The San Francisco call. [volume], February 25, 1898, Page 6, Image 3

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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THE NATION PREPARING FOR WAR.
INCREASE
OF SEAMEN
FOR NAVY
Plans for Manning the
Auxiliary Vessels Are
Now Considered.
Information Sought From the
Naval Militia Concerning the
Smaller Craft That Can
Be Armed.
XETV YORK. Feb. 24.— The Herald's
Washington correspondent telegraphs:
Besides giving orders for enlistment of
an unlimited number of able-bodied
seamen, the Navy Department to-day
contracted for an additional supply of
g"uns for arming auxiliary cruisers.
Seamen are required, it was officially
told, for gunnery on the training-ship
Lancaster, which will go into conunis
sion in April, the cadet training-ship
Monongahela, the dispatch-boat Dol
phin and the training-ship Alliance. I
was also told it is difficult to get good
seamen and that the navy will take all
who offer themselves. The department
believes it will be a good plan to get
as many seamen as posible who will
be ready for any service that may be
required. I understand Secretary Long
is seriously thinking of the advisability
of placing the monitor Miantonomoh
(now at League Island navy-yard) In
commission, this monitor being intend
ed for the defense of Philadelphia. The
cruisers Minneapolis and Columbia,
also at League Island, will be placed in
: iissi.>!i at an early date if the Sec
retary regards the situation sufficiently
serious. Many seamen are required for
these ships, and in the event of emerg
ency the seamen enlisted for the
-Mninngahela and Alliance will un
doubtedly be placed on board the ves
sels at L'-'asui 1 Island. In not placing
a limit on the number of seamen to be
enlisted, the department appreciated
that there would be no danger of ex
ceeding the number allowed by law.
Even should the number be exceeded,
the department understands the naval
• :• hi!?, which will soon be
r' ported favorably to the House, au
thorizes an increase of the enlisted
force.
The bill reported provides that the
!■>!.:] number of men and boys in gen-
I service and under training shall
■* exceed 11,800 men and 1200 boys.
The present law only permits an elist
mont of 11,000 men and COO boys, so
that the total increase authorized will
imt to SOO men and 750 boys. Al
though It is said at the department
that this is not sufficient it is appre
ciated that it will enable the depart
ment to place all the monitors and the
Minneapolis and Columbia in commis
sion without difficulty.
A contract for guns for auxiliary
cruisers was entered In to to-day by
O.ptain O'Nell, chief of the Bureau of
Ordnance of the Navy Department,
v.-'.th the American Ordnance Com
pany. It provides for supplying to the
-tment thirty six-pounder rapid
fire guns. They will not be delivered
before summer. Captain O'Neil told
rr.e there was no significance attached
!' the contract. He said the company j
■"■"mpleted several days ago its con
tract made with the department some
months ago, and that in order to keep
the works in operation he had deter
mined to make another contract. The
puns will cost $1100 each, making the
t >tal contract 533.000. I understand
that the Naval Committee has included
In the bill an item appropriating $250,-
0"0 for the purchase of reserve guns
for the auxiliary cruisers instead of
$5r'9,00G5 r '9,OOG as recommended by Captain
O'Nell. Thp guns now available for
auxiliary crulserß Include forty-nine
four-inch, forty five-inch and forty-one
six-inch. As a reserve for the navy
there are on hand four eight-inch, four
tt-n-iruh, two twelve-inch and two
thirteeen-inoh. The department also
has on hand a moderate supply of guns
of one and six plunder types.
