The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-04-23
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR
A SUMMARY OF THE ACTIVITY OVER
THE NATION.
Mobile Harbor Defenses---Bill to Enlist
One Hundred Thousand N1en...A Troop
of Cow Boys Ready.-.Army Rations are
Being Secured.

A bill has been drafted by the War
Department to be introduced into Con-
gress at once, authorizing the presl
dent to enlist volunteers MOTTO exceed
100, 900 men. This will be offered in
stead CT the bill introduced on Thurs
day.
A special train on the Southern Pa
cifc left Santa Cruz, CAL, Saturday,
with 100000 pounds of snlokeless pow
der to be delivered at New Orleans for
army use. The orders for the First
Infantry also include the two light bat
terics Of the Third Artillery; mules,
wagons and ambulance service, pre-
pared for the field. The infantry will
20 to New Orleans; the artillery to
Chickamauga.
Besides the 80 days. rations which
the troops that have been ordered to
Tampa, New Orleans and Mobile will
carry with them, the war department
has purchased and has ordered ship
ped to these three ports enough emer-
gency concentrated rations to be used
in the event of an invasion of Cuba.
The defense and armament of the
Notifications of Mobile harbor are
practically complete. Engineers have
completed the work Of laying mines at
the channel mouth and approaches to
Mobile Bay. Rapid-fre guns and
heavy calibre disappearing guns and
mortar batteries at Fort Morgan have
been placed ia fighting trim and pro
'tected with cemented granite outwork'
during the two months that have
elapsed since the explosion of the
Maine. The armament was proved
last week. General Graham, who hal
recently made an inspection Of the har
Dor defenses Of the gulf, declares thai
Mobile is the most thoroughly protect
ed harbor in his department.
Patriotism is in the cir in Chatta
nooga. Since the troops commenced
to arrive at tho Chickamauga-Nationa
Military Park the officers of the Secon'
Battalion, National Guard of the Stat
of Tennessee. have enlisted over 20
men in that city. In addition to thi
number an artillery company and
company for the National Voluntee
Reserves lave been duly organized
with 100 men each.
The war department has notified AT
torney General Griggs, ofSouth Dako
ia, of its acceptance of his PROPOSE
ton to recruit sroop Of cowboys, an
has advised him to be in readiness K
establish recruiting stations.
The contract for the lease by tn
United States Of the American Liner
St. Paul, St. Louis, New York an
Paris was signed OF the Navy Depart
ment at Washington Saturday. Fac
ship is turned over to the use Of til
government at per diem rate c
$4,000. The government has the pri,
ilege of buying the vessels at any time
The British steampship Hampstea
been purchased by the United State
government. The deal was made lat
Saturday evening at Norfolk, England
and is the outcome Of the vessels loa(
ing with 5000 tons Of Pocahontas Goa
which originally intended to 60 to s
Vincent, where the Spanish feet is n
ported to be, the coal intended for til
Spanish feet, it is now saia, will &C
the American feet at Key West.
The new cruiser New Orleans le
her anchorage off Tompkinsyille, \
Y, Saturday and steamed up to tt
navy yard at Brooklyn. Along tn
East river docks and on the Brookly
bridge crowds assembled and cheere
as she passed. When the New O.
leans approached the navy yard 81
fired salute Of thirteen guns in hons
of Rear Admiral Bunce. A board 3
inspection will decide what alteration
will be necessary in order to have5th
New Orleans in the best Of trim K
sea service.