The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-10
FUND NOT YET ALLOTTED.
Information Sought Concerning Ships
Being Built.
NOT EVEN AN OPTION SECURED.
war Department Arranging to See
cure Half n Million Modern
Straight Pull Gun Favored.

Washington, March e.-The feature OF The
days events was the promptitude with winch
the seLate passed the house bill carrying the
appropriation OF s5o,0OO,o00 for National de-
Tense and the haste with which 1t was put
through the formal proceedings, engrossed
and be signed by the president. While the
matter has been cleared, 1t can be stated that
the fund has not yet been allotted among the
various branches OF the government service.
Each OF these has prepared roughly anr ap,
proxinately an estimate OF the funus IL cou,u
dsuLge of to advantage, but upon LOOKING
Over the ground the president concludes II
would be well, perhaps, to avoid making the
allotment until the necessity becomes hP
parent. The reason back OF this is That the
sum which can be probably spent Tor war
ships can not even be guessed at with any
apTi o. imation to accuracy Just now.
A the ships are to be hrst-class and also
first choice in the steps Tor defense, UNI, "a
their cost is sscertained IL is not possible to
divide the remainder of the appropriation
amons the other branches OF the military and
naval services. The secretary OF the navy Is
making every effort to secure from our naval
attsches and diplomatic officers abroad an
the information obtainable respecting the
number Of ships building, their price ana
ether data. This does not necessarily inter
feco with the execution of the plans conhdeu
to Captain Brownson, who sailed for South
amptoI today, but rather promises to assist
hiin materially IN making speed with his in
quiries.
Ut TO this moment not only has the United
States government bought not warships. but
IT, has not even secured an option on one.
There are many applications coming 90 the &C.
partment from pcrscus and films VINO desire
to soil ships to the government, but In most OF
these cases enc oil two fatal obstacles Is en-
rountcred to tho coDsumration OF the sale
either the craft cnered is rot suitable Tor
naval leeds or tie data OF possible com
pletion is So distant--fron, three months up
ward-that Il can rot be regarded as worthy |
Of purt chase to meet an emergency. There is |
css difficulty experienced in securing ten |
iers o. war materiui. such as shot ana shell |
md powder, and the naval department has al
most assured itself of an abundant supply OF |
!ertsiI, kinds of snokeless powder abroad at
ihcit notice.
The officials of the department are III daily
'cr! espondence by mail and telegraph with
gents of ammunition houses, and besides are |
lo~ fully acquainted with the plans of do
nestle powder makers for eniarGing their
,lants to meet an emergency. Inc repre-
of the armormakng firms are III
consultation with the department relative 10
he ssupply for gun forging and such material
or use in the gunsbops here and at Water
lite. Conn, but the question of armor is re-
ewing little attention, as the arlnor makers
eport that they can not undertake. by any
nGNn agency, TO turn out such armor as
Would be required for amodern battleship in
egs than seven months, for the reason that
he tcmpering and face hardening can not be
listened without destroying the value or tue
rniof. Thus 1T has been demonstrated to the
avy department that 1t will not be possible
0 make the arnor for the supports OF batue-
h.rs-three in number-now building at New
OFT News and at Cramps and at the Union
ron works in San Francisco, In time to ut
lese ships far better, IL is claimed, tnan any
Tered from abroad for sale. available for
ny emergency that may arise, this year.
The war department is arranging 10 secure |
large supply of the most modern rifles, SAT |
cient in time of emergency to arm force
oOO,OOO men. The need of these modern |
hns has long been apparent, but congress
us not shown disposition to supply any
serve OF rifles for use by a volunteer force
time of emergency. Now. however, an ade-
iaio supply Of the most effective rifles Will
: among the first uses TO which the war ae-
irtment will put Its share of the defense I
lnd. {
1t was stated by high officials OF the depart {
ent today that no board was necessary to
quiie into the merits Of the various guns on
e market but that the department would
rn TO the best source OF supply. These, it
SAID are ample within the United States
turn out rifles of the most approved pat
m as fast as the government wants them
IS unlikely. however, that the demand viii | .
quire the army to turn from the Krag-
feson rlhe, now in use, and adopted IN ! c
III Ei least. by one of the American made O
ms General Miles favors the straight pun ;,
IN 1t is OF American make and has baon a
o7,ed by the British government as the
GUARD arm, a million being now in the ,
nus Oh the British soldiers, General Miles .
o,.'il'hueu us adoption eighteen years ago C
,9 member OF board for the choice of b
flEe. lie continues his advocacy of ii. and
VIEW OF ms ranking position in the army +,
view Will have much weight "
ms gun is used by the United States nny, II
= that iact is being urged as another poInt p
- favor, as the reserve SUNNY wouId ha
''iaoie Tor either branch OF the government | cl
we, Inc ordnance bureau OF the war DO | +,
'lhlent mas control OF the letting of oon. l.,
~ ior riiies, small arms, etc " "
ne oihclals OF the bureau observe great u
lVehce' ieeilng That the publication of what III
= ar soine 10 DO would prejudice the in 10
$500 "a INC government But the closing al &C
~ eNts Is AZ most question of time for | M
heads OF the departments are agreed rho, =, -
'Se supplies are tho first to be secured y"
my attention ~ being given to the eun GO
no o VI power, cartridges. etc., for tho armv III
11sv III authority say orders can he nIISs
i,vut ueiay and that about the only bronch
~, ~ nailce on which the facilities ara no,
~ W 10 an emergency today are those ~
IVY fortifcation guns '' 'hose Oh G,
,oda ntnu9hea, the Brazilian minister. w
mo ,,s, ~ nau received no information as G
4, M ~, negotiations toward the purcbase aS Se
y man warships now in course ~ n,. ot is
/, ~, ~ 'oleish yards. In other official onar he
+, r"e IMPRESSION is growing that there 10 Sc
" plospect oil securing ships row buiiG,n. sa
1iseh,ihe ana China. Brazil s,as hn | -
~ OF iate IN building up her navy o and v.
ir - uoubt OF her Willingness to nnr, u anh
A., lips Ups now building for her. These ~"
,r,, ve smo lIohciads building at the Arm
tbyea ,Mo ifonelads building in Frarna
nam Soipeuo boat catchers al stet,in
thars' considerable money has boan ~,
tnese vessels and they are cons, Soea Phiu
ferty Of Brazil. 'ohs'uered the 4