The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-08


very similar in general features to the
army rifle, using the same cartridge
of thirty gauge and with about as
great rapidity of fire. The plants of
these. companies are so extensive that
they could turn the arms out very rap
idly, so that the Springfield armory, in
the hands of the military, could be re-
placed in short order.
Ammunition.
1t is said that no contracts for the
purchase of naval ammunition have
been closed, but the department has
informed itself fully as to how speed
lily it could secure every kind of am
munition and supplies in case of emer-
gency. This inquiry has shown that
the facilities of this country are ample
to meet any demand for powder, pro-
jectiles, cartridge cases, primers, fuses,
etc. These supplies are not kept in
stock, however, and in case of emer-
gency 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 ma
val department is five million pounds
a month, which would more than meet
the demands of the government. At
present there is not enough ammuni-
ton on hand.
Plenty of Money in the Treasury.
The appropriation Of $50,O0O000 for
the national defense will not involve
the issue of bonds. This announce
ment was made by the treasury Off
cials, who stated that the treasury was
amply prepared to meet any demands
that will likely be made upon it. On
February / the cash in the treasury
amounted to s856571, ,766, of which $204,-
O63,971 was gold, S511, ,S5S, ,S34 silver, $107,-
564,95S paper currency and $33,0S4,002
disbursing officers balances, etc. The
net available cash on hand, above all
liabilities, amounts to $685. 564, ,203
No Fear for Montgomery's Safety.
1t il. not felt at the navy department
that the people of the Montgomery are
taking any particular risks in going to
Havana at this time, for it is said that
even should hostilities break out, it
is a rule of honorable warfare that
they be given safe convoy out of the
waters of the hostile country. OF
course General Lee and the members
of the court of inquiry at Havana
would be equally exempt from molesta-
ton. The commander of the Montgom-
cry is Converse The ship carries a
crew of 228 men of all classes.
|, Recruiting.
Without delay the officers Of the ad-
jutant generals department to-day
gave orders for recruiting the two new
artillery regiments authorized by con-
gress. The purpose is to enlist such
men as have had service in the artil-
lery wherever possible and no doubt is
entertained that plenty of material OF
ther. light kind will offer. The officers
Of the new regiment are now being Sc
lected 1t is the plan to assign fifteen
soldiers from existing artillery regi-
ments as the nucleus of each new
company to take hold of and break in
the new men who are enlisted. The
headquarters of one Of the new regi-
ments will be established at Fort Slo-
cum in Long Island Sound, command
ing New York. The destination of the
other regiment has not been decided
upon.
No News From Naval Court.
No report has come to the navy de-
partment since Saturday relative to the
work of the court of inquiry and the
news is confined to the reports of the
newspapers, which are carefully scan
ned by the officers. The Castine, which
was docked at Port of France, has
sailed for Barbados. The torpedo boat
| Winslow has arrived at Charleston er
route to Key West. The Oregon, which
has been fitted with keels at the Brem-
erton dock on Puget Sound, has sailed
TO San Francisco