Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-04-21
WANT VOLUNTEERS.
A Bill for Calling Out Fifty Thou
sand to Seventy thousand Men.
WORK FOR SIClRD AID HOWELL.
Adm. sicafd Ordered to Duty In the Navy
Department and Commodore Howell
M 70 Command Patrol Flsst--Msx. Ri
leo 10 Enforce Neutrality.

WAbHIN0TON, April lH-heProSentar
tive Hull. Of Iowa, chairman Of the
house committee on military AFFAIRS
will, to-day, introduce an administra-
tion bill authorizing the president to
issue call for volunteers to the mum.
Der Of 5O,O or 10000 men. 1t will be
considered Immediately by the commit
tee, its passage expedited as rapidly as
possible, and will take effect irnmedi-
ately upon the presidents approval. Its
terms will authorize the president to
call on the various states for quotas in
making up the aggregate. Acting in
this way instead of specifically look
ing to calling out the various state
militia, will avoid several embarrass-
ing technicalities, main one being
the constitutional inhibition on send
ing state militia out of the country,
while volunteers so called for can be
ordered anywhere. 1t is likely that If
the situation develops in such grave
proportions as is now expected, q
second call for 100000 volunteers
will be issued by the president The
necessity for this immense number.
however, is not clear to the military
authorities at this time. The draft OF
the present war measure has just been
framed by the war department Off.
Gals, and the leading members Of the
military committee have already con.
ferred with the war department au-
thorities on the necessity on this line,
the latter having announced that a
maximum Of $4,000 volunteers would
be sufficient at this time.
WORK FOR sIcARD AND HOWELL.
WASHINGTON, April l9-Probably
with the view Of availing himself Of
the large experience of Rear Admiral
Sicard, Secretary Long has revoked
the sick leave Of that officer and or
dered him to duty in his own Office at
the navy department. The admiral at
present is at his home in New York
state, and is expected to report at the
department within the next "a hours.
Being thoroughly familiar with every
detail Of construction and the strength
and weakness OF all the vessels Of the
fleet under Capt SIMPSONS command,
as well as those lying at Hampton
roads, under command OF Commodore
Schley, the admiral is expected to be
of great assistance to the department
in the arrangement Of any plans Of
campaign.
Secretary Long yesterday decided to
assign Commodore Howell to command
the newly organized patrol feet, con.
sisting Of the Yosemite, the Prairie,
the Yankee and the Dixie. This de.
tail for Commodore Howell is a solu-
ton OF difficulty which has been con.
fronting the department ever since
his return from the European station.
Secretary Long was very anxious to
avail himself Of the experience of Com
modore Howell, but found some diff.
Guilty in doing SO, in view Of the fact
that he outranks both Commodore
Schley and Capt Sampson, in COM
mand of the two fleets. Neither of
these officers could, in justice, have
been relieved to make room for Com
modore Howell, and the creation Of
new fleet solves the difficulty.
MEXICO TO ENFORCE NEUTRALITY.
WASHINGTON, April 10. Assistant Sec
rotary Day had three diplomatic callers
yesterday morning, the Chinese minis
ter, the Guatemalan minister and
Senior Romero, the Mexican minister.
Some significance attached to the visit
Of the later, as 1T was believed that his
call was with the purpose OF assuring
Assistant Secretary Day as to the atti-
tude Of the Mexican government to-
ward the United States In the
event Of breaking out Of hos.
tilities with Spain. The news
from the City of Mexico that 9
concentration Of Mexican troops has
been ordered on the Texas frontier is
rather satisfactory to the. authorities
here, as evidencing a purpose on the
part Of the Mexican government to re-
press sternly and promptly any quix-
otto attempts that may be made to raid
across the border by either sympa.
thizers with Spain or by some OF the
many lawless Mexicaus who are quick
TO take advantage Of any disturbance
or profit by the organization of fill
f.