Besides the vessels mentioned In the
Herald this morning as being availa
ble for service as auxiliary cruisers, the
department has taken measures to as
certain the number of small steam ves
sels which would be useful as gunboats,
tugs as rarr.s and steam yachts as tor
pedo boats.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt sent ln-
structions to the various militia organi
zations In all parts of the country call-
Ing for this information. He instructed
them to classify craft. For instance,
he desires to know how many steam
vessels In the district are capable of
maintaining' a speed of from nine to
twelve knots at sea in ordinary weath
er and 'sufficiently strong and stable to
carry a battery of at least two '•♦-inch' j
and four 6-pounder rapid firing {runs. In i
order to ascertain the number of tugs |
that would be available for use as rams i
the department has directed naval mi
litia ' fleers to report only such iron
and steel tugs as shall be particularly
heavy in construction, especially for
ward, and have a speed of about twelve
knots and a displacement of not less
than 250 tons. Upon such tugs will be !
mounted at least two 6-pounder rapid !
firing kuij«. {
The instructions of the Assistant Sec- j
retary contemplate a division erf steam !
yp.chts as torpedo boats Into three
vlaspes. Yachts of the first claps mum j
rt.'ive a speed: of 13 knots an hour for :
two consecutive hours, and be capable |
i>f mounting, two Whitehead torpedo !
tubfc--, long; ami short, and two six
pounder rapld-flre guns. Yachts of the I
second class must have a speed of from j
v to is knots, and be sufficiently strong j
to mount one TVh!tehead to-rpedo tube
and one one-pounder rapid-fire gun.
Yachts to be available as torpedo
launches must have a speed of from
9 to 14 knots per hour, and carry one
short Howell or WhiHehead torpedo
tube and one one-pounder gun.
It was officially reported to the Navy
Department to-day that the monitor
Terror had left Norfolk for Hampton
Roads, where she arrived a few hours
later. Secretary Long said this even
ing that in directing that the Terror
and Puritan be placed in commission
he was actuated solely by a desire to
keep up the armored strength to the
point occupied before the destruction
of the Maine. As to the movements of
the Terror, the Secretary said she
would either go to some northern port
or join the North Atlantic squadron.
It can be positively stated that the
Terror will proceed to New York in
case the Vizcaya should remain at that
port an indefinite period.
The cruiser Cincinnati reached the
Barbadoes to-day, and the Castine will
officially report her arrival at that
place to-morrow. These vessels will
remain at that port until further or
ders.
The only exact information received
by the Navy Department from Havana
during the day was conveyed in Cap
tain Sigsbee's telegram, which said:
"HAVANA. Feb. 24.— Long. Secre
! tary of the Navy: Wrecking tug Right
Arm arrived yesterday. Begins work
to-day, lfacfa encumbering metal must
be blasted away in detail. Navy divers
down aft seven days, forward four
days. Bodies of Jenkins and Merritt
not found. Two unidentified bodies of
crew found yesterday. After compart
ment filled with detached broken and
buoyant furniture and fittings, mud
and confusion. Spanish authorities con
tinue offers of assistance and care for
wounded and dead. Everything that
goes from the wreck to the United
States should be disinfected. Wrecking
company should provide for this.
"The surgeon of the Maine, after con
sulting with others, has recommended
that all bedding and clothing should be
abandoned. It might go to acclimated
poor. Useless fittings and equipments
might be towed to sea and thrown
overboard. Will take all immediate re
sponsibility, but invite department's
wishes. Shall old metal of superstruc
ture and the like be saved? Friends of
the dead should understand that we are
in the tropics. Chaplain Chidwick is
charged with all matters relative to the
dead. His conduct is beyond praise.
Don't know what reports are being
printed, but the intensely active repre
sentatives of the press here have been
very considerate of me and my posi
tion. SIGSBEE."
Secretary Long immediately replied
to Captain Sigsbee, approving all his
recommendations. He was directed to
have Wainwright, executive officer of
the Maine, make arrangements with
the wreckers for the disinfection of
everything sent to the United States.
GUARD THE" MOUTH
OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
Guns That Will Keep Any Hostile
Fleet Away From the Cities
of the Great Valley.
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 24.— The naval
defense of New Orleans is of particular
interest to the people of the Mississippi
Valley and the big cities along the
j Ohio, Missouri, Red, Cumberland and
: Tennessee rivers, for the simple reason
' that If foreign ships of war were to
j pass Fort St. Phillip and Fort Jackson,
| a contingency by no means impossible,
! the very heart of the most prosperous
section of the United States would be
at their mercy. Fort St. Phillip Is al
most finished and will soon be turned
I over to the Government by Major
Quinn. the engineer in charge. Two
! companies of artillery now quartered
i at Jackson Barracks will soon be de
; tailed at Fort St. Phillip. Fort St.
