The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-14

provides for two six inch rapid fire and ten
IIve-inch rapid fire guns for the main bait
terry and OF twelve s.x-pounders for the
secondary battery. The steering gear OF
these vessels. as wen as the magazines viii
De protected BY a belt of coal With rush
work the vessels will be in readiness for
service In about thirty days.
Another event was the conference lasting
over an hour between Consul General Lee
ana the naval strategic board, composed OF
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt. Rear Atmi-
raj Walker. retired; Capt Caspar f. Good
rich, of the Naval War College: Commando
er Richardson Glover and Captain Crownin-
shield, chief of the Bureau of Navigation.
The meeting WAS held IN the Office Of As
sistant Secretary Roosevelt Although the
proceedings were secret IL IS known that
they related almost wholly to The military
detenses of Cuba and especially of the forts
at Havana. General Lees military eduea-
non and experience naturally gave much
weight TO his observations and he was
questioned in detail 10 the armament of
the forts at Havana harbor Che location
and strength of land batteries and other
points of military Importance that his resi-
dence had given him knowledge of. The
question of offensive and defensive move
ments in the neighborhood of Cuba in the
light Of the inforpation which General Lee
was able to impart. Naturally no details
were allowed TO get out, hut one OF the
members of the hoard stated as they dis
persed that the military situation had been
thoroughly considered and General Lee had
been able to give them information OF
very valuable character. Prior to the meet
spent half an hour in conference with As
sistant Secretary Day in the latter's office
READY TO MOBILIZE A BIG ARMY.
Signs of activity for what now seems to
be a probable conflict were continued at the
War Department. Everything is in readiness
for a prompt movement of troops towards
some central point, particularly of the forces
east of the Rocky mountains, but General
Miles says that nothing is likely to be done
in the way of moving any large body OF
troops Southeastward until there is more
evidence that their services will be needed.
Complete arrangements have been made for
the immediate mobilization of practically
the entire military force of the government
at the Chickamauga National Park at the
nrst signs of trouble. 1t is expected in case
OF necessity call will be issued for about
$1,000 troops. preferably from the National
Guard of the different States and Terri
tories. In the event that the war policy
contemplates the invasion of Cuba. the army
may be increased to 100000 men. OF this the
regular troops and the National Guard will
aggregate about 5000 men, and the re-
mainder viii be made up of volunteers. In
the event of a call upon the National Guard
attention will be directed first to the organ
izatlons IN the States of New York, Penn
Sylvania and Ohio and the District of Coz
lumbla. General Miless plan is to mobilize
seventeen of the twenty-five regiments of
infantry and five of the ten regiments OF
cavalry at the Chickamauga Park as speed
lily as possible.
Ordnance of the army Is be- ding every ef-
fort towards the supplying of the sea coast
fortitications with The lapid-fire and other
formidable suns and i'm this he has the
active help of the En-. sneer Bureau which
IS constructing various works of defense and
building the ,mplacemeuts sor the heavy
guns General 51agler had another CONSUL
tation with The secretary of war to-day for
the purpose of obtaining an additional al
lotment of money from the emergency fund
Tor raDid-tire and field artillery guns and
ammunition for the same.
The Board of Ordnance and Notifications,
9L winch General Miles Is president, is in
daily session at the War Department con-
s5lderlng plans for the improvement of coast
defenceS.
Arrangements are being made to put into
immediate service the monitor Nantucket,
which has been in use as a training ship
ior the North Carolina naval reserves for
lhe past four years. This old craft took a
prominent part in the Commandment of Fort
sumter, and is said to have been one OF
the best monitors of the war. She viii be
given protective armor and high-power guns
Will be placed in her turrets
Secretary Long has under consideration
the request of the defense committee of
New orleans that a cruiser or monitor be
stationed at the jetties at The mouth of the
mississippi for protection from en- cnemys
The coast survey steamers Patterson. Nc
arthur and Gedney, and the fish commits
sion steamer Albatross have been turned
over to the Navy Department for seryre
in case of need.
Senators Proctor and Sewall have intro
NAA''' AOA wi vi the in0
OF the army. Both pills are on the same
lines and provide that me army of the
United States shall consist of two regiments
of cavalry, seven regiments Of artillery. q
battalion of engineers and twenty-five regi-
ments of infantry. The total enlisted men
in the army is restricted 10 thirty thousand
In time of peace. but an increase is provided
for in war by enlarging the infantry COM
panies to $50 men each
Senator Hale has introduced joint reso-
luton at the instance OF the Navy Depart
ment providing for en- auxiliary naval force
Tor coast defense, 10 ne enrolled in such
numbers as the President may direct and to
serve for one year. The resolution provides
for officers for the force to be selected from
merchant vessels.
Senator Thurston has introduced bill
making permanent annual appropriation
of 81. 800, 900 for the purpose of increasing the
efficiency of the National Guard, and $780,
600 for the Improvement of the naval re-
serve.