Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-04-22
ARMY ANDNAvY MOVEMENTS.
Preparations Greatly Stimulated by
the Outbreak of War.

the Outbreak of War.
The Department Completed Its
Arrangements for Calling Out
100000 Militiamen-Chagrin and
Disappointment Felt Because
Congress- Did Not Pass the VOL
unteer Bill Yesterday - Delays
Everything for One Day-West
Virginia's Proportion of Guards
men is LII.
Washington, April 21.--With the ac-
tual beginning of war, military and
naval preparations were vastly stimu-
lated to-day. The navy bought a ship
and number of yachts. 1t secured
some more material for guns and re-
newed orders for haste in the construc
ton of guns. Orders were sent to the
squadron to guard their movements and
the preliminaries of blockade were ex-
ecuted.
In the War Department all arrange
ments have been made for a call for
100, eco volunteers TO be chosen from
the National Guard. The strategy
board Of the department looked over and
perfected the plans and efforts were
begun to provide for a sub-system of
coast patrol by the State authorities.
Movements of troops began a day or
two ago were changed by direction of
the department in some respects to
meet the conditions Of the movement at
Southern posts, but in general there are
indications that the department is act
ing with the purpose Of concentrating
no less than 10000 men at the Gulf
posts within the next ten days ready for
embarkation to Cuba.
Secretary Ayers day at the War De-
partment was the busiest he has eXper-
fenced for some time Arrangements
have been completed under the Secre-
tary's direction for calling out 100000
of the militia of the country to the aid
of the regular army in the operations
to compel the Spanish evacuation OF
Cuba, although the Secretary announc-
ed just before leaving the department
that the call would not be issued to-
day. The number of men required
from each State it is said, will be in
the proportion that its population bears
to that of the whole country. Accord
ing to this ratio, New York would be
called on to furnish 10,031; Ohio 5.799;
Pennsylvania S,615; Virginia 2,230;
WEST VIRGINIA iii.
Secretary Alger has heretofore stated
that in the first call for troops the ma
tional organized guard of the States
would be accepted.
The Navy Department also purchas-
ed to-day the Nemensha, now at Nor
folk, for the use Of the bureau of steam
engineering. Repairs to the vessel will
be made Immediately at Norfolk. She
is to be used as distilling ship and
will accompany one of the fleets for
reducing salt water to fresh. The
yacht Corsair, bought to-day, will be
sent to the Quintard works for such
changes as may be necessary, and the
yacht Penlope to Norfolk for similar
purpose.
Representative Hull, CT Iowa.. chair
man of the House committee on mill
| tary affairs, reported back to the House
to-day the army reorganization bill
with number of amendments 1t
gives "a, instead of 100 privates, to
each infantry company and makes this
important proviso authorizing the call
for troops: Provided, that in the event
| of a call by the President for either
volunteers or the militia of the country,
| the President is authorized to accept
| the quotas of troops of the various
| States and territories including the Dis
f, trict of Columbia as organized under
! the laws of the States and territories,
| including the District of Columbia
The committee says as now presented
the bill authorizes the twenty-five regi-
ments of infantry to be recruited up to
a total of 81, 500 enlisted men, the re-
| VI VI tliS ltll any ltSiHCulo
to LOCO enlisted men, the seven regi-
ments of artillery to a total of 16.457
men, and the engineer battalion Of five
companies to 752 enlisted men. making
the total maximum strength 61,010 en-
listed men.
INTENSE DISAPPOINTMENT
and chagrin were felt in all circles here
to-day over the failure of Congress to
pass the militia bill which the Presi-
dent is waiting on in order to issue his
call for $4,000 volunteers He had all
preparations made for immediate action
this evening but now will have to wait
| until tomorrow afternoon, but he de-
clined to yield to the urgent advice Of
fered him by army and navy men and
, by Senators that he should issue his
call for volunteers tonight without
waiting for Congress.
He was assured that if he issued the
call the act would be Endorsed by Con
gress as was done when Lincoln called
for volunteers in 1861.
It is felt that the delay in Congress