Phillip will be strongly fitted out in
the way of guns. Two big ten-Inch
rifles are already at the fort, and it
would not, so Major Quinn said to-day,
take more than twenty-four hours to
get them In place if occasion arose for
rush work. The foundations for the
placing of two eight-Inch rifles have
been commenced and are well under
way. The eight-Inch guns have not
arrived, but tho disappearing carriages !
are on their way.
in addition to the eight and t*»n Inch
punp, a battery of rapid-fire guns will
be put In position before the transfer
is made, and there will be In addition,
to round out the armament of the fort,
a battery of twelve steel mortars.
The ten-Inch guns are terrors. They
have a range of twelve miles, and wot
to the ship that attempts to steam past
them. The eight-inch guns are not to
be sneezed at, and the rapid-fire guns
and mortars car. make it hot for an
enemy at closer range. The eight-Inch
guns are mounted on disappearing car
riages and ar» breech-loaders.
Major Quinn has had no Instructions
to rush the fort to completion, and no
i-xtra force of men has been put on.
No color in lent to the rumor that the
Government is preparing for war by
the condition of affairs at Jackson Bar
racks or Fort St. Phillip
To Cure a Cold Irj One Day.
Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. All |
druggists refund th» money If It fails to cure.
25c The genuine has JU B. Q. on each tablet, i
THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1898.
LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER ADOLPH MARIX, U.S.N., Who Is Acting as Judge-
Advocate of the Maine Board of Inquiry.
RELIEF FOR
THE VICTIMS
Unfortunates of the Maine
Are Not to Be Neg
lected.
Uncle Sam Will Also Provide
for Those Who Depended
Upon the Slain.
Boutelle's Bill to Give Twelve
Months' Pay to the Crew or
to Their Heirs.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,
Washington, Feb. 24.
Representative Boutelle of Maine,
chairman of the Committee of Naval
Affairs in the House, introduced a bill
late this afternoon providing for the
relief of the victims of the United
States battle-ship Maine. It follows
generally the lines of the Samoan dis
aster relief bill of 1890, and is the re
sult of several days' conference in com
mittee, and embodies the views of the
administration.
Chairman Boutelle had a conference
with President McKinley to-day, at
which he went over with him the pro
posed legislation, and later submitted
the measure to an Informal meeting of
some of the committee. It will be re
ferred back to the committee, Imme
diately acted on there and its passage
by Congress expedited.
The bill provides for the payment of
twelve months' sea pay to the widow,
child or children, or, If there be none
such, to the parent or parents, or if
neither of those, to the brothers and
sisters, of each of those killed in the
Maine. In addition the legal heirs of
each of the victims shall receive any
arrears of pay due at the time of death.
It is provided, also, that any allot
ments previously made by any of the
deceased in favor of any relatives of
the degrees mentioned, shall be con
tinued for three months, the amounts
so paid to be deducted in the twelve
months' pay otherwise allowed.
Claims for the relief thus provided
must be filled with the Secretary of the
Navy within two years from the date
of the passage of th& bill, and it Is
provided further that such relief shall
be accepted in full compensation and
satisfaction of any and all clamis on
the part of the beneficiaries on ac
count of loss or death through the
destruction of the Maine.
The bill also appropriates $10,000 for
the removal, so far as practicable, and
burial in the United States cemetery at
Arlington, of the remains of the vic
tims, with a further provision that
relatives of any of such deceased may
require the remains to be conveyed to
their homes within the United States
at the Government's expense for burial.
The removal of any body is made rnh
ject to the discretion of the Secretary
of the Navy.
MONITOR IS NEEDED
IN THE KENNEBEC.
j Protection Is Asked for the Bath
Iron Works and Vessels Under
Construction.
NEW YORK. Feb. 24.— A Bath (Me.)
special to the Herald -lays: General T.
