Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-04-11

telegram sent last night by Secretary
Whitney to the president Of the Pacific
Mail Steamship company at New York,
relative to the number Of men which
the company's vessels can take TO Aspin-
wall without delay, the following reply
was received this morning: I've can
carry 200 men in the City of Para to-
morrow at noon, and 600 i'm the Acapul-
co next Monday Secretary Whitney
replied
We will ship 200 men by your steamer
to- morrow noon. with tents and camp
eqnipage The Tennessee, with Admiral
J0net, will leave New Orleans probably
to-day with an extra complement Of
mariDes for Aspinwail, and with extra
provisions. This will place four ships
and between 400 and j0O available men
ut Aspinwall for land service. As to
Mondays steamer We will communicate
hereafter.
The men will be taken from the
Brooklyn navy yard. In reply to tcle-
grain semitic Commander Kane Of the
Galena, the following was received to
day:
Transit is cosed. The steamship
propertv il safe and in my possession
end Of the island. 1t is advisable to
send another vessel. !.
READY TO FIGHT.
When it was learned in the depart
ment this morning that the secretary
had determined to protect American in
terests at the isl hmus by force there was
considerable excitement among the
naval officers on duty here. A number
of them Immediately volunteered their
services to go to Aspinwall. The selec
ton Of the otfircrs, however, has been
left to the board of detail. which con
vened at 100 a. m. 1t is understood
that Maj. Chas. Haywood, Of the marine
corps, who is in charge Of the marine
barracks at Brooklyn, will have imme-
,liate command ofthe marines. A naval
officer of rank, however, will probably
he detailed to oonmana the expedition.
The United States steamer Dispatch will
join the flagship Tennessee in the West
Indies, subject to orders to sail for
Aspinwal. About forty-five marines
and al the Off iirers Of the marine guard
Mt the navy yards expect to be put an
der orders for Aspinwali.
The Panama troubles have created
quite stir in the navy department, and
the atmosphere in that usually quiet
building has strong smell Of gun
powder. Secretary Whitney seems inns
pressed with the idea that foreign ma
tions must not be permitted 10 tread
with impunity upon-onr corns. Several
naval officers who have been attending
germans aud swell receptions here all
winter are ordered to : the front" for
duty, and there is grea. grief amcng
their social friends. No one here be-
iieves there will be war enough 70
amount tn anything, so far as We are
concerned, but there is just enough of q
scar to enable those who have been ad-
vocating rehabilitation of our navy to
say say II told you so.' 1t is found
that a few irst class vessels Of war are
a good thing to have. Secretary Whit
ney said to-day that while he did not
anticipate state of affairs on the 18th
mus that would seriously involve the
government, everything possible. would
be done to maintain and defend if nec-
essary our national honor and interest
Vessels, such as we have, and men and
means necessary to meet whatever
emergency might arise would, he had
no doubt. be provided as needed. The
belief is expressed here that the direct
effect Of the outbreak on the isthmus
will be to induce speedy measure for the
restoration Of our navy. 1t is under
stood that Leutenants Mason and En-.
merick and Ensign. Gibson are among
the officers to be ordered to Panama.