The Mena weekly star., 1898-02-23
the magazine for fixed ammunition on the port side forward
 Naval Vacancies to Be Filled.

NaRhI to fse Fuieu
 WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-Steps have been taken by the navy department to fill the vacancies in the enlisted branch of the navy caused by the loss of most of the crew of the Maine. The legal quota is now about 300 short, and ar- engagements have been made for the immediate enlistment of about that number of men. Telegraphc orders have been sent to the recruiting officers in charge of the receiv- ing ships at New York, Philadel- phia and Norfolk, authorizing them to make enlistments immediately.
 The Feeling in Havana
 NEW YORK. Feb. % The Ward line steamer Seguranca arrived at quaran- tine yesterday from Tampco and Ha- vana. The Seguranca arrived at Ha- vana at ten o'clock on the morning after the disaster to the MAine. and passed close by the wreck. The Segu- ranca's passengers said that great ex- citement prevailed at Havaua, and. at the time of sailing, the foreign popu- lation was generally of the op' nion that the Maine was destroyed by de- sign They cited among other things in support of this theory, the fact that the Spanish man-of-war Alfonso XII, which was anchored near the Maine, changed her mooring just previous to the disaster.
 Magazine Said to Re Intact.
 NEW YORK, Feb. 22--A dispatch to the Herald from Key West says:
 It is learned from what may be considered semi-offlcial source that divers sent down on behalf of the United States to examine the wreck of the battieship Maine have made preliminary report of the result of their work Incredible it may seem, it is said that after a partial examination of the magazines of the Maine, the divers report that the one in which the explosion is sup posed to have occurred is intact According to the correspondents informant. the contents of this magazine are unharmed Therefore. if this report be true an entirely different aspect is given to the terrific explosion which brought death and destruction to the Maine This port reaching Key West it Is said. caused the members of the court of inquiry to decide to proceed to Havana and begin their investiga- tion at once, instead of organizing the court here
 Uncle sam's Fighting Strength. l WASHINGTON. Feb. 19.-The govern ment has been collecting information as to the strength of the militia in tho United States and also the number of men who would be available for servs ice in case of an emergency. The re- turns from the states are interesting in view of the prospect of trouble with Spain. The total militia force of the United States and the territories. as shown by the returns, is IA, 362, and the total number of men available for military service is 10, 301. 339. The militia force consists of 5S generals, 916 general officers and staff 2. 240 reg mental field and staff, 20, 455 non-com. missioned officers and s0,00O privatea Besides these there are the musicians and others, bringing up the grand to- tai to the number stated. In Kansas the militia numbers 1.465, while the unorganized available strength is esti- mated at 100.00 In Missouri the militia numbers 2, 3f9 and the available army strength is 100000.
 Spain Criticises Minister De Lome.
 WASHINGTON. Feb. 19.-Spain has of- ficially disclaimed in positive manner the reflections contained in the De Lome letter. As officially announced by the state department yesterday. the incident is satisfactorily closed. A telegram from Madrid said decree was gazetted accepting the resignation of Senor Dupuy de Lome as minister of Spain at Washington and severely criticising him.
 Spain's Great Man-of- War Here.
 NEW YORK, Feb. 19.-The Spanish man an-of-war Vizcaya is now off our