New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-01
RUSHING WAR PREPARATION
NAVAL MILITIA STRENGTH IL De
DOUBLED.
WORKING NIGHT AND DAY At NAVY YARDS
FotxDRrEs AND TORPEDO srATIoNs-MoRt
ON MONITORS TO BE PUT TO USE
r,o,- cr-Ss coI-GTIT
RAPID FIRE GUNS SOUGHT.
Inv TELEGRAPH To THE TRIRrNE.l


Inv TELEGRAPH To THE TRrRuNEl
Uasbineton March am The Army ana Navy
today the extraordinary activity. with when 'h'Se
services ore being hurried upon war footing WAS
more noticeable than for several days past t"' ~
ooodinrlv critical stage ~ the diplomatic neso'a'onS
and the certainty that final decision was lmn'-
rcnt having had the effect Of encouraging the ""-
thcrtios to exert themselves to the utmost
The most important step taken to-day was IN me
notice sent to the Governors OF all the states
possessing battalions Of naval militia ieauesI"n
them to have their hltialiOns enlist NJ 10 'he i"'
strength with &c little delay as possible. The 'o'aI
available naval militia strength - present Is about
fortv-fye hundred men, which. II is believed, can
Ne increased TO 900 in a few weeks. Tn" coast
states now having these battaiors are Mas~a-
chusctts. Rhode Island. Connecticut. New-lork
New-Jersey. Pennsylvania Maryland. North caro-
Mra south Carolina. Georgia LOUISIANA and CALI
forna. Tho battal.ons in the Interior are IN ll"hc's
Ohio. Michigan and Missouri
The coast State Governors have been ~eduNsied 10
see that their naval forces are provided win
yachts and other vessels 10 use ms dlspai'h-boatf
and COR other auxiliary work in the waters OF inc
States. particularly 10 tho principal harhofs These
vessels need NOT he armed but are Intended 10
maintain communication between tho reeulir naval
ships and the Qualifications ashore. Other orders
affecting the militia nrc in contemplation. ma WI.
be issued ~ fe1 days.
WORKING NIGHT ASD DAY.
With moro ships already IN service than ~ sny
time in the las, twenty-five years tho earaes ne's
Of the naval preparations is appreciate. wncn #
IS stated that al the navy yards. gun founlries
and torpedo stations working day and n.eht.
the force exceeding nine thousand mon. while at
tho busiest times ~ 'No Civil War the Navy Yard
payrors never exceeded siNty-nye hundred name
orders were issued to-day authorizing the COM
mandanis o, Navy Yards 70 make further increases
in THIS graa; force and the unlimited employment ~
81 i'm afr an cod "a
com pcnSatiou. the great emergency being kept IN
conside ration. circular VAS sent OFT announcing
that all alterations or repairs purchased yachts
and tugs. "a Vel as on revenue cutters and other
auxiliarts. would he pa.d out o, the tj3"'o, de-
fence fund. and no attention need % paid 20 re
restrictions Of ordinary appropriations.
That fand has begun 70 disappear M q raic which
will call FOR another and similar amount in n few
weeks. II the present pace Is TO 10 maintained o.
norton ~ IL has been reserved for the prompt r
chase OF shfi. which may ye, be secured abroad.
Commander Br0wnson Is now 81 Rome sirainns
every nerve 20 buy armorcl vessels and torpeiO
desfroycrs there. HIS reports demonstrate that
5 IA he sraNsrds - s;snsii ,p5n cscry ~ zc
r.ey hnd expected % obtain. and mat up 20 in.s
,i.ne ,n'y nave no. m@r, o c,',I,,o ;~,,,
Varese. Carlo Alberto. Net,er md Fisani may yet
ifs the American nag. hut II not ihey VIII ~ lrnSt
remain neutral
NEW BOILERS FOR OLD MONITORS
Secretary Long to-day consented TO have new
waicr-tube boilers placed IN tho monitors Man
haitian. Canonicus and Mahopac. ~ League Island
II viii be sssary 10 break up the worn-out boilers
now in them ana take them out In small pieces. TO
make way for the new ones which are made Ia
the largest single-turret monitors Of tho feet and
II was hitherto intended 70 to~ tHen. 10 GOO GOO
Delaware and utilize them ~ stationary forts
days required 10 Install tho new boilers they can
stlll he effective IN that manner. hut a. the cnd
the coast under their own steam. AMI II Will there
fore be possible 20 concentrate them AZ such
The enlistment Of SO additional IN the Marine
Corps which Secretary Long authorized TWO "'rns
at It's Ha3in' ana bas been ai to scare
i coUr,,,,,nissionnd oocer each 10 the Co
lun1ba and Minneapolis which require three apiece
RAPID-FlRE GUNS DESIRED.
In the Army to-day orders were issued to tho
ordnance officers and inspectors to purchase every
! rapd-nre gun that could be obtained III America
Every weapon OF this character FOR sale In Europe
| has already been secured. and most Of them arc
now on the sea bound for New-YoTk md Boston
II is believed a number can be purcnased N ne
tain that are believed TO he available In other
TSc Fresiicnr allotted $4,000 today to pay for
| number Of hish-power guns made FOR the Army
at feih.ohem. which are r@ady ior immediate snip,
fnont 10 fortihcations where they VIII be mounted
the war Department to-day opened bids for one
hundrod miles o. insulated wire 10 be used by tho
| SannI Corps Tor establishing communica ton DO
| tween coast line defence batteries. The contract
| vii he awarded tomorrow. This wire Is distinct
from the cables already purchafed ~ well as from
| tho ordinary lines being Erected.
| Atlanta March 81 lSpeciaD. -Gorernor Atkinson
this afternoon received orders from the Assistant
Secretary OF nc Navy 10 take stera 10 see that the
| Naval Militia be thoroughly drilled. preparatory
10 receiving orders from the President also 20 hll
Inc divisions up 10 their iull strength and have
All small vessels along the coast OF Georgia ana in
/ nnr's inspected in view ~ the formation Or n
1nosnufo Meet for Georgia coast defence This order
| was sent 10 all South Atlantic Governors.