The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-26
ARMS REPORTED SHIPPED
STORY THAT GOVERNMENT HAS
SENT 3,7OO STANDS TO INDIANA.
Adiutant General and Col. Wilson DO
Not Believe It-MObiliza-
tiOn of Troops.

1t was said by several prominent Indiana
militia officers last night that the War De-
partment has forwarded new arms for the
Indiana National Guard. The story was
that telegram was received from Wash
ington at the Statehouse yesterday stating
that 300 stands of -Jorgensen rifles
and four pieces of breech,loading artillery
had been shipped to Indianapolis for the
Indiana militia.
Adiutant General Gore was seen at his
home late last night and professed utter
ignorance of the story. Said he Il have
had no reason to expect that the War De-
partment would ship arms to Indiana, and
if the shipment you speak of has been made
or such q telegram received it is a surprise
to me. I know nothing of it"
Colonel Wilson, the Governors private
secretary, also said he knew nothing of such
a telegram. He did not believe the story
was true.
The officers who fathered the story were
confident in it's truth and expect the ship
ment of arms to arrive to-day. The krag-
JorgenSen rifle is the arm used by the regu-
lar army and will replace the Springfield
weapon which lis used by the Indiana mi
litia, and 300 would just about supply the
entire Indiana National Guard with all the
company rosters full.
The breech-loading cannon are sadly need
ed by the artillery, and Battery A, of In
dianapolis, would get at least one OF the
four. The artillery sections Of Indiana have
no field pieces but the old ,nuzZle leaders,
which would be utterly useless in modern
warfare
There is a strong belief among militia
men that the War Department at Washing
ton is in close touch with the commanding
officers of the Indiana guard, and that or
ders have been given TO have the militia
in shape to move at short notice If required.
There has been a number of mysterious
movements to which significance is at
tached, perhaps unduly. 1t was reported
yesterday that the equipment of staff Off
GERS for the Indiana guard, including sad
GleS, bags and the like, as we'll as the new
medical supplies had been transferred from
the Statehouse to Brigadier General Nc
KEGS place of business on South Meridian
street. Said one man last night
Il am not strategiSt, nor the son Oh a
strategist nor am l in the Presidents con-
fidence but the thought occurs to me that
perhaps the government is preparing Tor
coup, by making a demonstration of the
land forces of the United States at some
point near the Florida coast. If the militia
of all the States should be ordered to move
in four days and be modified, say at At
lanta or Pensacola within a week or ten
DAYS ] believe the action might have a
good effect the Spaniards. If 1T We're
shown that this Nation had 10000 or 100000
men at a point convenient for reaching
Cuba in a few days, backed up by our navy,
which is in a most advantageous position to
might occur to the Spaniards; and 1T might
also scare the French tinanciers into with
drawing their support at once. This DEM
onstration might be very effective as
peace measure. and still accomplish all that
the United States insists upon.