The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-13

rapidly the placing eF orders for enor-
nous quantities Gf supplies, the insti-
tuition of negotia. .0ns for the purchase
of ships abroad, SAse enlistment of men
for the navy, the creation Of two ad-
ditional regiments of artillery, the
commissioning of monitors, cruisers
and rams, the manning Of new posts
along the seacoasts and finally the re-
arrangemnt of the great military de-
partments to meet modern conditions
In military practice.
The sending of the Oregon, now at
Mare island, away from San Francisco
is an exhibition Of the far-s -sightedness
with which the secretary of the navy
is observing the situation Of today. The
vessels orders are to cruise down the
Pacific coast, touching in from time to
time at various ports where cable con-
nectionS exist, to receive any orders
that the department may have to give
In this way 1T Is expected that she will
work as far south as Valparaiso, Chile.
where she will await orders. Valpa-
raiso is very much nearer to Cuba and
to Admiral Sicard's fleet than Mare
island, while, if it should be desired to
send the ship to the Asiatic station.
this can be done almost as convenient
ly from Valparaiso as from San Fran
cisco. AT Valparaiso the Oregon will
be where she can be most usefully
manipulated In case of an emergency
Talk on Finances.
The president held a long conference
at the White house about noon today
with Secretaries Alger, Long and Gage.
1t is presumed that their subject Of
discussion was the finances Of the stu
alton, "a subject which could not be
fully treated at the cabinet meeting
yesterday owing to the short session.
After the conference the statement was
again made, with the emphasis that
has characterized every utterance On
the subject by the presidents consti-
tutional advisers, that up to date the
administration has absolutely no
knowledge of the cause of the disas-
ter of the Maine, and that it has no
report Of any kind from the court of
inquiry, or any one connected with it.
The board Of naval bureau chiefs
find it impossible to pass Judgment in
Washington upon the fitness for naval
service of vessels that may be offered
for the auxiliary branch of the navy
at the various seaports. so they have
been aided in their work by the Gre
alton of a special board, which will un-
dertake to visit each of the ports where
ships may be offered and make a care
full personal inspection of the various
craft The board will consist of Capt
Rodgers, Lieutenant Commander Kel-
ley, Passed Assistant Engineer Dixon,
Assistant Naval Constructor Tawresy
and Lieut.. Sergeant. Lieut.. Kelley,
having been specially charged with the
inspection of merchant vessels suitable
for naval service, will be Of great serv-
ice as a member Of the board
The Nashville arrived at Key West
today, while the Marblehead arrived at
Tampa The naval officials will not
state the purpose Of the Marblehead's
visit to Tampa.
Crazy Inventions.
The war talk has had the usual re-
suit Of bringing before the war and
navy departments a perfect flood Of
suggestions and inventions. Many of
these are most remarkable balloons,
flying machines. kites and the like,
centipede-like steamers with manifold
propellors, and torpedoes Of fearful and
wonderful destruction.
All of them are given attention and
referred to the proper authorities for
investigation, but not much Is expect
ed from them.
The war department on Monday will
open bids for one Of the largest or
ders of shot and shell for heavy cali
Der guns ever given, including armor-
piercing projectiles and deck piercing
and torpedo shells. The number and
character of these are as follows:
Nine hundred and thirty-nine twelve-inch
deck-piercing shells, weighing LOO pounds
each.
One thousand two hundred and forty-one
twelve-inch deck piercing shells. weighing
800 pounds each.
Four hundred and eighty-One ten-inch
armor-piercing shells. y.
Four hundred and eighty-two ten-inch
armour r-piercing. shot capped. o,. ,o,
mor-piercing shell.
One hundred and fifty eight-inch armor-
piercing shot, capped.
These projectiles are for the heavy
fertilization guns now mounted along
the seacoast The purchase Is not to
be made under the $5G,000,000 defense
appropriation bill, but is in anticipa-
ton of the fortification bill, which
grants S940, 900 for reserve supply of
projectiles and powder.
Heavy PrOjectiIes.
AS the making Of the heavy projec
tiles will take considerable time the
contract will be let ahead Of the pas
sage Of the bill, assurances having been
given from men in congress that no
question would be raised as to the
regularity of this proceeding.
The entire amount is designed to give
all the heavy guns now installed, and
those to be put in place during the COM
ing year, a full quota of projectiles and
powder.
The twelve-inch shot are among the
largest made The cost of q single
round of this class of pro1ectiles is
$511.
Aside from the large order to be
placed Monday, the emergency bill will
permit additional orders to meet the
requirements Of such fOrtification guns
as may be mounted for emergency. The
present order Is for the actual needs
Of the guns now mounted. without ref
erence to any existing emergency, al
though 1t has been made all the more
imperative by the Spanish crisis.
Munitions Of War.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, March ia special
from Tampa says that large quantity of
munitions of war arrived there last night and
will be transported to DR. zTortugas by the