The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-23
Washington Office of The Herald,
1415 G Street, N. W.

1415 G Street, N. W.
Washington. May 19.-Things have
been stirring at a great rate all the
week. and at the war and navy build
ing officers and clerks have been work
ing night and day. There are more
evidences of the existence of actual
hostilities at the war department than
at any other place in the city. By the
orders Of Secretary Alger army officers
on duty at the department now appear
at all times in fatigue uniform, instead
| OF the civilian dress ordinarily worn
This gives the department building a
very warlike look, and these officers
together with the officers and men of
the District OF Columbia and other
! volunteer organizations. have Allied the
town with color. The district has turned
out one full and splendidly equipped
regiment, which went to the front on
Saturday. 1t is commanded by Colonel
George III. Harris. U. S. v, late briga-
der general commanding the District
National Guard. who is an old newspa-
per correspondent and very popular in
Washington. This regiment is popu-
larry known as the presidents guard"
Tor, owing to the peculiar government
of the District of Columbia, it is not
only under President Mckinley as COM
mander-in-chief of all the army, but
also as the executive of the federal dis
trict.
The commendable promptnesS of the
mountain states in getting their troops
mustered in at such an early date is
much praised at the war department.
Wyoming and Montana boys were the
earliest afield, but were rapidly fol-
lowed by those of Utah and Colorado. +
After many changes in the programme
for the 6iGfrihIIrfnr1 NJ to
definitely settled that the men from the
Rockies will be divided and see service
both in the Antilles and the philippines. b
This Will enlarge the theatre of war for.
the people of the states, for the dis !
patches from Cuba, and from the,orient !
will possess equal interest
The Torrey rough riders Will prob
ably get into the thick of the struggle
in Cuba at a very early date. Favor
able reports have reached the depart
ment as to the composition and diScd-.
pline of the Second regiment, u. S. VA
1t is fully believed that it will make
a splendid record for itself
There is no longer any expectations
on the. part. Of the administration that,
the war viii besofs brief duration, anCbs
all the mountain troops are certain TOT
see service The conquest of Cuba.
may not take a great WhileSafter
troops are once landed. but it. iss-now:A
expected that the troops will. not be9
withdrawn inside of six month"; Ths3
certainly be engaged as long as. thatS
and perhaps much longer. If, in thef
peace negotiations, the PhilipptneSafah
permanently to the United States, the
volunteers who go to the islands magb
remain indefinitely. 1t is. also prob-A
able that many will stay in the islands,
after peace is declared... whatever lisa
the result, for this rich archipelagof
will afford many business opportunities
to wideawake young Yankees.
While it is naturally expected that
the severeSt. service will be seen by thej
troops which go to Cuba, there are
possibilities that those that are of for
warmer work than their associates inA
the West Indies. If any internationally
follow the Spanish,
American war, the brunt of the fight
ing will be in the south China seas.
where most Of the great powers have
of the Philippines. In fact,
in school-boy language. these islands
can be said to be bounded on the
north by China and Japan, on the east
by Germany, on the south by Germany,
and England, and on the vest
by France and China England has a
vast fleet in south China waters, of
the Nictorius, is about twice the size
Of admiral Dewey's flagship. France,
has can imposing squadron there and
has also a large army in adjacent
French India Germany has a credit
able fleet in these seas, and Japan has
near at hand a large army and large
navy, both of ntly-demonStrated
orowess. Thus, if there were really 10
come a great war involving the Eu-
-opean powers, the Philippines would
De something pretty hot to hold" and
keep the Americansvessels and troops
busy This is, of course, only a re-
note contingency. but it has been CARE
July considered in the war prepare
ions, and is one of the arguments used
or the increase of the Philippine ex-S
petition to 1900 men
The Cannon bill. for a. $4,000 public
building at Ogden. will pass the senate
,asily. but il will be quite as unSuc-!
,essful in the house as the Salt Lake
bill Speaker Reed is against 1t.
The house committee on pensions has
avorably reported a bill to pension
herman DELFT. formerly of the Eighth.
regular army. He served ten
-ears in the army chiefly In Utah and
Nevada The committees report ShowSt
hat DELFT was ruptured at Fort Hal!
eek. New, by a box of arms falling
lpon him.
The Utah volunteer who owns any
,art of q mine need not fret because
lis assessment work is not being done
While ne is off TO the wars. a bill has
.lready been favorably reported to ex-
mpt all mine-owners who enlist, from
ssessment work This will be amend
d so as to exempt all shares in mines
eld by volunteers, from assessment.
NE bill will pass in this FORM