The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-26
TIE SINEWS OF WAR.
NAVY AND ARMY BOTH STOCKING
TIP on ORDNANCE.
munitiun, but There Arc Not
Enough Gun Carriages.

Washington, March 25.-The only naval
movement reported to the navy department
today was the departure OF the tug Leyden
from the League island navy yard for Key
West This tug is one of the largest yes
sells of that description ia the navy, is
o. $50 tons displacement and has an IN
dictated horse power of $40 Bouts of this
character are valuable for carrying dis
patches between ships OF the leet and for
transporting freight anil it is supposed
she will be used for these purposes by Cap
tain Sampson.
There was the usual activity around the
war Office today. The ordnance officers
ana the engineer department arc both busy
al work making ready to eXpeud the money
allotted to than out of Inc sac 100000 emer-
geney fund, purchasing munitions OF war
shipping them to the coast fortihcatons
and putting the latter in effective condi-
zion. The ordnance officer is much better
OH In the number of rapid fire guns of
formidable character. ammunition and pro-
Jectiles than IN the number OF carriages
for the guns.
II has been the practice of the bureau
to acquire first guns. in supplying which
the contractors require much moro time
than for furnishing dmmunitioA. projectles
on carriages. The main need OF The ser
wee just now is an adequate supply OF
gun carriages and ii Is hoped 10 secure
large number OF them Gu! of the alot-
ments made to the bureau and from the
money made available by the fortified.
ions bill. Bids We're opened recently Tor
supplying eight, ten and twelve-inch gun
carriages and as soon as The officials know
lhe precise amount Of money DIT their dis
posal Tor the purpose awards viii be made
The work Oh the Dry foriugAs, Al which
ulece the navy department is TO establish
a coalins station, viii begin as soon as
me piana for that purpose have been
adopted. 1t IS thought Captain Duvall.
The military aide 10 Secretary Niger. who
lett here last night and is regarded ms
an expert IN artillery matters. win make
the service at Tormgas
me ordnance bureau expects TO buv IN
an about forty six rapid fire guns from
@nIoad Tor me sea coast fortncstions.
captain Shoemaker, chief OF the revenue
cutter slrVlce, was busy today making as
sislineGts OF officers to the revenue cutters |
detailed yesterday for defensive service |
along the Atlantic seaboard Every vessel |
In me service available for action has baen |
or viii be assigned to duty Even the new |
cutter Greshai~, on the great lakes. and
the little cutter Calumet. located at Chi |
N"SN, nave pten tdllel on. and In 4 daY or
Two both the lake ships will be en- route In |
Hampton Roads. They vii. make the trim
TO thc Atlantic seaboard through the ST.
Lawrence river The commanders of the
revenue cutters have been notified by wire
10 move as soon rs their general orders ara
received. a.
captain Shoemaker said if would require
about week for all the vessels to reach
Hampton Reads.
AT the navy yards these vessels Will re
ceive their equipment, guns, ammunition
torpedoes and supplies and will make sucl,
other preparations as aro necessary for
them The vessel are first rate sea- going
,rait and all Of them are fitted with eff
.ective batteries. Their speed varies from
10 twenty knots
AS soon as they are prepared for service
they Will be dispatched to Key West ana
placed at the dispo'al OF Commodore samp-
son. IN command of the naval squadron AZ
hat station.
The cutters will be employed MS scout
u picket boats and will be prepared far
10Th offensive and defensive service. II IA
hought they viii prove 10 be pretty for
nldabie ships even IN aggressive tactics.