The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-20

tated for immediate. service. The total
Strength Of the guard. as reported to the
War Department. is liS.764 men.
Several members of Congress are formu-
latlng plans involving the placing of about
z90.Oo3 soldiers, in round numbers, at the
disposal of the government within a very
short time after the Cuban resolutions are
Is based on the following figures, covered in
plans already in effect or in contemplation,
namely: Standing array; 1000; by call for
volunteers, 60.01os by calling out State mill
tia, 5000 or 100000, by army reorganization
bill, 500. Leaving aside the present regular
army force the second and fourth items are
practically settled on IN COMMITTEES, while
the third, as to State militia, is being ac-
lively canvassed, and while there are diff
fering views, they are expected to crystal
lie into an authorization to call out the
number stated.
MONEY FOR WAR BALLOONS.
Secretary Alger made several additional
allotments from the emergency fund for
the War Department. One million dollars
was given for the quartermaster's depart
ment, chiefly 20 meet extraordinary ex-
penses in the transportation of troops and
munitions OF war; $4,000 for war balloons
and $4,000 for perfecting the army tele-
graphic service. General Greedy, the chief
signal officer, Is stanch advocate of the
use of balloons at the various ports and in
regular field service.
The quartermaster generals department
of the army Is rushing work on tents and
equipage. Ordinarily Philadelphia gets
these contracts, but recently the War De-
partment has contracted for making them
ct st. Louis, New York and Chicago also.
Quite a consignment of tents has been al
lotted TO the militia Of the States under the
act of Congress,
The War Department will need about 200
mon as packers for the mule teams now be-
ing collected by Captain Thomas Cruise at
.trF.~ rwrf
500 month, cargoers SO, frst-class pack
erS $50 and second-class $40.
General Wilson, chief of engineers, has
furnished the secretary Of war list of en-
gineer officers. who, with few exceptions,
arc available to immediate service with the
army IN the field 1t is most comprehensive
in character, and includes the names of
nearly every officer of the engineer depart
ment throughout the United States. In
order to take care of the improvised harbor
and other engineering works in charge OF
these officers, 1t probably will be necessary
in particular cases where the works cannot
be entirely neglected to double, treble and
quadrupe the duties of some of the officers,
in order that the services OF others may be
aNailed of in military field operations. In
a majority OF cases orders are given with
the general idea that the officers will not be
called away from their present duties for
more than a few months. In the event OF
hostilities the Engineer Bureau of the War
Department Will promptly take steps TO
form a corps of officers especially detailed
70 assist the army in the field in engineer
ing projects.
General Greedy. in charge of telegraph
and telephone communication between sea-
coast fOrtihcations announces that this
work Is in gratifying state of forward
General Miles made another addition to
his staff to-day. Brigadier General J. e.
breckenridge. now inspector general of the
United States army. will serve on General
Miless STAFF as chief of inspection depart
inent. This makes four staff officers Sc
lected for assignment ON General Miles's
staff within the last few days. 1t is the
Intention a "A
ments OF the army represented on his staff.
Lieutenant Colonel Frank G. Smith, Sixth
member and secretary of the Chickamauga
Park Commission, has been ordered to re-
e1 to Of the the n r ReP dmy
as inspector of artillery of that department,
with station at Atlanta. Ga.
Applications are pouring into the Army
and Navy Departments for the immediate
protection of supposedly exposed points on
tho Atlantic and Gulf seaboard Some towns
teries, while others want war ships sta
toned off the shore. A vast majority of the
applications are from small towns. The two
Florida senators called to-day upon Secre-
tary Alger to urge that protection be af-
force, to some of their coast towns, such
as Miami. and that troops be stationed
there. The officials say it is manifestly i'm
possible to comply with these requests and
have no hesitation in declaring that the APP
prehension among the people of these
towns IS largely groundless. They say there
would be no inducement for a Spanish naval
towns. The only purpose that could be
served by such an attack would be the col
lection of ransom and this in no case could
be imposed for lack of TINE. Also, it is said
that tbe-rules of civilized warfare require
thdt no lnffortified town shall be bonn
barded without at least twenty-four hours
notice, the object OF the delay being to al
low noncorsoatants to retire to a place of
safety.
Orders were issued from the War Depart
ment to-day placing the light batteries of
artillery on strictly war footing. Tele-
grams were sent to the commanding officers
% these batteries. in all parts of the coun-
try this morning directing them to increase
each battery from four to six guns, and to
Increase the horses for each gun from four
10 six.
It IS understood that Col. w. H. Nash, at
present assistant commisSary general in
charge of the purchasing depot at st. Louis,
has been selected for appointment as COM
missary general of subsistence to succeed
General Cushing Colonel Nash is now on
his way from st. Louis to Washington, in
response to orders. The Office of commits
Eary general has been filled temporarily by
Captain Osgood, VINO has just been detailed
as a member of General MilesS staff.