit additional
o:uers to met the requirements OF such
8 iortlhcation SUES as may be mounted
S-G emergency. The, presema order is
eor tihsi ia'ctual needs OF the gums now