Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-04-21
WAR PREPARATIONS.
Eighty Thousand National GuRrtsmen VIII
Be Eniisted Under the First
ar' Call for Troops.

49, Call for Troops. oil.
Washington, April 19.-Military and
naval preparations continued to-day
with unabntcd vlgor. Seven fleet
steam yachts suitable for navigation In
Cuban waters were. procured. and sew
cral bids for steam collicrs were made.
Arrangements are making to utilize II
number of the powerful converted
smoOth-bOrc guns. survivors OF the
late war. as armament for the auXil-
larry cruisers. Many agents for ship
owners were ut the Navy Department
to-day. Offering TO sell crafts to- the
government. but the prices are said TO
be excessive, and no purchases were
made.
a great deal OF Indignation has been
expressed by naval officers over tile
cold-bloodcd attempt OF persons own
Ing vessels or acting as their agents.
to cxtort 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 mill
tary and naval supplies, although II is
gratifying to note that In few cx-
ccptiOnnl cascs-thc tube makers and
boiler firms. and some ammunition and
gun-making peoplc-every disposition
hns been shown TO give the govern
ment the best terms In price and time
Of delivery.
The authoritative statement was
made at the War Department to-day
that on the first call for troops only
the national guard would he given an
opportunity to volunteer for service
In war. This statement Is In accord
ance with those made by Secretary
Alger TO the national guardsmen who
called on him ut the War Department
on Saturday, when the modified Hull
bill for the expansion of the army was
under consideration. Secretary Alger
thinks thnt such Il course Is in keeping
with sound discretion and the dictates
OF common sense, for the organized
militia have gone to great expense
md have devoted much time to per-
fecting themselves for military duty.
Any other course. he believes. would
be destructive to the best interests of
the guard. As far ms practicable. the
state organizations entering the volun-
tecr service will remain intact. the
governors of the various states being
permitted, as they We're In 1861. to
designate rcgimeninl officers. which
Will include those of the grades of see
ond lieutennnts to coloncls. The Prcsi-
dent will reserve to himself the right
to appoint the stan and field officers
Many applications have been made to
the War Department for permission to
volunteer. and among men of all crceds.
nationalities and politics there is an
expressed intention and desire to up
hold the honor and integrity of the flag
of the republic.
1t was stated to-day that the tirst
call for troops would be for 10000
men. which 1t Is believed will exhaust
the entire available strength Of the ma
tional guard at this time. after deduct
Ing those who are sick and otherwise
incapacitatcd for immediate service.
The total strength of the guard. rs re-
ported to the War Department, is 49,
| 764 men.
Secretary Algcr made several addi-
tionnl nllOtmcnts from the emergency
fund for the War Department. One
million dollars was given for the quar-
| terinaster's department only to meet
extraordinary expenses in the trans
portation of troops and munitions of
| war; $4,000 for work of balloons and
100000 for pcrfecting the army tele.
graph service. General Grcely. the
chief signal officer. is staunch advo.
cate of the use of balloons at the va
rious ports of the country and in regu.
lar field service.