Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-12
The Register Has

vlsed statutes on this subject, prov
as follows:
NO officer on the retired list of
navy shall be employed on active dun
except in time of war;
Under this section it is apparent
that If war should break out all Off
GERS on the retired list competent to
serve VIII be subject to the orders OF
the Secretary of the Navy. Another
statue bearing on this subject is CON
tanned IN sections 1853 and 1854, as
follows
IN time of war, the President, by
and with the advice and consent of the
senate, may detail officers on the re-
tired list for the command of squad
rons and single ships, when he be-
neyes that the good of the service re-
quires that they shall be so placed in
command In making said details the
President may select any officer not
below the grade of commander and as
sign him to the command of a squad
ron with the rank and title of flag
officer, and any officer so assigned
shall have the same authority and re-
ceive the same obedience from the
commanders of ships of his squadron
IlOiuiliSs VI oil Olutl udlb
than he would be entitled to receive
if his commission was the Oldest"
1t thus appears that the President
has power to assign any retired officer
of the navy to duty during the pro-
gress of war but that he can only as
sign him to the command of squadrons
or ships by and with the advice and
CONSENT OF THE SENATE.
There are many officers on the retired
list in the full enjoyment of health and
mental vigOr despite the fact that they
are now siXty-two years of age. whose
ability and experience would undoubt-
eddy be of great advantage to the ma
ton in case it proved necessary to go
to war in the defense of its honor and
dignity. Notable among these is Rear
Admiral John G. Walker, recently re-
tired for age, and is now engaged on
special duty as president of the Nicar-
ague Canal Commission.
The negotiations for the purchase of
the two Japanese cruisers, now build
ing in this country at Philadelphia
and San Francisco, are off, and the
present indications are that no fur
Their steps will be taken towards ac-
uutl iHS lutSS SIlDE. ut JdpdncSS
government appears to be even more
DESTROYS of securing these ships than
the United States, and owing to the
delicate character of the aspect of af-
fairs between Russia and Japan it is
felt that the needs of the Japs are
quite as urgent as those of this coun-
try
The statement was persistently cir
culated this afternoon and in some
cases the report came from those
whose sources of information should
be reliable, that the administration
was in possession of intimations or in
formation that the result of the in
veStigation of the court of inquiry as
to the cause OF the Maine disaster
would show that the explosion which
destroyed the battleship came from
some external agency. A cabinet Off
Ger was even quoted as making this
announcement, and another report had
it that the stenographic notes of the
inquiry before Secretary Long When
the matter was brought to the atten-
ton of Secretary Long, he pronounced
the statement as false in every partic-
ular. There is not word of truth
in them" he said. mo word has been
received by the President or any one
else as to what the board of inquiry
VIII determine. The rumor was float
ing about all afternoon, but it was
utterly without foundation