Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-12
PREPARINGaFOR WAR
Government is Rushing Work at
Forts and>Nayy Yards.
MASSING TROOPS On TEE COAST
Final Test Soon to Be Made on
the SteamefS Holland.
MOVEMENTS OF CRUISERS

VALLEJO, Cal. March 12.-Everything
Is astir and a hustle at the navy yard.
Hundreds of workmen, are being added to
the usual force to rush the work OF pre-
pairing the Charleston. Philadelphia, Hart
ford. Pensacola and Adams for service.
The Yorktown is awaiting repairs. but no
orders have been received from the Navy
Department regarding the work to be done
on her. Orders have been issued that the
Charleston and Philadelphia be completed
at once, and it is chiefly on this account
that so many extra employees have been
added to the pay roll. though the other de-
partmeEts at the yard are also swelling
their working lists
On Thursday the construction department
sent in acquisitions for $50 extra men and
today asked for 200 more. The regular
work of the yard is proceeding as usual,
but night and day shifts will be employed
on the Charleston and Philadelphia.
Fort Hancock Looks WarIfke.
NEW YORK. March Effort Hancock.
at Sandy Hook, presents a more warlike
appearance today than ever before. The
two batteries of seventy-five men each
from Fort Slccun. Dav1d's Island. and two
battaliors from Fort Wadsworth, Staten
Island. arrived there today, in accordance
with orders issued by Maj. Gen. Wesley
Merritt. commander Of the department OF
the cast.
With the 300 ren who arrived today,
there are now more men at the fort than
siIce the civil war. AS there were 10 &C
ccmmodations for the newcomers the men
ln' n ed1ately begsn to erect tents in which
to live. The latest arrivals are all trained
meE and expert gunners. There are now
about $50 extra men at Fort Hancock.
Western Troops Awaiting Orders.
DENVER, Col, March 12.-Acting under
special orders received from the officials
in the War Department at Washington,
the commanding officer at Fort Logan has
distributed among the various compani MES
stationed there tents sufficient 10 provide
them shelter should they be called to move
The officers have also issued to the sol
dlers the regulation equipments they will
need if called upon to move.
AS i result of the orders received from
Washington, the men at the fort are pre-
pared for any kind Of service The same
preparations are being made at all the
pests in the departHent,o of the Colorado.
Test of the Holland.
NEW YORK, March 12.-The submarine
boat Holland was given another prelimi-
nary trial last evaningsf She moved cut a
short distance FROM tho pier at Perth AM
boy, and with John 1':; Holland. the in
ventor, the engineer and another man.
disappeared beneath the water. She re-
NAMED at depth of about fourteen feet
for nearly half aHy houF, and then reap
feared at the surface-reyThe object OF the
test was to determine the amount of metal
ballast necessary Tor FER operation under
water as well as to test her diving tanks
and compressed .&ir apparatus
After the Holland came to the surface
the inventor said that the boat worked
satisfactorily, andesthatt he was ready to
give ner. an open triair il, deep water. 1t
has been decided to exhibit her in the lower
tay next week.PF' ri - 81 80,
The president of the Holland Submarine
Company. Cart. jacques, Capt. S. A. Nor
ris, Superintendent Thompson of the dry
docks and only about half a dozen others
witnessed the test. 90 - ri
The ships at Key West, =. ...,
KEY WEST, Fla. March 1.-THE United
States cruiser Nashville has returned from
the Tortugas Islands. and the survey
ste amer Bacne arrived here this morning
from Havana via the Tortugas, with five
of the Names wounded from the latte p
place. .,t,-.
Found No Warshfps for Sale.
LONDON, March IA special dispatch
frori Rome says agents of the United
States Navy Department have been visit
ing the ship yards at Genoa and Leghorn
to buy warshipS, but have found none
available.
Enlistments at New York.
NEW YORK. March 12.-The enlisting of
skilled mechanics, machinists, seamen and
ircnworkers was continued today at the
Brooklyn navy yard, but all applications
from apprentices. landsmen and coal pass
ers were refused, as there is already a full
complement of these classes The torpedo
boat Stiletto has been put in condition for
sea- and is expected to leave for Newpor.
this afternoon. This is the regular sta
ton for the Stiletto
The work of transporting the ammuni-
ton from the yard TO the several forts was
continued today.