The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-20

does not back down win follow actual
war. but whether or not the overt act
will be preceded by q formal deciara-
tien Of war. which would insure the Inn
mediate naturalization Of the powers.
or whether the north Atlantic squadron
will make its appearance OF Havana 40
q beginning cannot yet be predicted.
The army and navy experts are be-
ginning to take less hopeful view Of
an easy and quick campaign than they
entertained . short time ago. Months
are now mentioned instead Of weeks
as the probable length Of hostilities. and
one naval sficer. who had experience
In the late war, processes q belief that
unless outside pressure II brought to
bear. . war may easily drag along for q
year under the existing conditions. APP
parently the powers have abandoned
open efforts in Washington TO influences
the course Of our government.
The authoritative abatement 10 made
that on the first call for troops only the
national guard will be given an op-
portunity to volunteer for service In the
war. This statement IL In accordance
with those made by Secretary Alger to
shS uotiOh4a 0aIu inSn " nv teitto uPOn
him at the war department on Saturday.
when the modified Hull bill for the ex-
pansion OF the army In time Of war was
under consideration. The secretary
thinks that such course 10 in keeping
with sound discretion and the dictates
OF common-sense. for the organised MIL
itia have gone to great expense and have
devoted much time to perfecting them
selves for military duty. Any other
course. he believes. would be destructive
to the best interests Of the guard As
far as practicable the state organixa-
tions entering the volunteer service will
remain intact. the governors Of the va
rious states being permitted. AZ they
were In 1851. to designate the regimental
officers. which will include those of the
grades Of second lieutenants to colonels.
The president will reserve the right to
appoint the stan and field Officers.
Many applications have been made to
the war department for permission to
volunteer. and among men of all creeds.
nationaiities and politics there is an ex-
pressed intention and desire to uphold
the honor and the integrity Of the nag
Of the republic. The FIRST call for troops
will be for 80. 900 men. which II Is believed
will exhaust the available strength of
the national guard at this time, after
dcducting thoee who are sick and other
wise inoapacitated for immediate SER
vice. The total strength of the guard
as reported to the war department 10
u3.764 men.
ailotments from the emergency fund
for the war department. One million
dollars were given for the quarter
masters department.. chiefly to meet ex-
tracrdinary expenses in the transporta-
tion OF troops and munitions Of war;
$4,000 for work with balloons Snd $780,
900 for pe-fecting the telegraphic SER
vice. General Greedy. the chief signal
oflcer. ID q staunch advocate Of &ha use
Of balloons at the various ports OF the
country and In feld service. great
deal Of Indignation has been expressed
by naval officers over the cold -blooded
attempt OF persons owning vessels or
acting a. their agents to extort from the
government sums Of money largely in
excess Of the value Of their craft The
same complaint is also made az to many
kinds OF military and naval supplies, al
though II Ia gratifying to note that In
few cascs--the tube makers and boiler
making firms end 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 light armor on the four vessels
acquired from the Morgan line, the
trto
The Carnegie company has undertaken
to roll Immediately light steel plate. one
and one-half inches thick. Two layers
Of this plate will be placed around the
boilers and engine rooms of the boats,
making about 25 tons of armer In each
case. This will be sufficient Mt least to
repel the fire of machine guns and per-
haps to keep out six FOUNDER shells.
The department has received satisfac-
tory information that the coal loaded at
Newport News upon q British steamer
10 not. as was supposed. intended for
the Spanish fleet at the Cape Verde ISL
ands. but is for Z line Of merchant
steamers, 30 that apprehension from
that source has been removed. The de-
partment II still looking out for vessels
suitable for coiliers. and several cable
messages were sent TO Its agency In Eu-
rope looking to the purchase Of some of
these vessels.
There IL no disposition on the part Of
the authorities to hasten the movements
Of Minister Bernabe. Whether the state
department will send him his passports,
or he will ask for them. 10 felt to be an
immatsriai detail. He intends to 90
without reference TO these formaIities,
and there IL every reason to believe the
state department win AFFORD him the
protection Of passports and any atten-
tions usual In the enforced departure Of
a minister on the breaking out Of war.
The entire stan Of the legation will ac-
company the minister. Their exact
movements after leaving washington
are not made known. except that they
Will return 70 Spain at the earliest pos
sible moment. II would be no surprise
II the minister and his star went by
way OF Canada instead Of New York.