W. Hyde hos sent a message to Hon.
Nelson Dingiey, representative In Con
gress of the district in which this city
Is situated, and to the Secretary of
War, asking that one of the monitors
be sent here for the protection of the
Bath Iron Works. It was mentioned
that what repairs might be necessary
could be soon accomplished here and a
monitor would be efficient In protecting
the city of Bath as well as neighboring
cities and towns from an enemy.
In case of war with Spain the ship
building plants along the coast would
naturally immediately receive the at
tention of the Spanish navy, and the
Bath Iron Works, where work is being
rushed on the engines and hulls of two
modern torpedo boats of 30Vi knots
speed, would not be overlooked.-
Lieutenant McGrann of the United
States navy, stationed at the iron
works during the construction of these
boats, was interviewed to-day and said
that he thought it would be very ad
visable to have a monitor in the Ken
nebec for the protection of this impor
tant station. (Jeneral Hyde and Lieu
tenant McGrann have conferred to
gether on the subject and both are of
the same opinion. The lieutenant men
tioned, however, says that doubtless
little destruction would be accomplish
ed by Spanish warships ordered to this
coast if they were only able to advance
as far as the month of the river, as the
enemy would have no target, and it
would be all fuss work and one chance
out of fifty of results being disastrous.
The monitors are designed for navi
gation in sho;il waters, and while they
are not as satisfactory they carry
larger guns than vessels ordinarily of
their tonnage. One of these heavily
armed ironclads could easily protect
this harbor from an enemy coming by
sea.
WARNING GIVEN
AT THE CONSULATE.
A Spaniard. Supposed to Be Ue
ranged. Who Said the Maine
Was Going to Be Blown Up.
NEW YORK. Feb. 24.— A special
cable from Havana to the Evening Sun
says: It is useless to attempt to enu
merate the number of coincident stories
and theories which are circulating on
the causes of the Maine disaster, nearly
all going to prove that the explosion
was intentional.
One of the most mysterious coinci
dences is that a man who seemed to be
a Spaniard came to the American con
sulate a few days before the explosion
and, addressing himself to Mr. Hyatt,
whom he mistook for Consul Lee, said:
"Mr. Consul. I have come to in
form you that the Maine is going to
be blown up. Take the vessel away
and let me go with it, otherwise I
am a lost man."
Hyatt has charge of distribution of
American supplies for reconcen
trados. His desk is at the entrance to
the consulate, and he is daily ap
proached by hundreds of weeping
women and men who are half deranged
owing to the effects of starvation.
He paid no attention to the man,
who then addressed Vice-Consul
Springer. Mr. Hyatt motioned to Mr.
Springer to pay no attention to the
stranger; that he seemed crazy. On
the day before the explosion he came
to the consulate three times. He was
very much excited. Since then no one
has seen him.
COMMANDER BUCKLAND
CALLED TO WASHINGTON.
It Is Evident Naval Reserves Would
Play an Important Part in
Case of War.
NEW YORK, Feb. 24.— A New Haven,
Conn., special to the Herald says:
Commander Edward C. Buckland of
the Connecticut Naval Battalion left
for Washington to-day in response to
the following telegram: "Commander
Buckland of the Wyandotte will report
to the Navy Department at Washing
ton on Friday."
As stated in the Herald this morn
ing, repairs are now being made upon
the Wyandotte, which is one of the
old monitors that has been anchored
in this harbor for the use of the naval
reserves. Engineer Trownridge of the
reserves has been instructed to pre
pare a list of shipping vessels of Long
Island Sound that could be used in
time of war. Commander Buckland left
New Haven very suddenly, and did not
inform any of nis friends or officers of
his battalion of th^ nature of his mis
sion. It is believed, however, that he
has been summoned to Washington as
a result of the activity of the Navy
Department in all its branches.
SIGNAL CORPS IS
ORDERED TO BE READY.
One Branch of the Connecticut Mili
tia Would Be Very Useful
to the Army.
