The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-12
Provisions Made for Them by the
Naval Committee.
A MILITARY DEPARTMENT 7
Department of Texas Abolished and the
Department of the South Established
With Headquarters at Atlanta.
Straining Every Nerve.

officials still profess confidence that
there is to be peacefuI outcome of
the present threatening differences, but
meanwhile preparations are being
made to do their duty if events should
shape themselves otherwise. The most
important and significant developments
of the day were the decision of the
house naval committee to place in the
naval appropriation bill a provision
for three new battleships and a conclu-
sion on the part of the secretary of
war to issue tomorrow morning an or
der creating a new military depart
ment, including within it's confines that
part of the country which would be in
all likelihood nearest the field of hos
tilities in case it should come to that.
The order will cause a commotion in
the South. The present department of
Texas is abolished and the headquar-
ters, which have been at San Antonio,
Tex, for so many years, are aban-
doned. In place of the old department
is created a new one, the department
of the South. General Graham. at
present commander of the Department
of Texas, will command the new de-
partment This department will in
clude the states of South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississip-
pi Louisiana and Texas. All of these
states are at present attached to the
Department of the East under the COM
mand of General Merritt of New York
1t is said at the department that Cen
eral Merritt is fully compensated for
the strength of the command which
passes away from him by the addition
to his forces of the two regiments of
military now recruiting. Headquarters
for the new Department of the South
Will be at Atlanta, Ga, CHOSEN because
of its fine strategic value, from its ex-
cellent railroad connections AT pres
ent the government has no aeconno-
dations in Atlanta for the headquarters
Of rhe department, so it Will be obliged
to hire the most available buildings.
General Wilson, chief of engineers,
who has been in Florida. Is expected
back tomorrow to report to Secretary
AIger upon progress of the fortifica
tion works in that section of the coun-
try and probably espeeially ass~-lQ the.
defense OF 7rorfugas.
For the first time to-day the officials
of the war department admitted that
they We're straining every nerve to inn
prove that part of the defenses of the
country confided to their care. 1t is
without question the most unusual
mark Of confidence in an executive off
Ger to empower him to give orders with
out limit on the purchase of war ma
lCTldi yet TINS Is what the pI1sldenl ana
Secretary Alger have done in the case
of General Flagler, chief of ordnance.
And the officer has not shown any dis
position to shirk this large responsible
ity, but has instructed every concern
capable of supplying war materials.
such as rapid fire guns, shot, shell and
ammunition, to go TO work at full ca
pacity.
The naval department has now reason
to believe that it has secured the two
warships the Amazonas and her sister
ship, now building in England for Bra
zil. This was stated at the cabinet
meeting to-day by Secretary Long that
the naval attache at London, Lieutenant
Colonel VIII. had almost completed the
negotiations for the sale. So far. how
ever, final notification from him that
his offer had been accepted has not yet
reached the navy department.
The day passed again without word
from the court of inquiry, according to
the statement of Secretary Long, who
says that he has received nothing what
ever from the court itself or from Judge
Advocate Mark The secretary has de-
termned that there shall be no wasteful
extravaganza in his department in the
expenditure Of the funds so generously
provided by congress- and to this end
he has addressed the following letter
to the assistant secretary of the navy
and the commandant of the marine
corps and to each bureau chief of the
navy department.
Under the emergency appropriation
of $50. 900, 600, made Wednesday. you will
increase no expense or liability, except
after written statements and estimates
made by you and approved by the presi-
dent and secretary. all in writing. A
special record must be kent of every
such reauisition. If any such liza bility
or expense has been incurred by you
by oral direction. make such written
statement and estimate and submit 1t at
once for such approval.
In anticipation of a rupture between
the United States and Spain. many
| naval officers on the retired list have
notified the secretary of the navy of
their willingness and readiness to per-
form any duty in the line of their pro-
fession that he may deem suitable for
them. There seems to be considerable
misrepresentation on the part of the
general public as to the aNaila bility of
officers on the retired list for active
duty in times Of war. Section l.462 Of
the revised statutes, bearing on this
subject. provides as follows:
No officer on the retired list of the
navy shall be employed on active duty
except in time of war"
Under this section, il Is apparent that
if war should break out all officers IN
be subject 10 the orders of the secre-
tary of the navy. Another statute bear
ing on this subject contained in sections
.463 and 1854 Is as follows:
In time Of war. the president. hy
and with the advice and consent of the
senate may detail officers on the retired
/ list 10 the command Of squadrpns and
single ships, when he believes that the
good of the service requires that they
shall be 50 placed in command. In
making said details, the president may
select any officer not below the grade
af commander and assign him to the
command IF a squadron with the rank
and title If flag officer. and any officer
50 assigned shall have the same au-
th0rity and receive the same 0b~iience