Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-03-18
renorted "a Ihe Navy Depart

purchasing huge quantities Of food
stuffs, apparently for use by the
Japanese army aud navy, were vetihed
here today by the EiiIeau Of statistics ct
the Department OF Commerce and
Labor. The Foreign Trade Repoh
issued b. the tapanes.. government Tor
the year 1909, contains list OF num-
Der Of significant impottatiois Nearly
81 900, 900 was spent by the japanese
government in 1909 for rice alone.
while s7l5, 5GS was paid for flour and
S4l, 500 was spent for wheat. These
figures represent only wheat was spent
for foreign products. They do not in
ciude domestic purchases. Among
other noticeable importations is coal,
for which the government spent more
than one-half million dollars. Exten-
sive purchases Of fire arms and explo-.
sirea were also made.
The attention OF ordnance officers OF
both the army and the navy is today
focused on the preparations for the
big gun practice to be held in Chesa-
peake bay Monday, with the San Mar
cos formerly the battleship Texas as
the target. AS the conditions Of the
practice will be identical with those OF
actual battle, the experiments are re-
garded as the most important in the
history Of the navy. Twelve inch shells
will be fired at the Texas with full
powder charges behind them. The at
tempt will be 10 pierce the armor OF
the Texas. The shells to be used will
be adjusted to explode after penetrating
the armor, and the chief lesson
Of the test will he in oh
seryingthe effect OF shell e1-
blossoms inside Of the battleship. II is
expected that great damage will he
wrought but the ordnance officers be
lieye it will DC veil worth while. 80
certain are the officers that the iuterio1of
| the San Marcos will be torn to pieces that
no living thing will be left on the yes
sci during the firing, not even q cat or
a chicken. Ii Is probable that manni-
kins will be placed in the turrsts, SO
that the probable fate Of gunneta will
be indicated. Besides army and navy
ordnance officers who will witness the
firing, the entire Atlantic fleet will as
semble at the target ground during the
tests. The New Hampshire's guns
will be used for the firing. while all the
other feet vessels will observe results.
| Ia accordance with the decision OF
| the War Department to strengthen tue
defenses OF Hawaii, two battallions OF
the second infantry will sail from San
Francisco next Tuesday for Honolulu.
The troops are now enroute for oan
Francisco from Port Thomas, KY.
The third battalion Of this regiment
now at Fort D. A. Russell. Wyoming, is
under orders to 90 to Hawaii ID June.
With the arrival Of this battalion. the
military forces in Hawaii will consist OF
one regiment Of infantry: one regiment
| Of cavalry, one battery Of field artillery
liza addition to the troops required to man
the coast artillery defenses. 1t is
planned 10 send more troops when
they arc available and maintain q bri'
gade at the Hawaiian post.
After many months of negotiations,
| it was learned today, the State Depart
nent 1illwithdraw from the controversy
between German and American potash
interests. leaving the question to be
settled directly by the parties concern
| ed. This decision IS considered to reg
lister another failure Of the Knoz oiplo-
macy, and constitutes the concession TO
| Germany OF the point maintained BY
that government from the first. Ger
MANY commended 10 The early days OF
the dispute that it vas not q question
for diplomatic Intercourse, aud con
sented to take it up through diplomatic
channels only at the earnest solicitation
Of the State Department. The only
result Of the negotiations has been TO
convince the department that 1t must
admit the correctness OF the German
view point. This was done III note
despatched to the German ambaisalof
this week. The potash dispute arises
over the imposition OF an export tax
upon German potash products. which
constitute a practical monopoly Of the
worlds supply. This tax interfered
with the contracts OF American potash
purchasers, who are Germany's hest
Transformers. The sums involved are
vast, and practically every farmer IS
interested. 1t was the hysterical proteS-
tations Of the American Interests which
caused the State Department to take up
| the matter. Ambassador Hill IS due
to arrive from Germany today, sum
uoned ostensibly for the purpose OF
discussing the potash question. In
view OF The tact that Germany will
gladly accept the suggestion that the
matter be settled hy the business in
terests concerned, il is difficult TO
tathom the real purpose OF his sum
mons to Washington.
The State Department today cablad
to China 81 600 for the relief OF the
famine sufferers il that country. The
money vas collected by the Red
Cross.
The State Department vas notified
today Of the suspension OF the guarantee
Of the Mexican constitution By Tres!.
Dental decree, in dispatch from
Charge bearing at Mexico City,
In response to representation made
70 the Mexican federal authorities
a, Ciudad. aud Henry Whittle, charged
with participation in the Instruction
will be released ST once: