The Portland daily press., 1898-03-16

Brazil Of the two cruisers TO the UnlGeu
States likewise fails to cause any feeling
of concern, the naval officers holding
that there can be no question OF the right
of the United States to increase its navy
ut any time.
Senator Proctor called at the state de-
partment about noon today and spent
some time in conference with Assistant
Secretary Day. He appeared to be deeply
concerned over the death of Mrs. Ihurs.
ton. The President and the secretary OF
State have united in sending to senator
Thurston, through Consul General Lee,
condolences upon the sad event.
The navigation bureau of the navy de-
partment is receiving reports OF the re-
suits of the efforts making at various
recruiting stations to obtain men fof Sne
navy.
Lieut.. Very, the representative Of the
Howell torpedo company, has submitted
to the war department. u proposition to
supplement the defenses of the larger
coast ports, such as New York and Bos-
ton, by equipping q number of light
draft and steam launches with torpedo
outfits. The government, however. has
heretofore regarded automobile tofpe-
does as proper instruments for naval use
and is scarcely disposed to change poll
cies at this date.
At. the navy department today report
came from the Capitol that majority OF
the naval affairs committee is disposed
to substitute six battleships for the three
provided for in the pending naval ap-
preparation bill. This number is sup
posed to represent about the normal
working capacity of the three shipbu1ld-
ing concerns in this country that are able
at present to undertake the construction
of battleships.
The Notifications board began its ses-
sions today in the war department.. The
proceedings are guarded zealously against
it publication.
The gunboat Annapolis has started
home from the West Indies, leaving
Curacao yesterday directly for Key West.
She has number Of apprentices aboard
and it is not determined whether she
will be attached to the squadron. The
torpedo boat Winslow arrived at Key
West yesterday. The steel tug Samoset
arrived at Beaufort yesterday morning
and proceeded Immediately on her way
to Key West in the afternoon. The torpedo
boat Foote also sailed from Charleston
FOR Jacksonville yesterday. The tug Ley
don arrived at League Island today. she
Will pick up a coal lighter and tow 1t to
Key West for use in coaling the squad
ron. The Fern arrived at Key West last
evening.
A representative of the Winchester
Arms company was in conference today
office of the bureau of ordnance OF the
army. with view to examining various
patterns of rifles made by this concern
and of ascertaining how speedily these
could be furnished in large quantities in
case of emergencies. Samples OF TWO OF
the latest patterns of 30 calibre rifles,
one Winchester and the other Lee
straight pull gun, were examined. No
contracts were made. but the conference
led to full understanding. The repre-
sentative of the Winchester company stat
ed that the present commercial demand,
particularly that connected with the
Klondike excitement, kept the company
at its full capacity, but that government
orders would be filled without reference
to these private obligations. The COM
pany has force of 2200 men and by work
ing 10 hours day with several shifts, 1T
is believed that the government could be
supplied with rifles at a very rapid rate.
A large number of Winchesters could be
supplied at once.
Bids were opened in the quartermas-
terss office of the war department today
for transporting some OF the artillery bat
teries that are to man the fertilization
works recently completed. The batteries
for whose movements proposals vert
received. include the following: Battery
L, 4th Artillery, from Fort McHenry,
Md, to Fort Delaware; battery, !, 4th
artillery, from WaSnlnSbOH, ~ ", UdT-
racks to Fort Mott, near Fort Delaware; !;
Battery E, 4th ARTILLERY, from Fort Mo n
roe to Sheridanas Point on the Potomac;
Battery l, I'd Artillery, from Fort Mon
roe to Fort Casweli, near the mouth of
the Cape Fear; Battery F. 1st Artillery,
from Fort Monroe to Tybee Island. Ga. !;
Battery l, 1st Artillery, from Fort Mon
roe to Fort Morgan, Ia.
The Pennsylvania railroad received the
contract for transporting the batteries
from Washington to Fort Mott, and Fort
| McHenry to Fort Delaware.
Other batteries that are to be moved as
result of recent orders to man fortifica-
tions are:
Battery G, lst Artillery, from St. Au-
eustine to Sullivan's Island, Charleston
Rarbor; Light Battery b, 4th Artillery.
from Fort Riley, kas., to Jacksonville
barracks. La. Light Battery T, 4th Ar
tillery, from Fort Artillery to Fort Mon
roe; Light Battery c.. f., 9th Artillery.
iron, Fort Riley to Savannah, Ga; the
Light Battery at Fort Sam Houston,
Texas, to Galveston; Fifth Artillery, two
batteries, from Fort Slocum for Fort
Hancock; one battery from Fort Hads-
worth to Fort Hancock, and one battery
from Fort Hamilton to Fort Hancock !;
Second Artillery, one battery from Fort
Adams to Long Island Head.