Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-06
WAR PREPARATIONS.
THE GOVERNMENT MAKING THEM
ON GENERAL PRINCIPLES.
no EMERGENCY EXPECTED.
IL Is Deemed Wise, However, to
Provide In Every Way Possible
for Any En- Urgency That Mny
Arise.
Arise.

WASHINGTON, March 5-The deselop-
ments at the State, War. and Navy de-
paftments in connection with the Spanish
situation have divided Themselves into
two distinct branches, one relating to the
Maine court OF inquiry, and the otherto
the natural and necessary steps TO place
the naval and military arms OF the ser
vice on a satisfactory basis.
Concerning the court and IT 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 OF the members or the
court. from the evidence they have thus
Tar received.
The other general branch OF the SUD-
tect-the activity in the various naval
and military bureaus-continues without
reference to the work OF the court OF
inquiry. This activity up to the present
time has not taken the form of any con-
certed or elaborate plan OF emergency
preparations. but has been manifest
acts. which. taken together. have shown
that the heads OF departments were not
inactive in preparing their branches Oh
the service for any requirements whlch
Il was possible might be made upon them.
A member of the Cabinet stated to-day
that there should be no NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ing or mistaking of these steps. for III
stance. all Of the manifold movements
particularly in the West, of war ma
terial. are declared simply to be in exc
cution Of plans long ago developed by the
Fortiflcations Board for the defence Oh
the coast
DUTY TO BE PREPARED.
There IS no concealment Of the fact'
| ,o,,,o1,er mat the administration is inn
| nressed with sense OF duty in pSttins
the two war branches I'm the highest state
of efficiency to meet any emergency
| There IS no disposition to anticipate
an emergency or TO say that any situa-
! ton will develop which Will call INTO USE
| the preparations now on foot. On the
| onD+rory rho highest authorities Of the
naval and military branches say they
| 40 not expect an emergency but are
| nerforuing the duty allotted to them OF
| being ready for any result that may
| come. -,
| senior Du Bose. the Spanish charge
| d,offaires called at the State Department
to-day. and had a short talk with Judge
| Day concerning recent hnDusterlns
| movements The department desired 70
| get fuller information than had thus Idt
boen furnished. 1t is understood that
! Sroir,s n,,rcbase Of warships and other
| material which has attracted much IN
| 1erest within the last few days was
| not referred TO. WITT.
THE departure Of General WILSON
| cbief NJ Engineers of the War Depart
rnent for the South. il is now admitted
is for the purpose Of inspecting the Tor
| tifloations and river and harbor I'M
| movements His trip NAV extend 10 inc
| Dry Tortuga.. in the Gulf OF Mexico.
| BIG GUN AND AMMUNITION.
| AUGUSTA, GA, March 5.-A lOinch-
hore breech-loading rifle, thirty-1our leet
long. loaded on a special fiat car, passed
through Augusta, bound Tor fehsacoia'
| Fla. to-day. IT came from the Brook
| Ivn navv-vard over the Atlantic-Coast
| line. Two carloads OF ammunition,
| taking the same route, also passed
| through here. e,or,,,r,
| THE COLUMBIA ORDERED sOOlh'
| PHILADELPHIA, March SIT was re-
| ported at the League Island naVy-yaru
| this evening that Commandant casey
| had received orders from the Navy De-
partment to-day to send the cruiser 90
| lumbia south as soon as possible Inc
| Columbia will be ready 10 leave the yaro
| by the 18th instant.
The tug Samoset. at the League Island
| navy-yard, will, it is said, accompany the
Columbia south, and will probably be
used as a dispatch-boat by the squadron
at Key West.
COAL FOR KEY WEST.
PITTSBURG. PA. March 5.-The Post
tomorrow will say: 1.-The United States
Government. through Secretary Long 81
the Navy Department, has just closed
contract with Peale, Peacock tS Kerr
coal operators, for the delivery at Key
West within forty days OF 10000 tons OF
steam coal. This contract is unautho
rlzed by Congress, but is made under th'
emergency clause.
"The contract calls for the delivery o.
10 900 tons of coal per day at Key Yves
for forty days, shipments to commence
on or before April LIST
MAINE MEN BEING TRANSFERRED