NEW YORK, Feb. 24.— A Bridgeport,
Conn., special to the Herald says:
Instructions have been received by the
Brigade Signal Corps of the Connecti
cut National Guard to be ready for
service. One of the high officers said
to-day that the order they had re-
I ceived was precautionary and that
troops would not be ordered out of the
State, but that the Brigade Signal
Corps was rated equal to any similar
corps in the regular army.'and in the
event of war might be called to Key
West.
THIS WOMAN
WOULD FIGHT
Miss Lou Heid Ready to
Battle With the
Spaniards.
Willing to Cast Aside Scissors
* and Razor and Shoulder
a Musket.
Says She Is Not a "Jingo," but Offers
to Join the National
Guard.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
STOCKTON. Feb. 24.— Miss Lou Held,
who runs a little barber shop on Weber
avenue, is one of the most original
women in the world, and as her occu
pation of barber shows she does not
hesitate to enter the lists with sterner
man for a livelihood in this world. Now,
Miss Heid does not appear to lack in
patriotism or whatever that quality is
that makes people with fiery hearts
talk of shouldering muskets. While
many men are talking of avengmg the
national honor, here is a woman who
is willing to become a Moll Pitcher and
man a gun in defense of the country.
Miss Heid has not let her intention end
with talk. She has, after some effort,
prepared a communication which she
Intends to send to Captain Johnson of
Company A, in which she sets forth
her views on the Cuban matter, and is
credited with evolving the following:
Captain \V. R. Johnson. Company A —
Dear Sir: I have been reading in the pa
pers that there may be a war in this
country with Spain. I ain't one of those
"jingoes." or whatever you call them, but
I don't think our flag ought to be insulted
by a lot of Spaniards. And then think of
the brave seamen lost. If they died in
war, it would have been different, but
they went down like rats in a trap. Now.
Captain Johnson, I am a woman and earn
my living in a barber shop on Weber ay.-.
nu'f\ and because I do that some may say
I am like a man. I may be a little <in
fprent from others of my sex. and I ain't
afraid of no man. Now. this is what T
want to say: I have heard of women in
war, and if your company is called out I
am willing to shoulder a musket and fight
for this country.
LARGE CONTRACT FOR
PROJECTILES FULFILLED.
Supply 'of Big Ammunition In
tended for the Use of
the Army.
NEW YORK, Feb. 24.— A Richmond,
Va., special to the Herald says: The
Tredegar Iron Works shipped five car
loads of projectiles to New York to
day, the fulfillment of a contract en
tered Into some months ago between
the United States Government and the
management of the works. The first
shipment was made last September,
and the date set for the completion of
the contract has been anticipated by
four months.
Eleven hundred projectiles were or
dered, ranging in weight from 1000 to
3000 pounds. The largest one measures
four feet in length and twelve inches
in diameter. They have been manu
factured under the personal supervision
of A. C. Meagher, local inspector of the
Ordnance Department, and each pro
jectile has been inspected and ap
proved. There is no significance to be
attached to this shipment to-day, as it
is merely the fulfillment of an old con
tract, and the projectiles are intended
for the army and not for navy use.
•
Foresters Sympathize.
Court American No. 7916 at Its last
meeting unanimously adopted the fol
lowing:
Whereas, We have learned that a terri
ble calamity has befallen the United
States battle-ship Maine and the men
thereof; and whereas, we believe that
it is the duty of every American citizen
to sympathize with the bereaved families
of those who lost their lives in the service
of their country; therefore, be it
Resolved. That we, as a lodge com
posed of American citizens, extend our
sympathy to the sorrowing families and
friends of those brave men who were so
suddenly summoned.
PLANTED
MINES AT
HAVANA
A Startling Story Obtains
Credence at Key
West.
Was the Mine That Destroyed
the ll!=Fated Maine Laid by a
Citizen of the United
States ?
