Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-04-26

ready to take part in the invasion of
Cuba. Before that however. he may.
/ have to leave for short <Ariods to SUI
perintend the enlistments.
So far the talk of a successor to Mr..
Roosevelt as assistant secretary has
been mere speculation. and it can be
stated positively that up to this time
| the President has not made choice
as his successor. 1t may be noted. in
view of the recent mention CT Ad-
miral Walker in that connection, that
as it stands the law requires the Of
flee OF assistant secretary to be
FILLED BY A CIVILIAN,
so that if the admiral desires to ac-
cept that Office. he would be under
the unpleasant necessity of resigning
from the navy and lose his place as
a retired officer, which he is not likely
TO do.
There was a dearth of news from the
seat of hostlities off the Cuban coast
so far as the department was con-
cefned, or ii it was in possession of
information it was so carefully guarded
that nothing leaked out. A few tele-
grams came from Key West announc-
ing the arrival there of the prizes
whose capture has been reported
through the press Nothing could be
obtained as to the intentions of Com
, modore Schley in so hastily rushing
away the flyers Columbia and Mime
apolis from Hampton Roads, but it
is believed that their purpose is TO
shelter the Paris or some of the other
liners from attack at the hands of
some Spanish cruisers.
There was talk of establishing a sup
ply depot in the Philippines, to meet
the conditions in Asiatic waters. Our
fleet there now has no home, and I'M
der neutrality laws the stay of the
stps at any port is limited to few
hours. This is unpleasant, besides in
volvlng the expenditure of a great
deal OF coal, so that it may become
necessary for Commodore Dewey to
seize port in the Philippines and for
tlfy it as base of supplies.
The department to-day purchased
two more lungs. the Hortense, of New
Orleans, and Mary Willick, of Calves
ton.
The feature of interest at the War
Department was the dispatch to the
governors 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 ar
ragged in order to carry out the de-
partment's projects of the mobilization
OF the volunteers, but these are rapidly
| being disposed Of.
The department got notice to-day that
John A. Logan, son of the late Senator
Logan, had raised a cavalry regiment
which he offered to the government
| under his own command. 1t is hoped
that this can be accepted as part of the
| quota OF men to be furnished by Hi
nois.
JOHN JACOB ASTOR,
OF New York, not content with Offering
the government free his splendid
yacht Normahl and free transportation
for troops and supplies over the rail-
roads in which he is interested, has
come forward with notice that he has
raised and equipped at his own expense
a battery Of artillery which he desires
to offer TO the government under his
own plans for service in Cuba. This
offer probably will be accepted, al
though the department has been del
uged with offers to raise volunteers in
this way to the aggregate number OF
at least $4,000 men.
As the Presidents 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 opportunity to accept the
services of these patriots.
The order to the district militia to
go into camp here at Soldiers Home,
was revoked just at the moment when
it was in execution. owing, it is said,
TO the fact that the sudden calling
away of SO many employees from the
departments without notice threatened
to cripple the government service.
The action of the President in rec
ommending formal declaration of war
was welcomed by officials in every di-
rection as putting the present i5ruggle
on a more dignified basis and tending
to the avoidance of international COM
pljpafj0pS