The sun., 1898-02-24
DELAWARE @@MM REPORT WAS W@M FOUND ERICSSON LEGISLATURE MMMRM RIVER AND MmRlH waS Exit
Can be Put on Move at
Twenty...our Hours Notice.
80 SAYS COL. WlCKERSHAM
No Orders Have Been Received to be
In Readiness, But There Was Hust.
ling nj the Arn,Ory Last Night.

ling al the AfniOry lIsst N'k"''
There has been much discussion IN
this city and throughout the State IN the
past forty.tight hours as to the proba
bility Of a summons being issued by
Governor Ebe W. Tunnel, calling upon
the State militia to hold itself in readi'
ness for immediate movement in the
eyentuality of declaration of war be
tween the United States and Spain. The
discussion was caused by the news that
the Governors of several OF the largest
States in the Union had taken such
action.
Last night despatch asking him if a
report current in this city that he had
received notice from Washington TO hold
the State militia in readiness and that he
had communicated the same to Adjutant
General Hart, was true, was wired to the
Governor. In reply he sent the follow
ing terse telegram:
"THE Sun, Wilmington.
"No truth in the report.
"EnE W. TuNSEL,.'
In view of the war-like aspect the
Spanish Cuban situation Is
fast assuming, and also the general dis
cussion concerning the ability Of the
various States militia, glance at the
military power OF Delaware would not
be greatly amiss at this time.
Delaware has ten companies OF militia,
four in this city, Companies A, c, F and
K; one in New Castle, Company II; one
in Dover, Company ID; IN, in Wyoming
Company +; one in Harrington, Com
pany G; one in Milford, Company B.,
and one in Laurel, Company !.
The captains OF the ten companies are
as follows: Co. A, Carter; Go. G, Mat
lack; Co. F, Brennan; Go. X, Rutan; Co.
H, +. +. Rodgers; Co. ID, Robert }. Sim
mons; Co. Il, Charles A. Carton; Co. q,
w. II. FRANKIE; Co. B, Lieutenant Foulk;
(acting), Co. |, Joseph T. Osborne.
The total number of men in actual SER
vice as militiamen at the present time is
about 45O The total number that can be
summoned to arms according to the
limit made by the law governing the
size of the national guard, is about $50.
Each Company in the State averages
about As men. This is about fifteen be-
low the standard size. the standard size
Of a company being GO men. Each com.
pany has captain and two lieutenants.
At the ar'nory at Twelfth and Orange
streets last night all was hustle and
hustle. A regular battalion drill Of COM
panies Z and X, under the direction OF
Lieutenant Cal. Stevenson made the
building shake A large number Of spec
tators were in the building and watched
the blue coats go through the various
military manoners The drill finished
about 9.l5, after which the soldiers set to
work to get out the tents OF the four
companies stored in Il room at one corner
Of the big-drill room. When they got
the tents out, they proceeded to sort
them out, making one pile for each COM
pany. Several Of the soldiers when
asked whether the sorting of the tents
had any extraordinary si signfiance and
Importance, several members Of com
pa,lies { and X, last night said. 1--WE
don't know exactly what it means. Wei re-
ccived orders +" night to get out the
tents and we were surprised ~
The office Of Lieutenant Colonels
Stevenson and WickersIlam, who are in
charge of the .Armory had very busy
appearance last night. The typewriter
was moving at Il rapid and noisy gait
early in the evening, but Col. Wicker.
sham. when asked if anything unusua!
was in the wind, replied, NO. 1t
leaked out, however, that the captain OF
each Of the tour com panies had taken y
canvass OF his men, getting from each
his proper address, place Of employment
and the number OF the telephone by
which he might be reached in cas, of a
sudden cal. This action some of the
soldiers said looked to them rs if some.
thing was up.
Colonel Wickersham in an interview
said, speaking OF the possibilities OF u
summons to the y. Ii. D., by the Cover
nor, II think that the entire militia ,
could be gotten Oh the llove in twenty
[our hours from the receipt Of a summon.
The n. Ii. d. is IN good condition be-
ing well equipped and ready for service.
Four hundred and fifty men now in
actual service could be put in arms at
very short notice."
Two thirds OF the militia Of Delaware
IRE young men near the age OF twenty
i've. The militia Of Delaware never had
ield service, the Legislature having
alled to recognize the guards to the ex-
ent OF setting aside field day for it.
The militia OF New York, Pcnnsylvana
md New Jersey, If called to arms would
1e capable Of doing real service as the
legislatures Of those states regard the
tate militia as an important institution
md give it week Of field service every
year: But in Delaware the situation
would be very different owing to the
ack "f field experiences.
j, Inc state Arsenal at the armory ut
IWeIfth and Orange streets is fairly well
'qulpped with ammunition, considering
no sight appropriation the legislature
'as made for the militia.
Since the Legislature passed the bill /
ast year tn give $1,000 annually to the
maintenance If the rational guard
ver,yone Of the 4N men in the ten com
'anles has full equipment, including
ompletc uniform. When the IRgisls-
are only gave the militia -, 800 yearly. j.:
ONE the soldiers had incomplete uni /
orms In case of q call to arms the nom
commissioned officers of each company,
umbering about Il, would summon the t
oldiers. +
Adjutant General Garrett J. Hart is
!oW in Washington. He il Senator 7
Aenney's secretary. Though him any call {
y the Governo! 10 the militia would bc {
arried out. IS