The evening times., 1898-04-16
BURSTING WAR CLOUDS
Negotiations Reopened for Chill
can. and Argentine Cruisers.
WE MAY BUY TORPEDO BOATS
of TroOps-Quarter-
masters Department VIII Hasten
the Production of Tentage, CLOTH
Ing and Equipment for VOlun
teerx-State Troops Active.

Two warships and three torpedo boats
may be purchased from Chile and Argen-
tina, as the result of negotiations which
have reopened by the Navy Department.
One of the cruisers is the Chilean OHig-
gins just completed at an English yard,
and regarded as one of the most formida-
BILE of her class afioat
These negotiations are being conducted
through Mr. Charles r. Flint, of New
York. who has commercial and financial
interests in both countries.
While he would not say how far the ne
gotiations had progressed he intimated
that the internal affairs of Chile and Ar
gentina were assuming such satisfactory
shape as to warrant the presumption
that they were not averse to parting with
a portion of their nayies.
The boundary dispute between Chile and
Argentina, he explained. had caused such
strained relations as to practically pro-
hibit any reduction i'm the naval strength
of either country. The dispute has now,
however been left to the arbitration of
Queen Victoria and the prospects of a
thoroughly peaceful and satisfactory ad-
justment of this old quarrel were more
than good.
With this cause for trouble In fair
way to removal. Mr.. Flint said that the
ablest and most conservative men in both
Chile and Argentina were in favor of re-
ducing the naval enlistments and econo-
mizing I'm expenditures.
Naturally. however, neither country was
inclined to weaken itself alone, and the
proposition was pending that each shall
dispense with an equal number of ships.
II has taken definite shape in the sugges-
ton that Chile shall sell the O'Higgins
and one torpedo boat, while Argentina
shall dispose of either the Garibaldi or the
San Martin both fine cruisers, and two
torpedo boats This would leave the two
navies in about the same respective con-
dition.
In addition to the strong argument of
reduction in expenses. Mr.. Flint stated
that another and possibly more power
full factor was behind the scheme 10 de-
crease the navies. not only in Chile and
Argentina. but in other South American
countries as well. and that was the fact
that history has taught that chiefly in
the navies lies the danger OF revolution.
Consequently the government in power
generally favored reducing the navies to
the lowest possible limit Should Chile
and Argentina decide 20 sell these vessels
il was believed to be practically assured
that they will be added to the naval list
of the United States.
Mobilization Of Troops.
Brigadier General Ludington. quarter
master general of the Army, will have
entire charge of the transportation of the
troops ordered from various parts of the
country for mobilization on the Gulf
coast He said:
n a 9ffpFnnnn
receiving an order for the concentration
of troops. kilograms were sent to the va
rious depot quartermasters and assist
ant quartermasters general throughout
the country to invite proposals for their
transportation from their present sta
tions to Mobile. New Orleans, and Tampa.
Il have already received dispatches
from more than half my officers inform
ing me that the requests for the propO-
sails have already been sent to the rail-
road companies interested
Il expect the last of the troops to be
on the move by Thursday evening. The
cost of moving these troops and the prop
er arrangements for their pack and sup
ply trains and camping outfits / cannot
yet estimate. The cost for mules alone
will be more than $5J0.0D0 The trana-
portatlon will probably considerably ex-
ceed that amount
THE Secretary of War assigned to my
disposal last week half a million dollars
of the fifty millions appropriated for the
national defense. This sum will be con-
siderably diminished by acquisitions al
ready made and by the transportation of
guns and ammunition for our seacoast
defenses. Today the Secretary placed al
the order of the Quartermaster Generals
Department as much more money as
would be needed for use in this transfer
of troops.
"Ofcers of my department started last
night for Mobile, New Orleans and Tam
pa to secure camping grounds and to
make arrangements for the comfort of
the troops who. upon their arrival, will
be ready to Immediately go into camp"
The order today directs the transporta-
ton of all the available ammunition from
the Army posts to the Southern head
quarters Special trains will convey the
officers and troops, with all their camp
equipage and supplies. as rapidly as pos
sible TO their destinations as soon as con-
tracts for transportation have been made
with the railway companies.
The most distant troops affected by the
orders are the First infantry. stationed
at San Francisco. The quartermaster
general expects that these troops will
reach New Orleans within FIVE days from
the time of starting from the Pacific
coast. The troops in the Eastern depart
ments and the central States will of
course, reach their new stations much
sooner.
The quartermaster generals department
will continue to hurry the production of
tentage. clothing and equipage for vol
unteers. This supply is already consid-
erabIe and manufacturers have been di-
rected to produce to their fullest capaci
ty.
The purchasing commissaries at New
Orleans and Atlanta have been ordered
to purchase large supplies or subsistence
stores obtainable in their vicinities, but
a large amount of the food supply of the
Army will continue to be drawn from the
purchasing depots in New York, Chicago,
st. Louis and ST Paul. The Commissary
Department has options on 100000 beeves.
and large quantities of other kinds of
meats and miscellaneous provisions, and
are prepared to draw upon the food re-
serves of the country to an unlimited
extent
Lafayette Post Recruits.
New York, April 16.-Drums rolled and
bugles blared in the headquarters of La
fayette Post, Grand Army of the Repub-
lie, last night, and grizzled veterans,
whose nerves thrilled at the sound, cheer
eu anu WdNeu tHeI caps III welcome 10
100 recruits the first detachment of a
brigade of volunteers which the post is
pledged to raise.
Since the idea of forming Lafayette
Post regiment was started, two weeks
ago, l. 16o recruits have been promised by
the members, and it is expected that there
will be three regiments of twelve compan-
les each ready to respond to the Govern
ment's first call for volunteers. Lafayette
Post will equip them for service.
General Daniel Butterfield, commander
of the post inspired the idea.
When the secret business of the post