The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-20

49, Sss@OAAS NSs : y
| Academy.
The authoritative statement was made
| at the War Department today that on the
! first call for troops only the National
| Guard will be given an opportunity to
volunteer for service in the war. This
statement is in accordance with those
made by Secretary Alger to the National
Guard men who called upon him at the
War Department on Saturday when the
modified Hull bill for the expansion of
sideration. Secretary Alger thinks that
such course is in keeping with sound
discretion aud the dictates of common
sense for the organize militia have goue
to great expense and have devoted much
time to perfecting themselves fer military
duty. Any other course he believes would
be destructive to the best interests of the
guard.
AS far as practicable the state organiza
tions entering the volunteer service will
remain intact, the governors of the
various states being permitted. as they
were in 1861, to designate the rngimental
officers, which will include those of the
grades of second heutenants to colonels.
The President will reserve the right to
appoint the staff and field officers. Many
applications have been made to tho War
Department for permission to volunteer
and among men of all creeds, nationali.
ties and politics there is an expressed in
tention and desire to uphold the honor
and integrity OF the flag of the republic.
1t was stated today that the first call
for troops would be for 80, 600, which it is
believed will exhaust the entire available
strength Of the National Guard at this
and otherwise incapacitated for immediate
service. The total strength of the guard
as reported to the War Department. is
1887 men.
Secretary. Alger today made several
additional allottments from the emergen-
cy fund for the War Department.. One
million dollars was given for the quarter
masters department., chiefly to meet ex-
traordinary expenses in the transportation
of troops and munitions Of war, SIS, 600
for work with balloons and $60,00O for
perfecting the army telegraphio service.
a staunch advocate of the use of balloons
at the various ports of the country and in
regular field service. A great deal of in
dignation has been expressed by naval
officers over the cold blooded attempt OF
persons owning vessels or acting as their
agents to extort from the government,
sums of money largely in excess of the
tdlu0 VI Uu0lI CEtlU. Liz St1uuC COAs
is also made as to many kinds of military
and naval supplies, although it is crafty
ing to note that in few cases, the tube
makers and boiler making firms and
some ammunition and gun making
people, every disposition has been shown
to give the government the best terms.
The Navy Department has arranged to
place some light armor on the four vessels
acquired from the Morgan line, the
Prairie, Yosemite, Yankee and Dixie. The
Carnegie company has undertaken to roll
Immediately light steel plate l l-2 inches
thick. Two layers of this plate will be
placed around the boiler and eng inc
rooms of the boats, making about 25 tons
Of armor in each case. This will be
sufhciert at least to 1epel the fire of ma
chine guns and perhaps to keep out six
FOUNDER shells.
The Navy Department has received
satisfactory information that the coal
loaded at Newport News upon tho British
tramp steamer Hamstead, is not as was
supposed, intended for the Spanish fleet
at the Cape Verde islands, but is for q
line OF merchant steamers SO that appre-
hension from that source has been re-
moved.
The department. is suilI reaching out
for vessels suitable for colliers and
several cable messages were sent today to
its agency in Europe looking to the pur.
chase of aome of these vessels.