The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-23

Navy Department officials to the question
OF the acquisition of a suitable location for
q coaiing station somewhere in the West
Indies. Steps have been taken already to
establish such a station at the Dry Tor
tugas, but this, it is said, is the only deep
water harbor available for big war vessels
between Hampton Roads and the Rio
Grande. Besides it is practically unpro-
tccted at present and a fleet would have
TO be stationed there to protect the coal
stored. which is unsatisfactory. The of
ficials. therefore. have been casting about
for a location which would serve the pur-
poses of a cealng station, and which the
United States might acquire either by pur-
chase or cession from one of the friendly
governments. There are a number of fine
harbors among the West Indies, said a
naval officer to-day. and in one of these we
ought to have a coaling station. Secretary
Long is considering the matter, and it is
probable that if the government can make
the necessary arrangements a station will
be secured. The importance of securing
one. the officials point out, is very great
as in the event of hostilities our ships might
be put to very great inconvenience and de-
lay in filling their bunkers when their pres
ence might be needed to protect critical
points.
Captain Barker, naval aid Of the Secre-
tary of the Navy, returned to his desk at
the Navy Department to-day after a few
days absence. He went to Key West on a
secret mission, the exact nature of which
has not been disclosed. Inasmuch as ne
conferred at length with Rear Admiral ST.
card. commanding the North Atlantic
squadron, and with Captain Sampson, presi-
dent of the naval court of inquiry investi-
eating the cause of the Maine disaster there
appears to be good reason for the inference
that his business related to that affair and
its possible consequences. Secretary Long
is authority for the statement that Captain
Barker was not sent to Key West to get the
report of the naval court. and did not bring
1t back with him.
ENLISTMENT OF RECRUITS.
One of the most active branches of the
Navy Department just now Is that engaged
in the enlistment of recruits for various po-
sitions in the service. Yesterday notice was
given by advertis euent that recruiting sta
tions would be opened at a number of cities,
principally on the coast. To-day, in re-
Spouse to representations that have come to
hand. the enlistment bureau gave notice that
1t various cities in the vicinity of the great
lakes. where it is said there are anumber
OF persons who would be willing to enter the
service. Many of them are Scandinavans
who have been at sea in their native coun-
try. The board will consist of Lieutenant
Simon Cook, Surgeon W. A McClung, and
an engineer officer and d boatswain who
have not yet been named. They will visit
0laaI
Seamen, ordinary seamen and machinists of
several classes are wanted, the pay running
from $40 to $40 a month.
Word comes to the department that the
recruiting board, which has been at work
at New Orleans, has accomplished good re-
suits. Fifty men were enlisted at that place
and they are to be shipped promptly to New
York and are to be distributed among the
various ships, according to the exigencies
of the service From New Orleans the
board goes to Galveston to continue its
work. The qualifications requisite for the
enlistment are unusually severe, which ac-
counts for the limited number of men so
far recruited, although some notifications
are made in the cases of sailors who have
heretofore been in the service.
The naval orders to-day were as follows:
Lieut.. j. ]. Blandin, formerly of the
Maine has been ordered to Washington for
examination for promotion and then wait
orders; Lieut.. G. F. w. Holman, also of the
Maine, has been ordered to duty at the
Newport torpedo station; Lieut. F. F.
Fletcher has been detached from the torpe-
do station and ordered to the Bureau of
Ordnance Washington.
The Navy Department was notified to-
day OF the arrival Of the cruiser Cincinnati
sEd the gunboats Castine and Wilmington
at Port Antonio, Jamaica. This is about the
same distance from the south shore of Cuba
as Key West is from the north shore. The
gunboat Marietta announced her arrival at
Panama. The Marblehead has gone from
Port Tampa to Dry Tortugas.
The New Orleans formerly the Anna
zonas) and the San Francisco completed
coaling to-day. The latter cruiser will
await orders. The former will go at 8
o'clock tomorrow morning to Halhaven to
ship powder and ammunition previously or
dered by Brazil, and will then await orders.
At the War Department bids were opened
in the Bureau of Ordnance for supplying
100000 pounds of brown prismatic powder
for the seacoast fertilization guns. There
were only two bidders, the California
Powder Company and the Dupont Powder
Company. The former concern offered TO
supply the powder at the rate of &c. 175 cents
per pound. Twenty-one days after receiv-
ing the contract they will, begin delivering
the powder at the rate of $1,000 pounds
weekly. The Dupont Company bid at 80 10
cents per pound for that to be delivered at
the powder arsenal at Dover, N. J., and
34.l75 cents per pound for that to be deliv-
cred at the Benica Arsenal California,
In a day or two the Ordnance Bureau
will award the contract for supplying the
department two million smokeless powder
rifle ball cartridges of 80 caliber. Two con-
Germs submitted bids for furnishing these
cartridges, the Winchester Arms Company
and the Union Metallic Cartridge Company
both of Connecticut. Their bids were sub
stantially alike and the contract will prob
ably be divided between the two companies
The War Department has received infor-
nation of the recent arrival at New York
of the steamer Nordkyn. with 500 pounds
of foreign smokeless powder aboard This
powder is Cor testing purposes at the Sandy
Hook proving grounds.