The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-23
Resignation of Capt. Bradford, Chief
of Equipment Division, Who Will
BE Given Command OF a Ship.
GIFT TO THE GOVERNMENT
FINE YACHT PRESENTED BY MIL
LIONAIRE NEW YORKER.
Movement of Troops Towards the
South - Chfckamauga Park Rem
devious Now Scamp Thomas"

| WASHINGTON, April 22.-The military
| and naval preparations were devoid OF sem
| sational features to-day and are becoming
| more svstematized in their execution. In
the absence of Mr.. Roosevelt in New York
! no ships were purchased, but the secretary
accepted one handsome steam yacht, the
| gift to the government OF patriotic Amer
| lean citizen. In the War Department all
| energies were bent towards the issue OF
| the call for volunteers. The proclamation is
| deI1yed in issue until tomorrow owing to
| the fact that it had been prepared in adj
vance of the adoption of certain amend
ments to the bill. Up to the close of office
| hours no official announcement had come
| of the capture of the Spanish merchantmen
near Key West.
| Secretary Alger to-day took to the White
House for the Presidents signature the
! proclamation prepared at the department Tor
| 100 900 men to serve as volunteers, In many
respects the call follows the outlines of the
first call made by President Lincoln on
| April Is, 1861, when he asked for 10000 men.
Necessarily there are number of changes
| because of the different purpose for which
volunteers are asked. If the precedents are
| followed Secretary Alger, promptly on the
| signing and issuance of the proclamation,
| will request the executives of each Of the
| several States to cause to be Immediately
| detached from the militia the quota they
| may be called to furnish The Governors
| will communicate the time at which such
militia will be expected at the rendezvous
where they will be met by officers of the
| United States to muster them into the
service of the government. Following this
the secretary of war will designate officers
/ nd fhaxy will
at the places in each State where the troops
may be rendezvoused. President Lincoln's
first call was for but 10000 men, but the
| total number furnished was 91.S16. The
| President signed the volunteer bill to-day,
| but did not issue the call.
| ANXIOUS TO FIGHT.
| In addition to other events to-day there
was a notable retirement from the Navy
| Department in the case of Capt. Royal b.
Bradford, chief of the equipment division.
| Captain Bradford is not only officer OF
| high scientific attainment, but is equipped
! as well in great practical experience in
naval matters Although he has not held
! his present office long and by custom is en-
| titled to nearly three years of further serv-
| ice here, he has become so impatient to
| join in active service that he to-day adj
dressed the following letter to the Presi-
| dent:
| 81 respectfully tender my resignation as
chief of the Bureau of Equipment of the
| Navy Department. 1t has been a great
| pleasure to serve your administration in my
| pending capacity and l beg to express my
| thanks for the honor conferred upon me
| by your appointment to such responsible
| office This resignation is rendered only that
1 may ask for active service afloat.'
| civ la
| ter to Secretary Long with the addition of
| a request to have command of an active
war ship. The resignation will be accepted
and by virtue of his rank, as we'll as to
mark the high regard entertained for him
| by the administration, Captain Bradford
will be given one of the best of the avail
| able ships in the navy
| A formal order was issued by the War
| Department increasing the equipment of
| light batteries of artillery to six guns, six
-caissons, one combined forge and battery
wagon and one hundred horses. The en-
| forcement of this order will require 800 addi-
| tional horses, which the Quarternnaster's
| Department will purchase in Tennessee.
For purposes of transporting the army to
| Cuba the quartermaster generals office has
| under consideration the question of the
| charter of ships having the carrying capac-
| ity of $1,000 men. No charters have, how
| ever, been closed.
! In the Engineer and Ordnance Bureaus
work is being rushed with the greatest pos
| sible speed towards the completion of de-
| Tense projects and in the installation of big
| guns. Ali the available material in the way
| of guns and carriages are being utilized,
| ard the officials express satisfaction at the
| results obtained in the short space of time
| at their disposal.
THE NAsHvILLE's PRIZE.
| The report that the gunboat Nashville
had captured a Spanish merchant ship
| gained rapid circulation through the Navy
| Department shortly after noon to-day. 1t
caused much excitement and was eagerly
discussed as the first outward evidence of
/ the actual existence of war. Secretary
Long, however had not received word of
| the capture. except through newspaper
sources. Notwithstanding this, naval Of
| ficers credited the report and discussed it as
| though it was an accomplished fact. 1t was
said that a prize crew had been placed on
| board, and that the captured vessel had
valuable cargo, including considerable coal.
| Among the officials the report caused much
| satisfaction, although it said that the
| capture of Spanish war ship would have
| been more acceptable. There is said to be
| no question as TO the right of taking Span
| ish merchant ships at this time. Two of
| these ships left Galveston within the last
day or so with considerable cargoes of cot
| ton on board Another Spanish ship is said
to be en- route from Vera Cruz. Mexico,
| with ,0OO, 600 pesetas on board representing
! the subscription of Vera Cruz to the Span
| ish interests in Cuba.
There are all sorts of rumors at the Navy
| Department to-day as to the movements OF
| the flying squadron, but careful inquiry dis
closed the fact that so far Commander
| Schley has not received his sailing orders.
Even should the department abandon its
original intention of maintaining this naval
| force at Hampton Roads ready for imme-
date service for any point on the coast that
| might be threatened, 1t is understood that
| the change will not be made until other
that. To allow Commander Schiey to go to
sea on a long cruise. leaving exposed the
| great cities of the Atlantic coast and num-
berless unprotected small towns without
| some kind OF naval force to keep on the
torpedo boats and gunboats would be very
| bad strategy, so that unless something UNI
: expected happens. Commander schley 10