The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-29

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day formally declared war to exist be-
tween the United States and Spain,
the senate passed the naval appropria-
ton bill carrying large amount Of
money for the improvement Of our sea-
fighting arm Of the federal service.
The Hull army reorganization bill was
passed by the senate and now goes to
conference. Secretary Sherman re-
signed as chief Of the state department,
to be succeeded by Assistant Secretary
Day, and the latter by John 3. Moore,
of New York, an acknowledged author
ity on international law, n the war
department called on the several states
for their quotas to the volunteer army
of the United States. These make up
the important events of the day.
1t was not announced when Secre-
'tary Sherman's resignation would take
effect, the secretary having yielded his
original idea Of leaving at once, and it
is presumed that he will remain until
Judge Day qualities as his successor.
The selection of Me-. Moore, who is now
professor of international law at Co
IIlb Oily, u" IoIh, " SuC-
coed the latter, was warmly welcomed
by all of the state department employ
eS. Appointed originally from Delaware
to the state department by Mr.. Bay
ard, when the latter was secretary,
Mr.. Moore, by sheer merit and ability
worked his way up to the place Of
second assistant secretary and in that
capacity he served under several ad-
ministrations without regard to politi-
cal changes. He resigned to accept
the chair of International law at CO.
lumbia university about three years
ago and it is believed that his present
appointment is only temporary, owing
to his indispOsitiOn to permanently
sever his connections with Columbia.
Mr.. Moore is an authority in certain
branches of international law and his
selection will do much to strengthen
the state department in the present
emergency.
THE QUESTION OF PRIZES.
The officials of the department, with
the assistance of the attorney general,
have been preparing another prOcla-
nation which will be issued in a day or
two, this time treating of prizes and
defining the conditions and time when
such seizures might be made. It's be-
lieved that the protest and suggestions
coming from foreign embassies and le-
SdtlOIlS mere nave leu the department
to define once for all it's position in this
matter.
4 prize commissioner was appointed
this afternoon in the person of Com
mander John Wynne, a retired naval
officer. He will be stationed at Key
West, where he now resides, and it
will be his duty, in conjunction with
two of the yet to be selected,
as part of the commission, to make APP
p~raisements of the value of prizes and
to assist the prize courts in their work.
ROOSEVELT MADE A CAVALRY
OFFICER.
The president today named Assist
ant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt
as lieutenant colonel of one of the reg
iments of mounted rifemen to be rails
ed in the Rocky mountains under Col
onel Wood, whom Mr.. Roosevelt has
urged for the place. Colonel Wood
won a medal of honor for distinguish
ed gallantry while commanding a de-
tachment of regular troops during the
exceedingly hard Apache campaigns
against Geronimo. Secretary Alger Sc
lected Colonel Wood and Mr.. Roose-
welt for the positions because he felt
hat their training and experience in
the past fitted them to do good service
with a cowboy regiment. Colonel Wood
starts west tomorrow to Superintend
the recruiting. many offers having al
ready come to Mr.. Roosevelt from indi-
viduals and organizations among the
cowboys. Secretary Long wishes M.
Roosevelt to remain in his present pO-
sition as long as possible, so it may be
two or three weeks before he will join
his command.
So the talk of a successor to Mr..
Roosevelt as assistant secretary has
been mere speculation and it can be
Ctnfn1 nnCitiynlxy fhnr III ia fhic ttvon
the president has not made a choice
as his successor.
There was a birth of news from the
seat of hostilities off the Cuban coast
so far as the department was concern
ed, or if it was in possession of infOr-
nation it was so carefully guarded
that nothing leaked out. A few tele-
grams came from Key West
ing the arrival there of the prizes
whose capture have been reported
through the press.
Nothing could be obtained as to the
intentions of Commodore Schfey in so
hastily rushing away the flyers CO.
1umbia and Minneapolis from Hampton
Roads. but it is believed that their pur-
pose is to shelter the Paris or some
other liners from attack at the hands
of a Spanish cruiser.
A PACIFIC NAVAL STATION NEED
ELL.
There was talk of establishing a
supply depot in the Philippines 30 meet
the conditions in Asiatic waters. Our
fleet there now has no home, and I'M
der neutrality laws the stay of the
ships at any port is limited to a few
hours. This is unpleasant, besides in
volving the expenditure Of a great deal
of coal. so that it may be necessary for
Commodore Dewey to seize a port in
the Philippines and fortify it as a base
of supplies. /.
The department today purchased
two more tugs. the Hortense. of New
Orleans, and the Mary Wiuick, OF Cal
weston.
A good many details remain to be ar
ranged in order to carry out the war
departments projects of the mobll1za-
ton of volunteers, but these are rapid
~ being disposed of. The department
received notice today that o Logan,
son of the late general and Senator Lo-
gan, had raised a cavalry regiment