The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-03-12
NEW MILITARY DIVISION
SECRETARY LONG TO ISSUE ORDER
 TOR ONE IMMEDIATELY.

SECRETARY LONG TO ISSUE ORDER
 FOR ONE IlrMEDLATELY.
 It Will Consist of That Part of the Country
 Which Would be in All Likelihood
 Nearest to the Field of Hostilities in Case
 of War with spain-The Department
 Will Include the States of South Caro-
 lima, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Missis-
 Bippi, Louisiana and Texas.
 Washington, March 11.-Hoping for the best and prepared for the worst about represents the situation in the war and navy departments. The off, cials still profess confidence that there is to be peaceful outcome of the pres- ent threatening difficulties, but mean while prepare with serenity to meet their duty if events should shape them- selves otherwise One of the most im- portant developments of the day was the conclusion on the part of the sec retary of war to issue tomorrow an order creating new military depart ment including within it's confines that part of the country which would be in all likelihood nearest to the field of histilities, in case it should come to that The present department of Tex as is abolished by the order and there is created the department of the south. General Graham, at present command CT of the department of Texas, will command the new department which will include the states of South Caroli- na, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Missis- sippi, Louisiana and Texas. All of these state save the last are at present attached to the department of the east
 under command of General Merritt of New York. It is said at the depart 2 ment that General Merritt is fully 2 compensated for the strength of the command which passes away from him by the addition to his forces of the < two regiments of artillery now recruit 4 ing. Headquarters of the new depart ' ment fthe south will be at Atlanta, $ Ga, chosen because of it's fine stategi- cal vale from it's excellent railroad con- 
 nections.
 Fertilization Works.
 General Wilson, chief of engineers. \ who has been in Florida, is expected < back tomorrow to report to Secretary A1ger upon the progress of the fortifi- cation works in that section of the country and probably as to the defense of Tortugas. To-day for the first time s the officials of the war department ad- x mitted that they were straining every nerve to improve that part of the de- < lenses of the country confided to their care. The president and Secretary AL x ger have empowered General Flagler < to give orders for the purchase of war material. General Flagler has instruct N ed every concern capable of supplying war material, such as rapid fire guns,
 shot, shell and ammunition to go to
 work at full capacity.
 Purchase of Warship Amazonus.
 The navy department has now rea-
 son to believe that 1t has secured the s warship Amazonus now building in
 England for Brazil. It was stated at # the cabinet meeting to-day by secre- x tary Long that he naval attache at
 
 completed negotiations for the pur- s chase. The final notification that the lieutenants offer has been accepted
 has not reached the navy department $ Secretary Long still says that he has
 received no word from the court of in # quiry or from Judge Advocate Mark
 Secretary Long has addressed this let s ter to the assistant secretary of the
 navy and to each bureau chief of the Y navy department: "Sir--Under the
 emergency appropriation of $50000,000 E made Wednesday, you will incur no ex-
 pense or liability except after written 2 statements and estimate made by you
 and approved by the president and
 secretary, all in writing. A special X record must be kept of every such re- # quisition. If any such liability or ex-
 pense has been incurred by you by
 oral direction, make such written state { ment and estimate and submit it at < once for such approval. By order of \ the president. Very respectfully yours,
 J. D. LONG, Secretary" M Retired Officers Offer Services. g In anticipation of rupture between # the United States and Spain many off, 7%N CGTS OH LIlc ISLlIcd llSI udNG ilOllheu
 the secretary of the navy of their read
 mess to perform any duty in the line of
 their profession that he may deem # suitable for them. There seems to be
 considerable misapprehension on the
 part of the general public as to the < availability of officers on the retired ~ list flor active duty in times of war # Section 1462 of the revised statutes x bearing on this subject provides as fol-
 lows: ''No officers on the retired list
 of the navy shall be employed on ac- |s tive duty except in time of war" Un- & der this section it is apparent that if
 war should break out all the officers on s the retired list competent to serve will
 be subject to the orders of the secre- !ea tary of the navy. Another statute Y bearing on this subject in sections 1496
 and 1497 is as follows: "In time of
 war the president may detail officers ss8g of the retired list for the command of