KEY WEST, Fla., Feb. 24.— A sensa
tional story was started to-day to the
effect that several weeks ago a con
tractor who had been engaged in plac
ing sewers at the United States bar
racks in this city asserted there had
been awarded to him a contract to do
similar work in Havana. It is known
that this contractor did revisit Ha
vana, also that he engaged the serv
ices of a young man residing in this
place. It is now alleged that this con
tractor carried some dynamite from
here which he said was to be used in
excavating and other work connected
with his contract. It is likewise said
that before leaving for Havana he was
a frequent visitor at the Spanish con
sulate in this city, and that prior to
the sailing he obtained some letters of
introduction from the officials of the
consulate.
The story now told is that his mis
sion to Havana was to place dynamite
bombs in Havana harbor, but that he
did not do the work in person. It is
alleged that he prepared the plans and
another man carried out the dirty part
of the plot under his supervision.
The story is told to-day by a young
man who accompanied the contractor
to Havana, but he professes to know
nothing of the work done, which was
accomplished by the mysterious per
son engaged by the contractor. This
person is said to have disappeared.
The standing of this contractor and
the high character of his associates
throughout this State would unite to
make a great sensation here if his
name were made public in connection
with the story of the disaster.
In connection with the claim made by
the Cubans that there are mine galler
ies under the harbor of Havana, lead
ing from subterranean passages and
known to have existed for years before
the construction of Fort Cabannis
and Morro Castle, the Spaniards ex
plain that for over a century a subter
nanean passage about two miles long
and eight feet at its narrowest diam
eter, capable of giving passage to a col
umn of troops, has existed from the
navy yard to Castillo del Principe.
But, the Spaniards further assert, the
existence of this passage was not
known to the present authorities or to
those who have ibeen in power for many
years past. The entrances and exits,
it is added, have been closed for years
past by thick walls now covered with
debris, and their exact location is said
to be lost. At the same time, it is ad
mitted that matter regarding the sub
terranean passage can be found in old
documents contained in the archives
of Havana. Finally the Spaniards in
sist that this passage does not go under
the harbor at any point.
The arrival of the steamer Olivette
from Havana last night differed in no
respect from any of her previous trips,
notwithstanding stories that Consul-
General Lee would arrive by the
steamer and be accompanied by the
entire American colony of Havana, or
dered by Lee to seek safety in flight
before it was too late. As a matter of
fact less than a dozen Americans ar
rived, several of whom make regular
weekly trips between Havana and this
port on business.
Scores of correspondents, more,
really, than there were passengers,
were on hand ready to interview the
new arrivals, but they had their
trouble for nothing, as the few who did
talk could furnish nothing additional
to what was already known here.
From one of the passengers I learned
that General Lee had advised several
Americans who were visiting Havana
with their families for pleasure, if
they felt any uneasiness to return to
the States at once.
Among the passengers who arrived
was Lieutenant Holman of the ill
fated Maine, who received a hearty
welcome on the wharf from Comman
der Forsythe and Paymaster Jewett of
this naval station, and the officers of
the Maine who are still quartered at
the hotel here. Like all the other offi
cers. Lieutenant Holman declined to be
interviewed, but expressed the opinion
thit the Board of Inquiry would finish
its investigation within the next few
days, and leave for Key West, where
the session will be continued.
Considerable indignation has been
expressed tome to-day by officers of the
Maine at the action of certain New
York papers in publishing "fake" in
terviews with them and reproducing
letters alleged to have been written by
them to relatives and friends in the
North giving accounts of the disaster
to the Maine and describing their sen
sations during the explosion. One of
the most indignant is Lieutenant Cat
lin, whose signature, he says, was at
tached to a "fake" letter published in
a sensational paper, and alleged to be
addressed to a relative in New Jersey.
It was printed under sensational head
lines, but he characterizes it as a fraud
of the first magnitude.
Mrs. Sicard, wife of the admiral, ar
rived this afternoon by steamer from
Miami, and was joined by her husband,
who, with some of his personal staff
from the flagship New York, came up
from the anchorage outside the bar
this morning. Mrs. Sicard is accom
panied by Miss Sicard and Miss E. De
lafield. They are comfortably quar
tered at the Hotel Key West.
