The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-25
VAR 70 Be FORMALLY
DECLARED today.


~ao are fully acquainted with the tsciis-
ties AZ hand for affordiag this work. Some
understanding with the railroads on the
basis of uniform rates OF travel. ets.. w,al
be arranged IL possible. so that tie ss.-
disrs may be sent by the shortest possible
route with the least charge 10 the govern
nent. Questions Of equipment Of the
troops with uniforms ana tens are also
to se settled. although many Of .he s:ate
organ xs tons are prepared in this respeo.
Tie department. has a number OF branches
in which tents. uniforms. etc. are manu-
sactursd. ut 1t viii be compelled 10 cali
on Tie service OF outside firms 10 meet tie
present demands.
Gen Mics was at his Office IL the wax
Gepafs naent some time in conference with
his star. officers. Anticipating active SER
vice in the field. the general has had man
ufactured several hundred sabtertaches or
officers. dispatch cases. which are in use
among the European armies. They are
manufactured OF leather, are about nine
inches square and can be attached to the
belt AROUND the officers waist. With them
is a fairly good-sized isingiass map case
by which an officer may always have at
hand an outline of the country he 10 .rav-
ersing.
Naval militia for Coast Defenaes.
II Is said at the naval department that
all the militia which will be used in the
deep sea patrol vessels already have been
ordered 10 them. Those remaining viii b
utilized in manning the signal stations
along the coast and the vessels Of the close
shore auxiliary feet.
More Vessels Getting Ready.
Commander Richardson Cover expects
that the gunboat Bancroft. which he IS to
command and which Is now undergoing re-
pairs at Brooklyn, will sail for Norfolk
within a few days TO take on her ammu-
milton. The probability is that the vessel
Will then be sent to Join Admiral Samp-
sons fleet.
II is said to be definitely SETTLED that
Capt. Albert s. Barker. member OF the
Joint army and navy defense plan board.
will command the protected cruiser New
ark, now fitting out at Norfolk. She viii
be ready for service some time In May.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt today an
nouneed that the government had pur-
chased the steam yacht Aliene for the
navy This vessel, like many others that
have. been acquired. and of light draft and
exceiiently fitted for patrol duty in shall
s~Ff- IN .ria
ter. 1is feet long and % fee, beam. She
was built at Chester. Pa. and her home
port is New York.
No News Of Spanish Fleet.
1t was said at the navy department that
no additional information had been re-
ceived of the movements Of the Spanish
fleets rendezvoused at Cadiz and at the
Cape de Verde islands. Every step taken
by these fleets IS promptly reported TO the
department by the agents abroad. One
sary to receive with the greatest caution
reports Of the movements of the ships. as
Spain will naturally try In every way to
mislead the United States.
The Asiatic Fleet.
Most of the vessels Of The Asiatic squad
ron. which. according 10 the Associated
Press dispatches, is to sail with sealed
orders. according 10 tho latest published
advlces were rendezvoused at Hongkong.
The squadron is under command of Com
modore George Dewey, well-known and
trusted naval officer. and is made up OF
seven vessels. including the golfers re-
Gently purchased by the department The
Olympia. protected cruiser. is the flag
ship, with a speed of over tweh,y -one
knots. while the other ships are the pro-
tected cruiser Baltimore. OF twenty knots:
the protected cruiser Raleigh. Of nineteen
knots: the protected cruiser Boston, fif-
teen knots: the gunboat Concord. Of
nearly seventeen knots. the gunboa, Pc
trel. of nearly twelve knots. and the iron
ship Monocacy. Of eleven knots