Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-11-10
PREPARED FOR WAR.
The Washington Administrator
Calmly Awaiting Results.
The Gnvrrninrnt wiz Not Paw Any Money
u the Vessel Ia No. s,ved-rhe Cab
met MreIi,g tnintrr@.ting-,
the Pre-. idehi's M.tstgs


] the Pre-. ideat's Message
Washington. nor. j. The aimin!s.
tratlon is wa.tiug results from the
peace commission with equanimity in
the realization that the government Is
perfectly well prepared for any turn
the negotiations may take The navy
especially is in state OF preparedness.
| should 1t come to a Resumption Of hos
| tilities, far in advance of its condi.
,ion at the outbreak OF the war.
One by one all the splendid fight.
ing machines OF the North Atlantic
squadron, which had been bronght
north at the earliest moment. were
locked, cleaned and thoroughly re-
fitted at the New York and Norfolk
navy yards Their ammunition SUP.
plies were repienished and they are
now, with possibly one or two excep.
lions, ready for instant service In al
most any quarter of the globe.
Admiral Dewey has taken considera.
bic precautions in the case OF his own
vessels, having dispatched them one
by one to the big British docks at
Hong Kong, where they have been
placed in us goou condition as possible
outside Of our home ports. Secretary
Long has prudently declined to part
with the new numerou, feet OF auxil-
larry vessels acquired by the govern
ment just prior to and during the war.
As far u, the army is concerned,
while the original force OF nearly $50.
600 men called into the service by
the president has been largely dimin.
ished by the mastering out OF many
regiments and organizations, it is the
opinion Of expert military Officers that
the army as q whole Is really more
formidable weapon now than it was
at any period during the war
Admiral Bunce telegraphed the navy
department yesterday thu, the cruiser
Buffalo, Commander Hemphill, had
sailed at noon for the Philippines via
Suez. The gunboat Helena sailed yes.
terday for the same destination. With
these accessions, coming Immediately
upon the heels Of Capt Bankers squad
ron OF hattleships and golfers, Ad,
miral Dewey will have Il formidable
fleet, probably second in offensive
power to only one European nation,
namely, England. in eastern waters.
1t is not believed, however, that he
will have need of all this force. and he
doubtless viii be able to spare some OF
the vessels which may be in need of
repair, to return to Mare island.
A COMPANY MAY RAISE THE COLON.
Washington, Nov. 3. = Constructor
Hobson was before the naval bureau
chiefs Yesterday and spent two hours
in argument to convince the board OF
the advisabilility of allowing him to
continue the work OF wreckng the
Spanish warships sunk off Santiago.
Secretary Long had already concluded
that the further prosecution Of the
work had better cease, at least so far as
it Is conducted at governments expense.
However, he consented to allow Mr..
Mr.. Hobson an opportunity to induce
the board OF bureau chiefs to
reconsider their original determi.
nation. The constructor was reinforced
in his opinion that the Colon and per-
haps one or two other ships might be
saved by Mr.. Merritt, Of the wrecking
firm Of Merritt e. Chapman, although
this opinion is, in turn, contrary to
that of the wreckmasters on the spot
at Santiago. Mr.. Merritt was not
present at the meeting, so the board
contented itself with the recommends.
ton to Assistant Secretary Allen, who
has the matter in charge, that the
Merritt company be allowed to con.
tinue their work on the Colon under
an agreement to pay salvage to them
only in case the vessel is raised and,
meanwhile, to discontinue the heavy
per diem payments the company is now
receiving.
THE CABINET MEETING uNINTEREsrlNG,
Washington, Nov 5,--The cabinet
session yesterday was without devel'
opments and, in the absence of any
cable information of the peace neco-
tiations, lacked interest The meeting
was of some length, but the proceed.
ings were OF IA routine nature, The
forthcoming elections gained consd-
cradle attention, and the prospects Of
republican success were discussed the
members Of the cabinet generally en-
pressing sanguine views as to the cleo
ton OF republican house. Some OF
the local political issues were com.
mented upon. The forthcoming an.
nual message of the president to con.
gress was considered and some features
Of the reports Of the various depart
ments outlined in general way. The
president, however, has not yet made
much progress in the actual framing
VI the message.