The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-13
Strength of National Guard and Num-
her Of Men Each state May BE
Asked to Furnish.
SPAIN PURCHASING SHIP
TWO STEAMERS THAT WE'RE Of
FERED TO THIS GOVERNMENT.
Appropriation for the Navy Increased
by the SENATE COmmittee-Army
Reorganization Bill.

KEY WEST, April 12-Great interest is
felt here in the preparations made by the
government OF the United States to land
troops in Cuba. An officer of high rank
with the fleet, when questioned on the sub
ject to-day. said that while he was not
aware of any such arrangements having
been made. he presumed the necessary steps
in that direction had been taken. He added
that the fleet itself could not transport
sufficient number Of men to make an eff
cient landing party. Therefore transports
must be provided, it will be necessary
to disembark a strong force of troops in
Cuba failing which the first few shots fired
are likely to be the signal for rioting in the
city of Havana and elsewhere, notably in
the provinces of Matanzas and Pinar del
Rio in which case many innocent lives will
be sacrificed.
A Spaniard of position said to an Eng
nshman just before the latter left Havana
On Saturday last LAS soon as the certain
ty of war is known here, there surely will
be such demonstration as Havana has
never known before. dread to think of
the consequences to life and property. Many
of the volunteers are lads of twelve or four
teen years of age. They have never han
died rifles until recently and they have no
idea how to handle them properly. These
boys, even if they wanted to do so, could
not keep their rifles out of the hands of the
rebels. The government cannot furnish pro-
lection, and we shall be fortunate if we are
able to save our SKINS
Dispatches received this morning from
the Key West fleet show that quiet prevails
on those war ships, but the officers and men
believe they will mos certainly be off to
Havana shortly. Tha watering and coaIing
goes on, so the ships may start with full
supplies. But all such preparations could
be stopped instantly were orders received
for the feet to move.
Key West is strung to a high tension to-
might, and even those who have been scott,
ing at what they termed the administra-
tion's "infrmity of purpose approve the
action of Congress, and are satisfied that
the distressing uncertainty of the past
months is drawing 10 a close. The Asso-
ciated Press bulletins announcing the de-
cision of the foreign relations committee at
tracted large .throIgs of naval men and
civilians in front of the hotel where they
were posted. When the latest Washington
advices reached the fleet the enthusiasm
was very great The officers maintained
their usual silence, but were clearly graft
fed while the men made no effort to con-
ceal their satisfaction. AS regarded here
the situation is now beyond the influence of
diplomacy; and confirmation is given to this
by the fact that the local Spanish consul
to-day turned his affairs over to Mr.. Tay-
Tor, the British consul, and that the Span
ish vice consul. who also represents Italy.
has transferred those special interests to
Mr.. Taylor.
On the Mascotte from Tampa. came nine
teen soldiers of the First Artillery. They
work the fortifcations Additional con-
Signment OF eight and ten-inch guns for the
batteries here also arrived to-day. The work
of laying the mines in the harbor is rapidly
Chaplain Chidwick (now transferred to the
CINCINNATI. with the rank of lieutenant
saws the work of carrying the bodies of the
Maine victims north will go on without de-
lay. The Fern will proceed to Tampa early
tomorrow for a CONSIGNMENT of arnmuni-
ton from the north. The Plant line steam
srs have abandoned their trips to Havana.
The MaScotte will return to Tampa tonight
and the Olivette is held there for the pres
ent.
ing beautifully. The Journeys of the birds
have been between the cruiser New York
lying five miles out, and the shore. The
birds have made the distance in eight or
nine minutes. After coaling, the cruiser
Marblehead went out and anchored in the
ships snip n, harhor this morning and then began
shooting big guns at long-distance target,
the island.
night, and men who are weary of this tire
some task are hoping that this will be the
daSI occasion Tor II.
Commodore Hichborn has issued state
4nent showing the percentage of completion
or the various boats now being built for
the navy. The battle ships Kearsarge and
keftucky, at Newport News, are COM
plSted 10 the extent eff 90 per cent: the Illi-
nols, at Newport News. IS per cent: the
iaDafgfa- under construction by Cramp e,
sons 10 per cent, and the Wisconsin, at the
Union. iron works, 35ia per cent The gun
Dont Ffinceton. under construction by Da-
logue q Son. is 95 per cent. completed and
the submarine torpedo boat Plunger. build
ing at the Columbia iron works. 20 per cent
The torpedo boat Rowan is completed to
the extent of "a per cent: the Davis, IS per
cent the Morris, 81 per cent: the Mac
snze, " per cent; the Mckee so per
celt,; the Dahlgren, 45 per cent; the Far
ragut, 80 per cent; the Fox IS per cent;
the Craven SIS per cent, and the String
ham. - per cent.
Inquiries made carefully among the news
paper men recently in Havana as To the
condition of the Spanish cruiser Alfonso
safe 10 say that her boiler tubes are prob
ably not yet repaired, although work on
them was being rushed as soon as she came
of the foating dry dock. 1t is believed that
there viii be no trouble in sending a pair
of torpedo boats. which draw less than five
feet. past the chain of torpedoes and mines
opposite El MORO TO blow up the Alfonso
MI and couple of TRANSPORTS now i'm the
harbor and 10 get them safely to sea again
You can hear grave and gray-headed naval
mCn talking over this scheme their ewes
glistening as they think what a sweet il
only partial revenge IL would be for that
wreck which lies a couple of cable lengths
from the Alfonso XII. The war spirif 10
night IS on the increase, and everybody
hopes that Tomorrow will bring the desired
DEVELOPMENTS.
COLORED FIGHTERS