The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-16
STATE MILITIA WANTS CANNON.
South Carolina General Offers His Servi-
ces to President.


ces to President.
Washington, March Is. Officers of state
militia organizations have been request
ng the War Department. as to allotments
of arms, ammunition, etc. There is an
annual appropriation aggregating about
$500, 600 allotted among the militia OF the
several states according to their numeri-
cal strength, and the money granted may
be expended for any branch of the service
desired. That feature which has received
some attention lately relates to the artll-
lery field pieces, only few states having
been supplied with this necessary adjunct
to suooes sful military service. The
militia organizations as rule have been
satisfied with the ordinary Napoleon -
FOUNDER brass cannon which fires o solid
ball, but their use has been entirely dis
carded in the regular army. OF late years,
New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Utah
and a few other states have been fur
nished the new field artillery pieces used
by the war department in Its service. The
officials are prompt to accede to the re-
quests of the militia organizations, If the
allotment of annual appropriations made
absence of any money on hand to the
credit of the states, no equipment OF any
character can be given them. The artil-
lery strength of the state militia organi-
cations in time of peace is four field
pieces and in time of war six pieces
Representative J. W. Stokes of South
Carolina has received a letter from Gen.
j. l.. Topplebin, commanding first bri-
gade South Carolina cavalry, after COM
mending Mr.. Stokes for hi recent speech
in Congress in favor of the $50, 600, 600
for the national defence the general says:
"The people of South Carolina stand
ready and willing to shed their blood in
defense of the stars and stripes, and II
ever our people were united they are to-
day We know no factional or party
lines when the honor of our country is at
stake. AS you know, / command the
largest body Of cavalry in the United
States. My command and I are at the
service of the President, and while |
know that the militia cannot be pressed
into service for longer period than
ninety days, now, through you, formal
Iy tender my service to .thePresident tnthe
volunteer service for ninety monthsi need
be- The people of South Carolina have
placed confidence in the wisdom of the
President at this critical moment and feel
that he will do the proper thing"
Mr. Stokes presented Gen. Topplebin' 8
letter to the President To-Day.
ST. LOUIS ALLOWED TO SAIL.
New York, March l5.-The board of
auxiliary cruisers today decided to allow
the ST. Louis to sail for Southampton
at Southampton Thursday, is expected
to start on her return voyage in few
days and she will probably be the first
vessel to be converted into an auxiliary
cruiser. The conversion. of the st. Louis
may take place on her return in case the
Spanish torpedo fotilla should have
left the Canaries for Porto Rico BY that
time.
Arrangement for formation of the fly
ing squadron cannot be perfected before
the return of the St Louis, not only be-
cause Of that vessels absence, but on
account of lack of men for the Mime
apolis and Columbia. 1t Is stated that
the crews of these cruisers are short 4Sl
men and it is not expected that'thi num-
Der will be obtained before two weeks.
RUMORS OF SETTLEMENT.
Madrid, March 15.-It is asserted in
we'll informed circles that the negotiations
in New York as to commercial treaty
are paving the way for an understanding
between the Cuban government and the
insurgents on grounds to be submitted
for approval to the home government.
The aspect of affairs hns undergone a
complete change and there is q strong
feeling in favor of peace between the
United States and Spain 1t IS alleged
that knowledge of this fact led Mr.. Cur
son, parliamentary secretary for the
British foreign office, to decline yesterday
to reply to the questions put by Mr..
Michael Davitt anti Parnellite, as to
whether Great Britain had offered to
mediate.
LONG DIDN'T LIKEIT.
Washington, March l5.-Lieut. Com
mander Jas. d. Adams, attached to the
coast defense ship Monterey at Mare ISL
and, Cali, was acquitted recently recently
by general court martial of the charge of
drunkenness on duty. Secretary Long,
being of the opinion the evidence 1ustl-
fed a different conclusion, issued an
order today dieapproving the finding OF
the court and administering sharp re-
pri1nand. Inasmuch, however, as the
findings of the court are binding on the
department, the officers has been released
from arrest and restoi ed to duty. The
rule that man cannot be put in Jeop-
prevails in the navy.
A JEALOUS DIVERS CRIME.
New York. March 15.-John M. Peter
son, seafaring man and diver, today
shot Leonora Faulkner and Harry Pohl,
at the woman's residence. The man and
woman were taken to the hospital In q
dying condition. Peterson, who attempted
suicide and managed to shoot himself
in the forehead without serious effect,
was arrested after facing three policemen
with his revolver Jealousy was the
cause of the shooting.
have been afflicted with rheumatism