The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-20

tlmc 70 perfeotlng themselves for MILL
tary dusy. Any other course, he be-
lleves, would be destructive 10 the best
interests of the guard. AS far as prac.
ticahie, the state organizatlons entering
the volunteer oervfce will remain Intact,
ihe governors OF the various states be-
Ing permitted as they were In 1861, to
designate the reglmental officers which
VIII Include those OF the grades OF sec-
ohd lleltenanst TO colonels. The Presl-
dent VIII reserve to himself the right 70
appoint the staT and field officers. Many
applications have been made to the war
department for permission to volunteer
and among men OF all crecds, nationall.
lies, and politics, there is an expressed
Intention and desire to uphold the honor
and the Integrity OF the flag OF the re-
public. .i I,
4 It was stated to-day, that tho first
call fol-. troops would be for, $4,000 men,
Which, Il is believed. will exhaust the
entire available strength OF the national
guard at this time, after deducting those
who are sick and otherwise incapacitated
Tor immediate service. The total
strength OF the guard Us reported to the
war department Is 113,76i men.
Il Cold. .Biooded Extortton. Is
"A great deal OF Indignation has been
expressed by naval officers over the
eoid.blooded attempts OF persons OWE
Ing vessels or acting Us their agents to,
extort from the government sums OF
money largely In excess OF the value Of
their craft. The same complaint Is also
made as TO many kinds OF military and
naval supplies, although It Is gratifying
TO note that In few exceptional cases,
the tube makers and boiler making
firms and some ammunition and gun
making people, every disposition has
been shown TO give the government the
best terms In price and time OF delivery.
The navy department has received
satisfactory Information that the coal
loaded at Newport News upon the Brit
ish tramp steamer. Hampstead is not,
as was supposed, intended for the Span
ish naval craft at the Cape Verde ISL
ands. but Is for line Of merchant
steamers, so that apprehension from
that score has been removed. The de-
partmentl Is still reaching out for yes.
sells suitable for colllers. and several
cable messages were sent to-day to Its
agency in Europe looking 10 the pur-
chase Of some OF these vessels.
Rear Admiral Sicard reported at the
navy department this morning and was
Immediately assigned q place ut the
desk In the office of the secretary OF the
navy to act as official advIser4to the
secretary. Nearly all naval officers on
detached or shore duty have put In ap-
plieauons to be restored Immediately to
sea service.
There appears to be a mistaken I'm
preston in some quarters as to the,
functions OF the Mosquito fleet. z It IS
not destined for shore guard nor yet for
attack, but, as explained by one OF the
naval strategists. the primary use Of the
vessels OF this fleet will be to protect
the battleshtps and other ironclads from
attack by torpedo boats and destroyers.
The purpose Is to create In the navy
something like the same system that
prevails in the army in conducting hos
tile operations; the battleships CORE
spond to the heavy artillery. the. Mos
quito fleet to infantry and the torpedo
boats to cavalry. -.