The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-04-01
RING THE
TING FORCE
Id Tugs Being
med Into w ar
'essels.
qon and the Mari
.ail Around the
Horn.
Official Data Shows over Ten Million
Americans Liable to Military
Duty.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,
Washington. March 81

washington, March 81.
The work incident to the TRANSFORMED
ton Of the yachts and tugs recently
purchased for the Navy Department so
as to make them practicable for naval
purposes is now we'll under way. The
alterations and changes necessary are
being rushed with all possible speed,
and orders have been issued to employ
sufficient number of men to work
night and day so that no time will be
lost. In the tugs particularly there are
numerous changes necessary for the
comfort Of the men who will man
them. The yachts, on the other hand,
are in better shape, and less work will
be required than on the tugs. They will
be given belt of armor as a means of
protection for portions which are most
vulnerable to the enemy's fire. So far
the department has purchased five
yachts and eight tugs for the auxiliary
navy.
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British
ambassador, called on Assistant Sec
rotary Roosevelt e the Navy Depart
ment this afternoon and left his card
for Captain Sigsbee, congratulating
that officer upon his escape and his
bearing throughout his recent thrilling
experiences in the harbor of Havana
There was nothing especially signifi-
cant in the movement Of naval vessels
reported to the Navy Department to-
day. The gunboat Wilmington arrived
at Jacksonville yesterday, on her way
to New York for repairs.
The torpedo-b t Somers, purchased
in Germany, arrived at Pillau yester-
day on her way to the United States.
The gunboat Wheeling has left Port
Angeles for Seattle. The cruiser Co
lumbia and the revenue cutter Morrill,
arrived at Norfoln to-day. The Co
lumbia is attached to the flying squad
ron, and is in o,mplete readiness for
any service she may be called upon to
perform. Her sister ship the Min
neapolis, now fitting out at League
Island, is expected to join the squad
ron at Hampton Roads in day or
| two.
The gunboat Marietta of the Pacific
squadron arrived at Callao to-day. AL
though not SO admitted, it is gener-
ally understood that she is bound for
| Key West. The same is true of the bat
tle-ship Oregon, which is expected to
arrive at Callao this week. These YES
| sells have been informed of the presence
| of tthe Spanish torpedo boat Temerario
on the east coast Of South America, and
have been warned to be on their guard
against her while in those waters.
The military information division OF
the War Department has made public
table bearing on the strength of the
militia in the United States in 1897. 1t
also gives data as to the number of men
liable for military duty, information in
regard to appropriation, military Off
GERS, encampments and mobilization
The table is compiled from the reports
made to the department by army Off
GERS detailed for duty with the militia
Of the States. The authorized strength
of the military of the entire country
(Which, however, includes several
States where this strength is not linn
ited) is 1S6,S4S, while the aggregate ac-
tual strength is 1877 made up as fol-
lows: Infantry, 100,179; artillery. 5055;
cavalry, 497S; special troops, 2z70; gen.
erals and staff officers, S7S; non-com-
missioned staff officers, 400.
The total number of men liable tc
military duty in the country is 10,37S,-
11S. State appropriations made for the
maintenance of militia in 1897 amount
! ed to $2723 564.