Evening journal., 1898-04-26


ready to take part in the invasion OF
Cuba. Before that time, however he
may have 20 leave FOR short periods to
superintend tho enlistments.
So far the talk of "a successor TO Mr.
Roosevelt as assistant secretary has
been mere speculation, and Il can be
! stated positively that up TO this time
the president has not made a choice as
hts successor. II may be noted In view
of the recent mention o. the name Of
Admiral Walker in that connection
that as II stands tho law requires the
Office OF assistant secretary to be filed
by civilian. so that n the admiral de-
sires 70 accept the office he VIII be
under the unpleasant necessity Of re-
signing from the navy and lose his
place as a retired officer. which he is
not likely to do.
There was a dearth Of news yester-
day from the seat Of hostlities Off the
Cuban coast, so far as the department
was concerned, or IL 1t was in posses
sion OF information II was so carefully
guarded that nothing leaked out A few
kilograms came from Key West an
n0uncing the arrival there Of the prizes
whose capture has been reported
through the press. Nothing could be
obtained as 20 the intentions Of Commo-
doro Schley In so hastily rushing away
the fers Columbia and Minneapolis
from Hampton roads, but II Is believed
that their purpose is to shelter the
Paris or some OF the other liners from
attack at the hands Of some Spanish
cruiser There was talk of establishing
a supply depot In the Philippines to
meet the conditions In Aslatic waters
Our fleet there now has no home, and
under neutrality laws the stay of the
ships at any port is limited to a few
hours. This Is unpleasant besides in
volving the expenditure Of a great deal
Of coal, so that it may become necessary
for Commodore Dewey TO seize a port
in the Philippines and fortify II as
base of supplies.
The department has purchased two
moro tugs. the Hortense of New Or
leans and Mary Willlck Of Galveston.
The feature OF interest at the war de-
partment was the dispatch to the gov
ernors Of the states and territories Of
circulars notifying them how many
men they would be expected to furnish
as volunteers, how they should be ap-
portioned among the three arms Of the
service and where they should rendez-
vous In the United States army A
good many details remain to be arrang-
ed In order to carry out the depart
ments projects for the mobilization OF
the volunteers. but these are rapidly
being disposed OF. The department got
notice yesterday that John Logan, son
OF the late Senator Logan, had raised
a cavalry regimenN which he offered
to the government under his own com
mand 1t is hoped that this can be
accepted as part OF the quota of men
to be furnished by Illinois.
John Jacob Astor of New York, not
content with offering the government
his splendid yacht Nourmahal and free
transportation for troops and supplies
over the railroads In which he is inter-
ested. has come forward with notice
that he has raised and equipped at his
own expense battery Of artillery,
which he desires to offer to the govern
ment under his own plans for service
In Cuba. This offer probably Will be ao-
cepted, although the department has
been deluged with offers 10 raise volun-
teers Ia this way 10 the aggregate num-
Der Of at least $4,000 men. As the presi-
dont's authority on the volunteer bill is
to enlist only three regiments outside
Of the regular quotas to be furnished
by the states. there Is not much oppor-
tunity to accept the aervices OF these
patriots. The order 10 the District mill
tia TO 40 into camp here at Soldiers
home was revoked just at the moment
when II was in execution owing, II is
said, to the fact that the sudden calling
away OF so many employees from the de-
partments without notice threatens to
cripple the government service.
The action Of the president in recon-
mendins a formal declaration of war
was welcomed by officials In every d.
rection as putting the present struggle
on a more dignified basis and tending
to the avoidance OF international COM
pllcations.