The Portland daily press., 1898-03-26

twelve men will be needed to man her.
Word reached the Navy Department
officials today that Spanish officials have
taken steps to supplement- the existing
fortifcatioGs at san Juan de Puerto
Rico, She main port of the island OF Porto
Rico. The news is regarded as significant.
Porto Rico is the only other possession
which belongs to Spain in this hemis-
phere besides Cuba. The officials of the
department while acknowledging that
information of the foregoing character
has reached them, are yet very chary
about imparting any of the details to the
press. The city of Puerto Rico Is fortified
after the style prevalent in early days, the
defenses consisting of u wall which COM
pletely encircles it, of several forts at
strategic points while the only points of
egress and ingress are through massive
gates These Notifications are being
strengthened and the armament has teen
increased by two large guns of formidable
pattern and calibre. San Juan has 20. 1874
Inhabitants.
General Flagler, chief of ordnance of the
army, today had a long conference with
Secretary Alger with reference to
additional guns and gun carriages. A
few days ago, Secretary Alger allotted to
General Flagler 81 10000 from the
emergency appropriation made by Con-
gress to be used by the ordnance bureau
in the discretion of General Flagler. This
amount although large, was not in the
opinion of General Flagler sufficient to
meet the requirements of the present
emergency and his conference with the
Secretary was to obtain an additional
allowance. After a careful canvass OF the
situation, Secretary Alger gavo General
Flagler a liberal additional allotment
from the appropriation but no informa-
tion would be obtained as to it's amount.
The sum must be very considerable
one, however, as General Flagler said
that it was to be used to cover provisional
contracts entered into for the construction
of the new guns Of various calibres and
their carriages.
Pending action OH the court inquiry
Lieut.. Commander Mark, toe judge ad-
vocate will be on special duty in the
office of thu judge advocate general The
enlistment of men for the naval service is
progressing satisfactorily at the Washing
ton navy yard, and q good class of men is
being enlisted. Heretofore the enlistments
have been confined to ratings OF
machinists, seamen and ordinary seamen.
On the Recommendation of Lieut.. Robin
son, the recruiting officer in charge of the
rendezvous, the Navy Department has
authorized him to include the enlistment
of coal passers and fremen SO that now
the enlistments comprehend every rating
of the enlistment service.
Lieut.. Colwell at London, has been
directed by the Navy Department to urge
the builders of the recently purchased
cruiser Albany formerly the Brazilian
vessel A beouall to hasten the construction
of the ship with all possible speed. In the
ordinary course of work the vessel would
not be com pleted before next December
but is believed by officials of the Navy
Department that if the builders are placed
under pressure she can be made ready fol
sea within three months and perhaps In {
little less time,
Some of the other more important de
velopments of the day may be- srlmma
riAed as follows:
acquisitions were made on the nava
ordnance bureau for a large number O
quick-6re four-pounder and six-poundel
guns to be mounted on the revenue cut
tiers and the steam yachts about to bt
purchased. The bureau determined to ust
the quick guns for these craft which
had been originally intended for the AT
lantic liners St. Paul and St. Louis
Capt. Bradford, chief of naval equip
msnt, completed plans for securing {
naval coaling station in waters south o.
Cuba and the papers are now ready for
final action. The station will not be or
Nayassa island, AS had been suggested,
but it is likely to be one of the severa
line harbors of Hayti or San Domingo,
or else on the Danish island of st Thom-
as. which is open to pun chase from Den
mark Tor considerable SUN.
Late today the battleship Texas was
ordered from Hampton Roads to the New
York navy yard to receive her ma
ohinery for hoisting ammunition and
guns.