Among the passengers from Miami
to-day were also Senator Redfield
Proctor, former Secretary of War, and
M. H. Parker, late. Commissioner of the
District of Columbia. The Senator
was taken in charge by the Collector
of Customs shortly after his arrival,
and enjoyed a drive around the city.
While I could not ascertain the facts,
the impression prevails that his visit ia
of an official character. He will con
tinue to Havana by steamer to-morrow.
GRATIFYING CONDITION
OF THE NAVAL MILITIA.
j It Can Be Used at Once as a Second
Live of jjefense and for Man
ning Cruisers.
WASHINGTON*, Feb. 21.— The Navy
Department to-day gave out the figures
showing the strength of the naval mili
tia up to date. This shows a total force
of 4445 officers and enlisted men, which
is a gratifying increase from the 3703
shown by the report. The number of
officers and men by States is as fol
lows:
California, 396; Connecticut, 165; Flor
ida, 106; Georgia, 225; Illinois, 523;
Louisiana, 262; Maryland, 240; Massa
chusetts, 441; Michigan, 193; New Jer
sey, 3G4; New York. 472; North Caro
lina, 230; Ohio, 216; Pennsylvania. 216;
Rhode Island, 130; South Carolina, 152;
Virginia, 44— Total, 4-M.">.
Aside from the forces shown in the
above list new forces are in process of
formation which promise to swell the
total to much larger figures at an
cany day. The organization of this
auxiliary arm of the naval service is
under the immediate direction of Lieu
tenant Gibbons, IT. S. N., whose energy
has accomplished much in securing
State organization, in the harmonizing
of the bodies into one compact force
capable in emergency of co-operating
with the regular navy.
In this last report Assistant Secre
tary Roosevelt said that the State na
val militia, in the event of such an
emergency, could be utilized at once
for manning the smaller cruisers. It
could be depended upon mainly, he
said, as a second line of defense, and
also be used in placing mines and the
establishment of signal stations for
coast defense.
The appropriation of $50,000 made by
Congress to aid the work of the naval
militia will be apportioned among th«
States in a few days.
CRUISER MINNEAPOLIS
READY FOR SERVICE.
Floating of the War Vessel Waa I
Witnessed by a Thousand
Interested Spectators.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 24. — Tha i
United States cruiser Minneapolis was
successfully floated out of the drydock 1
at League Island Navy-yard at high
tide this afternoon. The floating of th«
cruiser was witnessed by nearly a
thousand people.
The Minneapolis has been in the dry
dock since last December, partly to
avoid the ice in the river and also to
have necessary repairs made to her
keel. The school ship Saratoga will be
placed in the drydock for repairs.
Notwithstanding all reports to tha
contrary, there Is no unusual activity
at the yard beyond the extensive im
provements that are being made to the
back channel, which will be used as a
fresh water basin for vessels of the navy.
The receiving ship Richmond is be
sieged daily by applicants for enlist
ment, but very few are now being
taken.
Besides the Minneapolis there are at
League Island the cruiser Columbia,
the monitor Miantonomoh and the ram
Katahdin, all out of commissiion at
present. There are also eight old moni
tors at the navy-yard, all of them rel
ics of the Civil War, but which could
be fitted up quickly in case they were
needed.
TO CARE FOR THE
UNUSED MACHINERY.
Action Taken by the House Shows
the Government Is Preparing
for Contingencies.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-The fact
that the Government is preparing for
contingencies was recognized in the
House to-day, when Chairman Can
non, who has been laboring to keep
down appropriations, accepted without
a word of protest an amendment to
increase the appropriation to care for
the unused machinery at the Spring
field arsenal.
Gillette explained that the necessity
for using this machinery might occur
at any time. Resolutions which were
objected to a few weeks ago for the
appointment of two extra naval cadets
to positions in the engineer corps of the
navy were also adopted. One of them
will fill a vacancy caused by the death
of Lieutenant Merritt of the Maine.
In the Senate to-day the resolution
offered yesterday by Allen ->f Nebraska
to appoint a committee of fi\ a Senators
to investigate the Cuban situation was
withdrawn by its author, when it was
laid before the Senate.
6