Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-23
Delay in Calling for Volunteer
Regiments.
OPPOSITION OF THE GUARDSMEN
Creation Of the Coast Signal De-
Tense System.
THE NASHVILLE'S CAPTURE

All interest in the War Department to-
day settled in the expected call by the
President for volunteers. There were sew
eral conferences between the President,
Secretary Alger. General Miles and other
officials of the War Department this morn
ing on this subject. and it gradually leaked
out that there were reasons for delay in
the issuance of the call 1t seems that the
officials believed that to take in any vol
unteers now in advance of the passage of
the Hull bill would operate disastrously in
that it would oblige the War Department
to break up the present National Guard or
CARNATIONS that are brought into the ser
fact. already explained, that the National
Guard regiments are composed of twelve
companies. with three majors and differ
ent organization of officers than that of
the regular army. Should the War De-
partment accept these men as volunteers
under the act approved yesterday. known as
the volunteer bill, under the law which ex-
lists in section 1106. Revised Statutes, the
department would be obliged to order the
militia regiments to be differed as follows
One colonel. one lieutenant colonel. one
major. one adjutant, one quartermaster
can The adjutant and quartermaster are
required to be extra lieutenants. to be Sc
iected from the lieutenants of the regi-
ment. That is the organization prescribed
in section 11O6 for infantry regiments of
the regular army
In addition. section 1915 requires that the
militia shall be formed by the President
into regiments or infantry with the excep-
ton of such numbers for cavalry and ar
tillery as he may direct, not to exceed the
proportion of one company of each of those
arms to every regiment of infantry and to
be organized as in the regular service"
This leaves no discretion with thu Presi-
dent as to the form of organization of vol
untaer regiments. If the Hull bill. now
pending, becomes law the difficulty above
mentioned will be surmounted and the de-
partment will be able to call for the Ma
tfonal Guard regiments without destroying
Their organization. That this is essential
Is made evident by the fact that So far as
heard from, the guardsmen are almost
unanimous in their determinatio TO volun-
teer only upon condition that they may re-
tain their own organization
In advance of the final enactment of the
naval appropriation hill the Navy Depart
ment is proceeding to avail itself at once
OF the service of such volunt aers officers
and men, as it can obtain. This procedure
will be legaiized later on when the bill is
enacted.
Officers of the Panther.
Meanwhile the Secretary has already is
sued commissions to the following named
officers of the marine transport Panther,
lately the Red d line Venezuela: Mate John
n
Acting Ensign George B. Terrell, Acting
Passed Assistant Engineer Geo. w. Camp
ball. Acting Assistant Engineer George A.
kolb. The two officers last named are
given the relative rank of lieutenant
The officers Of the American line steam
ers New York. Paris, st. Louis and St Paul
have been supplied with the same commits
sions. They are what is known as voIun-
teer commissions. and the term OF service is
limited to one year. The same prac tice has
gratifying results In the number obtained
volunteer commission as acting ensign
was also issued today to Maurice B. Peug-
net. He was a graduate Of the Naval Acad-
envy, of the engineer class, who resigned
some time ago from the service
Coast Signal Defense System,
q
war the Navy Department has called into
active service a retired officer in the person
OF Capt. T. F. Kane. He has been placed
IN command of the coast signal defense
system, with headquarters at New York.
This system contemplates the creation Of q
force of trained observers, composed of
members OF the naval militia of the various
states, the crews Of the life saving stations,
and the weather observers Of the Agricu.-
tural Department stationed at coast points
These men will maintain an unceasing watch
day and night along the coast, and will be
trained in the use of internal signals, 80 as
to be able to communicate with American
ships of shore. In case an enemy is seen
approaching it will be their duty to convey
instant notice to the Navy Department
Omcial Report of Nashville's Action.
The following Is the official report of the
first capture of a prize during the existing
war between Spain and the United States:
KEY WEST, Fla, April o. 1893
Secretary Of the Navy, Washington, D. C.
Nashville went to sea this morning.
Returned at 10 o'clock with Spanish
steamer Buena Ventura, prize taken off
Sandy Key light. Bound from Ship Island
to Norfolk. Loaded with lumber, deck
load Of cattle and to load with coal.
tsigneO HARRINGTON"
Harrington" is Capt P. F. Harrington,
commanding the monitor Puritan at Key
West He Is the senior officer on that sta
ton. and as such received from Commander
Washburn Maynard, commanding the gun
boat Nashville. the report of the seizure of
the Spanish merchantmen and forwarded
it to Washington.
Today's Naval Orders.
The following naval orders were issued
today: Passed Assistant Surgeon c. F.
Strokes, detached AZ q member and re-
corder Of the naval examining board.
Brooklyn. and ordered to the Solace
Capt. T. F. Kane. superintendent of coast
signal defense. ordered to New York.
Commander A. Dunlap, detached from
Blake and ordered to command the Solace.
Ensign R. wilkins. detached from the
Blake and ordered to the Franklin.
Ensign C.. A. Brand. order Of the 10Th
revoked. Detached from Blake and ordered
to the Fern.
Lieut. J. n. Stewart, detached from So
lace and ordered to the Vicksburx.
Lieut. r. 8. Carter. detached from vicks-
burg and to walt orders