The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-30
Representatives of the Two Depart
ments Consider the Claims of New
Orleans, Tampa and Mobile.
SIGSBEE AT THE CAPITAL
PRESENTED TO M'KINLEY AFTER A
TALK WITH SECRETARY LONG.
War Paint Put on the "FIying squad
rOn"-PreparatiOns for Defense
Yacht Purchased by SPAIN

WASHlNGION, March 29.--Ihe Army
and Navy Departments continue TO show
many evidences of activity. but there are
not that extreme energy of preparations
apparent last week. AT the War Depart
ment the most important development CT
the day was the announcement that the
Twenty-ffth Regiment of Infantry, now
stationed in Montana, would be transferred
to Dry Tortugas, In the Gulf of Mexico
This regiment is composed entirely of COL
ored troops. who have been located in the
Northwest for a number of years. 1t num-
bers 2,1Ss men. Their stay in the gulf eli
mate will prepare them for any service in
Cuba should this be necessary. The troops
will first go to Key West. 1t may be that
the department will keep some of them
there and send only a portion of the reg-
1nent to Tortugas, but this has not been de-
termined definitely.
The ordnance officials of the army report
that the firms which have been given con-
tracts for supplying ammunition. guns, pro-
jectiles and gun carriages are keeping well
to their promises in the matter of supply
ing these munitions of war on time and
they are being hurried to the Notifications
needing them General Wilson, chief of en-
gineers of the army, has asked for an addi-
tional allotment from the emergency fund
for constructing works incidental to the
placing of the big guns on their founda-
tons. Work in the engineers division is
also reported to be going rapidly at all
points.
Captain Sigsbee had several talks With
Secretary Long during the day, and at the
close of office hours the secretary accom-
panied Captain Sigsbee to the White House
and presented him to the President. Mr..
Long says that no determination has been
reached thus far as regards Captain Sigs-
bees next assignment But, as one of the
high officials of the Navy Department re-
marked, the commander of the wrecked
battle ship can have anything he wants.
A board is considering what should be done
with the wreck of the Maine At first it
seemed possible to save some part of the
ship, and certainly the big guns and tur-
rets. But this has been about abandoned,
and the board now sitting is expected to
report to Secretary Long in a day or two
on what final steps shall be taken. 1t is
probable that what remains of the wreck
will be abandoned.
The Navy Department made no further
purchases of foreign ships to-day, although
the naval attaches abroad continue to make
inspection of ships at the several large
yards.
A significant conference was held during
the day between representatives of the
War and Navy Departments to determine
whether New Orleans, Mobile, or Tampa
was best adapted base of operations
both military and naval in the event of
war. The representative of the navy was
Captain Barker naval aid to Secretary
Long and for the army Col. wagner,
chief of the Bureau of Information of the
army These officers were named last week
as n commission to harmonic the action of
the war and naval branches. Their work
ia not to be confined to harmonizing the
mere administrative routine, but takes a.
much wider scope in anticipation of rossi-
BILE hostilities. Their meeting to-day de-
veloped the first important question for
their ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of selecting the
city on the gulf most suitable in case of
war for ready access to Cuba. The exam
ination is particularly directed towards as
certaining the railroad facilities from ell
sections of the country leading TO the points
on the gulf named above. No determination
has yet been reached on the subject as 1T
is but one of a number Of important ques-
tions which this commission will investi-
gate.
Surgeon Gen. Van Reypen, Of the navy,
has about completed the preliminary ar
rangements necessary to the fitting out and
manning of a floating hospital ship for use
in case of war. He has several vessels in
mind which he believes we'll adapted for
this purpose, but none has been purchased
as yet
The formal report of the medical board of
officers Of the North Atlantic squadron that
sat in Admiral Sicards case shows that he
10
known as chronic malaria" 1t was on the
report of this board that the admiral was
relieved of his command and granted six
months leave of absence.
The Ordnance Bureau is actively at work
preparing for the armament Of the yachts
and tugs which have just been acquired
by purchase by the navy and by loan from
the Treasury Department On the tugs and
yachts the Ordnance Bureau will install
such six-pounders as may be available for
the purpose, while on the cutters will be
put some four-inch and several six-pounders
all of the rapid-fire class.
Paymaster Ray. the financial officer of the
Maine. reported his arrival to the Navy De-
partment to-day. He is here to settle the
accounts of the officers and men of the ves-
sell He will take as basis for the settle
ment of all accounts the latest reports that
were made by his predecessor and from
them will determine the amount that is due
TO the officers and crew. Whatever amounts
are found to have been due 10 those who
lost their lives will be turned over 10 their
families and relatives as far as they may
be located. Paymaster Ray had paid out
about 81. 900 during the two weeks he was
aboard, while the remainder of his cash
accounts, about $500 was in the safe Of the
ship when the accident occurred. AS this
was recovered the government lost not q
dollar in money.
1t was stated at the Navy Department to-
day that the steam yacht Giralda. just pur-
chased by Spain. cost that government
probably $s50OO0. She is not regarded as d
very formidable acquisition to the Spanish
navy as she is inferior to the Mayiiowef.