Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-22

volunteered their services, but Captain
Marye notified them that he did not
have uniforms and and arms for any
more. -
After the drill last night the men
We're placed under orders to be ready
to move at a moments notice, for 1t
was probably that THE com pany would
be called out at any time. Another
drill viii be held on the Casino grounds
tomorrow afternoon at O'Clock
| HOSPITAL SHIP TAKES COAL.
| Orders We're received at the general
office Of the Chesapeake & Ohio yester-
| noon 10 supply the hospital ship SOL
ace With $50 tons of coal hmm ediately.
The coal was sent to the shlpyard
bankers. 1t is thought the Solace WIN
sail tonight or tomorrow for Key West.
GUNS FOR THE CRUISERS.
| Zen rapid fire guns We're received at
the shrpyard yesterday for the auxiliary
cruisers Yosemite and Dixie. They will
be placed on the vessels today.
| AT FORTRESS MONROE
| totonel Frank. the commandment at
Fortress Monroe. was busy yesterday
recruiting men to man five batteries.
Of the men who volunteered enough
We're accepted to complete the compile
ment for two batteries. The recruiting
office will be kept open again to-day.
"a Seaboard Air Line float arrived at
Old Point yesterday loaded with dy-
Mantle to be used in the submarine
Imines.
Two rapid fire guns have been re-
ceived from the New York arsenal,
and win be placed in position at once
HROM CAPE ,VDIaDE ISLANDS.
The British steamer We5lgate ar
rived in port last evening from the
| cape Verde Islands. When his ship
left Cape Verde twenty days ago, Cap
tain Ramsdale said there We're several
ISpanieh ships at that port but there was
no excl telnent. The Investigate will
load I'd cargo of grain for q European
port.
MAY BUY LA GRANDE DUCHESSE
There is q strong possibility Luat the
Plant line steamship La Grande Ouch
esse, which is now tied up at the ship
yard. will be purchased by the goyern-
lnent and be converted into an army
hospital ship similar to the Solace,
which Will accompany the ships OF the
navy.
The war department has decided to
purchase the best ship available as a
! l!oatinS hospital to accompany the
army OF invasion to Cuba ana there is
no doubt that this vessel will be the
| Duche ..
Ii the government finally decides to
take the handsome Plant liner, it is
| AAOA AAnSAS llIlL IL w III Uc SeCuECd lOE
Tess tnan $],UUU.UUO, as she has cost her
owners that much already.
Following The example Set by the
navy, hospital ship OF ample propor-
uuns and capacity is to be provided
for the army, upon which the wounded
and sick in cuba may be placed. treut-
ed, and brought to the United States.
The vessel will be under the direct
control OF the military authorities, and
unlike the ambulance vessel of the
navy VIII not accompany fleets into
action, but is to serve the purposes of
transporting the sick from one place
TO another, and to return home with
the wounded and convaleScentS from
the army in Cuba. . ...N .'H
The idea is that of the surgeon-gen-
eral Of the army, who has believed all
along that great danger threatens the
troops, that may be sent to Cuba this
summer from yellow fever and other
disorders incident to tropical climates.
The best medical attention on shore
where the troops are camped may not
be available, and he thinks that all
incapacitated men should be trans
ported at once to the nearest hospital
at some American port. He has, there
fore, asked the quartermaster-gen-
erals department to arrange for the
purchase of suitable vessel of large
thing after the fashion of the Solace.
which is to perform nearly similar SER
vice for the navy that the hospital YES
sci will for the army.
The army ship, however, will be fit
ted out for almost twice the number of
patients allotted to the Solace and will
be arranged for treating them almost
Indefinitely, while the navy vessel will
always be with the feet when not en-
gagged in conducting wounded to the
new naval hospital at Key West. The
naval board which has been purchaS-
| ING VaSSalS fnr service with a l.
larry fleet will probably be requested to
select ship suitable for the army
plan, and on its transfer to the gov
eminent she will be sent to some of
the shipyards for rehabilitation and
conversion for hospital purposes.
The surgeon general calls for a craft
having a capacity for at least 500
sick beds, of moderate speed, and cap
able of being oyerhauled so that an
abundance of air and light can be Sc
cured. Two weeks will be required to
, make the alterations. and under COM
mand, probably. Of civilian captain.
she will be sent to some place on the
f gulf coast where the army Is to
mobilize, and there await orders.
. Whenever the army is near a seaport
that vessel will also be- Whenever
. the army is sent to Cuba the vessel
will take position at the nearest port
t to the field of action. and be held in
: readiness to take on board and return
: to United States with the sick of the
army. Like the navy ambulance YES
Y sci. she will! fly the Red Cross flag,
which. under the Geneva convention
=. should immune the vessel from attack
= and permit her free action between
: opposing fleets. ----
A competent staff. consisting of halt
1 a dozen army surgeons, twelve men
nurses. and an equal number of apoth-
' ecaries will form the medical crew
of the vessel, besides a large number
4 of hospital attendants and orderlies
Not pound Of powder nor a gun of
any description will be on board
nAlrngnA nr HMM