The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-16
SERVICES WITHOUT LIMIT
STOPPELBEIN'S LETTER TO REP
RESENTATIVE STOKES.
MOVEMENT OF BATTERIES TO THE FRONT
Not Thought that European Governments viii
Interfere According to Rumor'-NaVaI A-
fairs Committee May Order Six Battle
Ships Instead Of Three.

Ships Instead OF Inree'
Washington, ID. c., March 15.-Not
much concern is expressed by officers
of the administration over the reported
intention of European governments, at
the instigation of Austria, to intervene
between the United States and Spain in
the settlement of the questions pend
ing between them. So far it can be sta
ted that this has taken no official shape,
or. ut least, no indications of such
design has reached the State Depart
ment. What the attitude of our govern
memt would be if representations III that
line were addressed to it by the Euro
pean powers is Il question that the Off
cialS do not care to answer i'll antlcipa-
tion.
4 good deal of encouragement was
created ut the Navy Department to-day
by u report from the capitol that ma
jority of the Naval Affairs Committee is
disposed to substitute six battlcships for
the three provided for in the pending
Naval appropriation bill. This number is
supposed to represent about the normal
working capacity of the three ship build
ing concerns in this country that are
able at present to undertake the con
struction of battle ships.
The Fortifications Board began its seS-
Sions to-day in the War Department.
TIE proceedings are guarded zealously
against publication.
Bids were opened in the quarter-mas-
tcr's office Of the War Department to-
day for the movement of the artillery
batteries that are TO man the fOrtiiica-
ton works recently completed. The bat
terieS, for whose movements proposals
were received, include the following:
Battery L., Fourth Artillery, from
Fort McEenry, Nd, to Fort Delaware;
Battery l., Fourth Artillery, from Wash
ingt0n, ID. c., barracks, to Fort Mott
(near Fort DeIaware); Battery f.,
Fourth Artillery, from Fort Monroe, to
Sheridan'S Point. on the Potomac; Bat
terry L., Second Artillery, from Fort
Monroe to Fort Caswell. near the mouth
of the Cape Fear river; Battery f.,
First Artillery, from Fort Monroe. TO
Iybce Island, Ga; Battery l.. First Ar
tillery, from Fort Monroe, to Fort Nor
gan, Ala. The PENNSYLVANIA Railroad
received the contract for Transporting
the batteries from Washington, to Fort
Mott and Fort McHenry, to Fort Dela-
ware. Other batteries to be moved as a
result of recent orders to man fOrtifica-
lions are:
Battery c., of the First Artillery.
from st. Augustine. to Sullivans Island.
Charleston Harb0r: light battery b..
Fourth Artillery. from Fort Riley, Kan
sas, to jackson Barracks. La; light bat
terry f., Fourth Artillery, from Fort
Riley to Fort Monroe; light battery f..
Fifth Artillery, from Fort Riley to Sa-
yannah, Ga; the light battery to Fort
Sam, Houston, Texas, to Galveston:
Fifth Artillery two batteries from Fort
Slocum to Fort Hancock one battery
from Fort WadswOrth to Fort Hancock
and one battery from Fort Hamilton. to
Fort Hancock; second Artillery. one
battery from Fort Adams to Long Is
land Head
Inspired by the war sentiment nre-
vailing in many parts of the country.
officers of State militia organizations
have bene induirinS of the War Depart
ment as to allOtments of arms, ammuni-
tiOnS. etc.
Representative J. w. Stokes. of
South Carolina, has received letter
from General Joseph L. Stoppelbcin.
commanding the First Brigade. South
Carolina Cavalry. After comrnendine
Mr.. Stokes for his recent speech in Con-
greSs in favor of the $4,000, 900 appro-
priatiOn for the national defense. he
adds
"The people of South Carolina stand
ready and willing to shed their blood in
defense of the stars and stripes. and if
ever oar people were united they are
to-day. We know no sectional or marty
Zines when the honor of the country is
at stake. AS You know, / command the
largest body of cavalry in the United
States. My command and /. are at the
services of the President and. while I
understand that militia cannot he
pressed into service for a longer period
than ninety days, | now. through Won.
formally tender my services to the Pres
ident in the name of the volunteers for
ninety months if need be. "The
people of South Carolina have implicit
confidence i'll the wisdom of the Presi
dent at this critical moment and feel
that he will do the proper thing"
Mr.. Stokes presented General StOppei-
helms letter to the President to-day
after the Cabinet meeting.