The record-union., 1898-03-27


and Representative sought informa-
ton on matters in which they were
interested. Some desired the work on
Notifications in the vicinity of their
sections to be pushed so as TO render
them impregnable to attack.
Secretary Alger again held extended
conferences with his bureau chiefs, no
tably General Wilson. General Greedy.
Major Shafter of the Ordnance Bureau,
and also General Miles. The most i'm
portant action taken was the allot-
ment to the signal office, of which
General Greeley is az the head, of $94
900 with which to install an electrical
system Of sea-coast artillery entirely
controlled by which projectiles can be
fred from guns with reasonably de-
fined accuracy. The money will be
used also in connecting the various
forts and ports at sea-coast fortifica-
tons by telephone and telegraph.
The War Department has also cabled
to London an additional 10000 in pay
ment for the rapid-fire guns recently
purchased.
The garrison at Washington Bar
racks has been strengthened by the
arrival of four batteries of the newly
organized Sixth Regiment of artillery.
RECRUITS FOR THE ARMY.
The recruiting officers of the army
report satisfactory progress in the
matter of eniistments for the two new
regiments of artillery just organized
by virtue of on Act of Congress. En-
listments have been made at an aver
age Of thirty-one men per day, or at
the rate of 500 a month. During the
past five days this average has been
raised to thirty-seven enlistments a
day.
In consequence of this rapid enlist
ment Najor-General Miles has issued
an order to discontinue the plan OF
transferring men from the old regi-
ments to fill UP the two new ones, as
was originally contemplated, and it is
believed the army VIII reach it's full
legal quota within a short time
BATTLESHIP OREGON.
1t is understood at the Navy Depart
ment to-day that no additional orders
have been sent to the battleship Ore
gon, which sailed several days ago
from San Francisco The instructions
to her commander were to await orders
at Callao, and it is likely that just prior
to the time she is due at that port or
ders will be sent to her Upon these
orders her future movements Will de-
pend. It is now deemed like. in view of
the present emergency, that the vessel,
which is one of the finest in the navy.
Will be ordered to proceed around the
Horn and up the east coast of South
America Whether she will be at
tached to the squadron of Commodore
TN, +Lr
her coming into the Atlantic. has not
yet been decided, but that probably
will be the disposition made of her.
MOBILIZATION OF THE Ma
TIONAL GUARD.
Adjutant-General Corbin said to-day
that there was no truth, so far as he
was Informed. in the report published
this morning to the effect that the War
Department has telegraphed to a num-
! Der of National Guard commanders
| asking how many men Of the various
State militia can be modified at At
lanta within five days from any given
date If such action has been taken
| it must have been done by the Seere-
| tary himself. without reference to the
| Acknowledgements office. which pro-
ceeding he regarded as extremely i'm
circumstances.
Notwithstanding the statement of the
Acknowledgement. it is pretty we'll un-
derstood that army officials have pre-
pared plans for the mobilization of the
National Guard of the various States
and Territories at points along the
coast on short notice in case it shall be
found necessary to augment3the mill
tary strength Of the Government
THE ST. LOUIS AND ST. PAUL.
Commander William Emory. one of
the members of the Board OF Inspec-
ton and Survey. to-day. had an extend
ed conference with the officials of the
! Navy Department in the event of the
st. Louis being called into service as an
auxiliary cruiser, which is regarded as
very likely. Commander Emory will
| probably be detailed as commanding
| officer. His business at the department
to-day is supposed to have been in con-
nection with that matter. There are
/ intimations that Commander w. E.
BroWnson who is also a member of the
Board Of Inspection and Survey, and
who is now in Europe negotiating for
the purchase of warships, is likely to be
assigned to the command of the Amer
lean liner st. Paul, should that vessel
| be called into service.
NAVAL MILITIA
AS rapidly as possible the Navy De-
partment is pushing the work of prep
aration for calling into active service
such of the naval militia of the United
States as may be needed and will vol
unteer for service. AS already an
! nounced the naval militia of Massa-
chusetts and New York have rendered
its services, and as soon as the neces-
sary arrangements can be made such
officers and men as may be needed will
be placed upon the old monitors now
at League Island navy yard, Philadel-
| phia, and others on the newly acquired
| yachts and tugs purchased for harbor
and coast defenses
Naval officials regard the naval mill
tia as q most valuable adjunct to the
navy proper, as it could be utilized not
only TO man the smaller vessels but
| could be depended upon as q second
Roosevelt points out. there are two very
| important features which could be at
! tended TO by this second line. One is
! the placing of mines and the other
the establishment of signal stations for
| coast defense.
THIS LOOKS WARLIKE.
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