New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-06
TO MEET ANY EMERGENCY.
MILITARY AND NAVAL ACTIVITY OF
THE GOVERNMENT
HIGH OFFICIALS BAY THE MEASURES UNDER
WAY SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN TO MEAN
THAT WAR Is EXPBCrED-wHAT
THE NAVY AND WAR DE-


Washington, March 5.--Tha developments at
the State. Navy and War departments in con-
nection with the Spanish situation have divided
themselves into two distinct branches one relat-
ing to the Maine Court Of Inquiry. and the
other to the natural and necessary steps to place
the naval and military arms Of the service on an
efficient basis. Concerning the Court and Its
work, the information reaching the authorities
here Is Of the most fragmentary character and
the highest naval officials reiterate that nothing
Is at hand to indicate even the tendencies or the
members OF the Court from the evidence they
have thus far received
Admiral Sicards telegram last night gives the
only clew to the plans Of the Court, ana this
Is In effect that 1t will be some time before the
testimony Of the divers and Other witnesses can
be taken and an Idea formed as to the date OF
submitting the report 1t Is felt at the Navy
Department that this will leave the question: so
far as the Court is concerned, in state OF
doubt for some days longer probably for week
or ten days for. aside from the conclusion of
the hearings, there is the formulation Of the i'm
portant findings. the framing OF the Courts
opinion and then the formallties of Its trans
mission to Admiral Scard and thence to Wash
ington
While these last stages will be brief when the
actual findings and opinions have been matured,
yet they cannot be entirely eliminated and
there appears 10 be no disposition TO be precipi-
tous in a matter involving such grave issues
NO REFERENCE TO THE MAINE INQUIRY.
The other general branch Of the subject. the
activity In the various naval and military bu-
rsaus. continues without reference to the WORK
Of the Court Of Inquiry. This activity up 10 the
present time has not taken the form or any
concerted elaborate plan OF emergency prep
arations but haS been manifest mainly through
comparatively minor acts which taken tosether
have shown that the heads Of departments were
not Inactive In preparing their branches OF the
service for any requirements which it was pcs
sible might be made upon them
member Of the Cabinet said to-day that
there should be no Misunderstanding or miscon-
struction of these steps For instance, all Oh the
manifold movements, particularly in the west
Of war material, declared In the most POSI-
tive manner simply to be in execution or plans
long AGO developed by the Fortihcations Board
for the defence o. the coast. Thus al Seatue
N. War DEPARTMENT recently purchased a tract
Of GAO acres on Magnolia Blum point Regarded
by the Board as Indispensable to the proper de-
fence OF Puget Sound. This is now being put
into condition for the reception Of the heavy
l q
should have been done long ago
However while It Is said that these steps are
in accordance with plans. there is no conceal
roent of the fact that the Administration Ia i'm
pressed with a senss OF duty In putting the two
war branches In the highest state Of efficiency to
meet any emergency.
AN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION.
There Is no disposition TO anticipate an emer-
ttO will
which will call into use the preparations now
on foot On the contrary, the highest author'-
ties of tho naval and military branches say they
do not expect an emergency. but are performing
the duty allotted to them OF being ready for any
result that may come no matter how unexpected
II may be. These high officials do not wish TO
minimize their preparations or to assert that
they are merely routine neither do they wish
these wise and natural precautions to be con-
strued far beyond their legitimate extent and
made tina basis for alarming reports OF war
measures
In referring to this subject, q member OF the
Cabinet said that patriotic instincts should In
spire a just measuring Of the activity now evil
dent at no moro and no less than 1t really
meant
Tho Navy Department Is somewhat embar-
raised by the lack Of scamen necessary 10 MI
the compliments Of ships already or about to go
into commission. and in view OF the shortage the
officials In charge Of the recruiting stations at
League Island, Norfolk and New-fork have
been instructed TO enlist such seamen as may be
available and not confne themselves to persons
who have heretofore been In the Navy.
According to an official of the Construction
Bureau Of the Navy. 1t viii he Soma time before
the Charleston, the Yorktown and the Phadel-
ha Mars
ready for sea service unless extraordinary
measures are taken to hurry the work on them.
The work on the Charleston, carried on In the
manner in which 1t has been. will require three
month"; to finish The Yorktown and the
Philadelphia, II is suggested, might be prepared
again for service In a short time II they
are rot put in commission. but II the latter step
"a resorted TO It will require from six to nine
months to put them In shape.
The War Department is having some difficulty
in obtaining the title to sufficient ground at
Point Wilson, Washington. on which 1t Is pro-
posed to erect Notifications. This is because OF
the fact that the owners Of much of the land are
scattered over the country, and trouble has been
experienced n securing their addresses Inc
matter is now in the hands OF the Department
of Justice which is doing everything possible 10
settle the question The nature and extent OF
Tho works TO be erected will depend on the
money available.
THE WORK ON FORTIFICATIONS.
I'VE are pressing work on fortihcatons." said
an Official OF the War Department to-day, Just
as we have been since the permanent system Of
coast defence was inauguratei by Congress about
two years ago. We aim to spend all the money
Congress appropriates yearly. so that the legis-
latiye body will be induced TO authorize ex-
penditures for this necessary adjunct OF Ma
tional defence. Naturally the public is now
taking great interest In all that is going on. and
probably observes with closer scrutiny every
thing being done. This. coupled with the fact
tbot no one except members OF Congress Is