The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-03-16
Military Departmental of South
Created. Two Warships
Purchased. Rushing
Work of Fort!f-
cation.

Washington. March ll-Hoping
for and expecting the best aad prepared
for the worst, about represents the sit.
uasioo in the wae aud navy department
these days The officials still profess
confidence that there is to be peaceful
outcome Of the present threatening diff
6culties, but meanwhile prepare With
serenity to meet their duty if events
should shape themselves otherwise.
Tie most important and significant
Developments Of the day we're the de-
cisioi Of the house naval committee to
place ia the naval appropriation bill a
provision for sbree new batslsships and a
conclusion on the part of the secretary
of war to issue tomorrow morning a
oew military department., including
within its con6ues that part of the
coso.ry which wonld in all likelihood be
NEAREST 10 the field of 5ossiIities io case
il .houid oopc to ,hae. The order will
create commotion 10 the south. The
present department. Of Texas is sbol-
ished, aud the headquarters, which has
/ been at San Antonio. Texas. for SO
maoy years. are abandoned. 10 place
Of the old department is created new
ooe. the Department of the South
General Graham, at present conmaoder
Of the department. Of Texas. will be com.
/ maader the new department This de-
par.mens will include the States of
! Soa.h Carolina. Georgia. Florida. Ala
baua, Mississippi. Louisiaoa and Texas
All of these s.ates save the last are at
prescott attached to the East, uoder
command Of General Merritt of New
York 1t is said at the department
shat General Merit, is fully oompensas-
sd for the strength of the command
whiob passed away from him, BY toe ad-
di.ion 10 his forces of the two regimeuse
Of artillery DOW recruiting. Head
quarters Of the uew Departments of the
South will be at Atlanta. Ga because
of ,s 6ne stra,sgical value and from
iss excellent railroad connections. At
present the government has DO accom-
| ,nodations 10 Atlanta for the head.
ouarsers of the department, SO it will
be obliged to hire the most available
buildings
General Wilson. chief Of engineers.
who bas been in Florida, is expected
back so-morrow to report to Secretary
Alger upon the progress OF the for'it :
cation works in that section of the coun
try, aod especially as to the defeose OF
Tortugas.
For the 6rss time, to-day the officials
Of the var department admitted that
they we're ssraioiog every nerve to lm-
prove that part of the defenses Of the
country confined to their care. 1t 10
wishous qaestioo the most unusual
mark of confidence in au executive Of
f:er to empower bio to give orders
wi,hoos liui: for shs purchase Of var
material. yet this is what the pres-
dent and Secretary Alger haze dooe
10 sba case Of General Fiagier, chief
of ordnance aad the officer has not
shown any disposition to shirk this
large responsibility. b"s hss instructed
every coocern capable OF supplying war
material, suoh az rapid FIRE eaos, shot.
she'll and anmarition, to 60 to work st
full capacity.
The navy department has now rea-
500 to believe that it has secured the
two warships Amasouas aud her sister
ship COW bailding in Eogland TO:
Brasil Il was stated at the cabinet
| meeting to-day BY Secretary Long that
the naval astache a, London, Lieusen-
ant Co!dvell, bad almost completed
the negotiations for the sale. So far.
however, the 6oal notification from him
tba. bis offer bas been accepted hae not
vet reached the uavy department.
The day passed again without word
from the court of ioqairy. according 70
the statement of Secretary Long, Who
says that be has received nothing what
e7er from the court itself or from Judge
Advocate Mark, regardless Of the fire.
quent publications to the contrary.
A dispatch from Habana says !:
"a telegram received by Coosul Cen