The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-14
TO MOVE THE TROOPS.
Arrangements Perfected For Speedy
Action When Necessary.

hhi SooiAoilVp oitoOVou VI SPoouJ
Action When Necessary.
HOOKING OUT FOR NAVAL.VESSELS
Navy Officers in New York to Exam-
Inc Vessels That May He Transfer-
red Into Fighters-The Work of Pro-
ducing Arms and Munitions OF War.
Washington, March 1.-THE govern
Ment is perfectlng its plans to make
movements Of troops to the coast de-
fenses, orders for which were issued by
the war department on Friday and
published at that time. A conference
was held here yesterday by representa-
tiyes of the following railroads to ar
range for the transportation OF light
astillerymen and their accoutrements:
The Atlantic Coast line. the Southern
railroad, the Seaboard Air line and the
Chesapeake and Ohio. 1t was stated
that companies of artlllerymen consist
ing of about 60 men each were to be
transferred from Fortress Monroe to
the following points: Fort Caswell, on
Cape Fear river, Ga: to the Tybee.
near Savannah; to Fort Morgan, near
Mobile and to Sheridans Point. en- the
Potomac.
1t was stated also that a company
would be moved from Fort McHenry,
Baltimore, to some point on the Della
ware river, near Philadelphia. The
government wanted, 1t is declared, the
arrangements perfected tomorrow at
the latest No bids have been asked
for regarding the transportation Of
heavy guns, and 1t was understood that
the men were to be carried to the diff
ferent points simply to man the bat
terles. 1t Is not known when the con-
tRmplated changes will take place.
Secretary Long was at the navy de-
partment for short while yesterday.
Tie stated late In the afternoon that
there was no news of any nature for
the press. and added in response to
specific inquiry that nothing had been
received from the court of inquiry.
The board of auxiliary cruisers and
q number of bureau chiefs met in AS
Bistant Secretary Roosevelt's room ;
during the morning. Each Of the
bureau chiefs present were able to give
the board some information incident to
The work that may be required to flt
out any ships that might be obtained.
Several of the members of the board
as originally appointed to look into the
matter are unable to leave the city at
the present time, sort was determined
that a special board, of which Cap
tain Rodgers will be president. should
he designated to proceed to New York
last night to undegtake the work In
hand An office was 1pened.at 26 Court +
landt street. New York city, this morn. !
ang. at which owners and agents for
ships are invited to make their pro- !
posals for turning over to the navy
such vessels as are of value for con-
yersicn into war purposes. /
The naval officials say there will be
no difficulty experienced in obtaining
all vessels that are desired, rs there
are hundreds available. The depart |
ment has q record Of 10 such ships, !
OF all sizes and GLASSES. which will be
inspected and examined II their own
ers desire to part with them. A num-
ber of these are vessels which have
been constructed under the subsidy act
OF congress. and are engaged In car
rying the mails The vessels to be ex-
amined will include all classes from
liners like the St. Paul to ocean tugs,
which can be of very material service
for a number of purposes.
At the Washington gun factory there
are now in various stages of construc-
tion no less than $50 guns of formidable
character. on which work Is being done
night and day, with view to their
snrly completion. No new guns are be-
ing started, but the entire efforts Of the
factory are devoted to finishing those
now under way. A naval officer said
there would be enough of them when
finished to constitute fair armament
for propbably 30 or more auxiliary
cruisers should such fleet be found
necessary to supplement the regular
warshps.
Secretary Long last night made the
statement that the matter Of the pur-
chase of the two Brazilian ships had
not been settled.
Meantime warlike preparations are
going on in various sections Of the
country. The Dupont powder works at
Wilmington. Del. are working day and
night on q government order. and a
Cleveland firm Is filling large order
for telescopes for sighting purposes to
be used on heavy guns, while another
Cleveland firm Is working on deck
plates for cruisers. The Midvale steel
works at Philadelphia are working day
and night on steel projectiles. and the
New Haven gun factories are rushing
on guns and cartridges.
MAINE WAS BLOWN UPBYAM MINE
The Army and Navy Register SO Pos
itivsly Declares.
New York, March 1.-THE Army and
Navy Register. in its issue of Satur-
day. saysl The Register is in posses
sion of information that certain evil
dsnce gathered by the court Of inquiry
at Havana haB come in semi-offlcial
form to the president from two mem
.bsrs of the Board. The information