The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-08

ers, such as the Sokul, of the Russian navy,
vessels of 300 tons, able to keep the sea in
bad weather, a weak point with our own
boats, and capable Of enormous speed, such
as thirty-two knots. But such craft are not
for sale at all times; they are built to or
der generally and could not be procured in
this manner in less than six months from
the date of contract, even in Europe, un-
less special prices were paid. There is no
disposition on the part of the Navy De-
partment to lumber the navy with lot of
unserviceable craft in spasm of fear, but
rather to get a few of the best vessels to
be had.
OFFERS OF WAR SHIPS.
The offers of ships to the Navy Depart
ment are now assuming definite and formal
shape During the day Secretary Long re-
ceived a call from A. F. Lane, represent
ing the Maxim -Nordenfeldt Company, and
the agent for several war vessels now near
ing completion in large foreign ship yards.
These include two cruisers of the type of
the Cincinnati, which are designed to be
twenty-knot vessels, and two ironclads of
fourteen knots which would be called third
class battle ships under our rating. These
are now open to purchase, and it is under
stood that Mr.. Lanes visit was in this con-
nection. The two cruisers are $50 feet long,
43 feet beam and 16 feet draft They carry
six siX-inch and four five-inch guns, and an
auxiliary battery. The ironclads have a
thirteen and three-quarter inch belt of Har-
veyized steel. Their armament is two ten
inch guns, four fve-inch, two six-inch six
six-pounders and four one-pounders. Mr..
Lane regards these ships as first-class in
every particular, as they were designed on
modern principles and are being built by
one of the leading shipbuilding firms of
Europe. They are we'll along toward COM
pletion, and all four, it is said, could be in
commission within q few months. They
were originally designed for one of the
South American republics but there is said
to be no obligation which would prevent
their acquisition by the United States. Mr..
Lane recently sold the Navy Department
sixty of the Maxim -Nordenfeldt rapid fire
guns, and his standing with officials is such
as to give his representations as to the
ships much weight.
There are things that are wanted much
more than war ships in case Of trouble and
the army shares these needs, so that a
fair proportion of the $50 200. 900 would have
to go to the War Department. These are
abundant supplies of shot and shell and
powder. The army is as short as the navy
of these essential stores 1t been found,
greatly to the qualification the army
officers that there will not nearly as
much difficulty in securing - dern arms
for the army, even on a war footing, as
was anticipated. This is because certain
private gunmakers have just brought out
a type of repeating rifle very similar in
general feature to the army rifle, using
the same cartridge of 80 gauge and with
a nc nil 80 gr1.U
of these companies are so extensive that
they could turn the arms out very rapidly
so that the Springhelds in the hands of
the militia could be replaced in short order
In connection with the subject of pur-
chasing naval ammunition 1t is said that
no contrar' have been closed, but the de-
partment has informed itself fully as to
how speed iy II could secure yery kind of
ammunition e'76 SUI -la4es ih case of emer-
gency. This inquiry has shown, in a gem
eral way, that the facilities of this coun-
try are ample to meet any demand for pow
der, proJectiles, cartridge cases, primers
fuses, etc. These supplies are not kept in
stock, however, and in case of emergency
they would have to be made on orders. 1t
is said that the capacity of one firm for
turning out the brown prismatic powder
required by the navy is five million pounds
a month, which would more than meet the
demand OF conflict
While no exact estimate has been made
of the share of $4,000 900 appropriation to
be allowed to ammunition, it is roughly
estimated that at least $40. 900 900 would be
assigned, owing to the enormous cost of
refilling the ammunition chests of the war
ships now in service. At present there is
not enough ammunition on hand for one
refilling beyond that now on board. A single
refilling costs $3,0000OO. Each first-class
battle ship carries four hundred tons of
ammunition. With the amounts on hand
and the refills which are being calculated
on, the navy would have an ample supply
of ammunition, even if the ships were
called into frequent action. Naval officers
explain that a refill will last through sew
eral engagements, owing to the limit of
endurance of men while in action If the
guns could be worked constantly a refill
would be exhausted in one heavy engage
ment, but the guns, as well as the men,
have their limit of endurance. These con-
siderations have all been taken into account
in the rough general estimates that have
been made as to the refills requisite for a
suitable equipment of the American feet.
A naval officer wnose name was not OBJ
tainable, will leave mere tomorrow on his
way to Europe to inspect naval vessels that
are building there