The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-26
IMPORTANT NAVAL ORDERS
@ M ron AUXILIARY SHIPS COMING
CONCENTRATING SoUADR0NS.

donco were needed that the United States Gov.
eminent 10 preparing for an emergency. It can
be found In important orders issued to-day in re-
gard to the military and naval forces. At no
time since the CHILEAN war scare, when Secreta-
~ Tracy made arrangements for transports and
for concentrating the naval feet In CHILEAN
waters. have such active steps been taken By
the War and Navy departments. 1t 10 even
admitted, in some instances directly, that no
time 10 being lost in putting the coun.
try on q war footing by utilizing every avail
able means within the present authority Of
the Administration Not FROM one or two
sources. but from a dozen has the information
been obtained. What has been ascertained 10
significant enough. but probably does not repre-
sent half or . quarter of tho preparations.
Orders were telegraphed this afternoon by the
Navy Department to the commanders-in.chief
Of the South Atlantic, Asiatic and European
naval stations with regard to concentrating
their ships. OF course, these orders went in the
naval cipher. What the details of tho directions
issued were 10 something that was withheld from
THE Suns informants, on the very natural
ground that 1t would not be proper to do other
wise for strateRical and patriotic reasons.
Quite az important was the action Of the de-
partment in directing the commandant Of the
Warrington Navy Yard to ship to the Brooklyn
Navy Yard Immediately all the gums to be
used on auxiliary cruisers. In his annual re-
port. dated Oct. /. 1897. the Chief OF the
Bureau Of Naval Ordnance said that LAC guns
remained available for auxiliary cruisers or in
reserve for regular vessels. The largest calibre
fnR thA at~ttnS~ e,,IaA iii - IT. -
According to the ordnance report the guns
in reserve wero 40 Of four.inch cal.
ibre, 40 hve-inch. and Al six.inch. Since
the report was written. about 100 gums
for use on the auxiliary feet have been made.
Plans have been prepared by the Bureau of Con-
struction showing exactly where every gun
shall DO placed on every auxiliary vessel. with
directions for mounting them. The plans for tho
American Line steamers New York. Paris, st.
Paul, and st. Louis provide for placing thirteen
six-inch rifles on each Of these ocean grey
hounds. The shipments Of the gums from the
Washington ordnance factory will begin to-
morrow. They will DO stored ct the Brooklyn
yard ready for placing them on the big steam
ships Of American register running out Of New
York.
The m destroyers Minneapolis and
Columbia are to be placed in commission just as
soon as enough men for that purpose can be
secured. Tomorrow tho Navy Department
will send a letter to the Committees on
Naval Affairs of both houses, asking that
provision DO made by Congress for au.
thority to enlist 1900 men Immediately.
1t will require that number to furnish crews to
these two fleetest cruisers Of tho naval service
and other vessels practically ready for sea. The
Minneapolis and the Columbia are In reserve at
the League Island Navy Yard. to whose com.
mandant orders have been sent to put them In
condition for sea service at once. The monitor
Miantonomoh and the ram Katahdin. also at
League Island, are to be prepared for going into
commission without delay.
Work is being rushed on the torpedo boats
Gwin and Talbot, which were launched at the
Herreshoff works this week. The Navy Depart.
ment to-day directed that all torpedoes needed
by these vessels should be sent at once from the
Newport station to Bristol. where the Herreshoff
works are located, 30 that they will be ready for
placing on board the two little craft at O mo-
ment's notice.
In every branch of the military service there
is similar activity displayed. From all indica-
tions the bill for the increase of the artillery
force of the army by two regiments, which
passed the Senate on Tuesday, will go through
the House tomorrow, and already the War De-
partment has made arrangements for enlistlng
the requisite number OF men to meet the in.
crease. The total number of men required for
this purpose has been computed at 1910. In
the expectation that the bill will pass the House,
enlistment offices will probably be opened in
cities and towns tomorrow. Where these Of
1cers will DO, War Department officials, for some
unexplained reason. decline to tell.
The head Of every military bureau and geo.
graphical department has been instructed to
report In the quickest possible time the exact
condition Of his bureau or department. The
Chief of Ordnance has been asked for q state
ment Of tho amount Of powder on hand and tho
condition OF heavy ordnance and small arms
in course Of manufacture. Tho employees Of
the QuartermaBter-General's Department are
figuring out the time It will take to land troops
at Atlantic and Gulf ports from various
places throughout the country. and are
making up q report on the wagon trans.
portation system. In tho medical. subsist.
ence, engineer. and other bureaus state
ments and tables OF their resources are
In course of preparation. The commanding
General Of every geographical military depart.
ment Is under orders to prepare his forces for
immediate service, and is getting ready all in.
formation which may be OF value to tho Govern
ment in the event OF war. Every navy yard and
shore station is humming with activity. Every
department of the army is busy In preparation
for a resort to hostilities.
II President Mckinley makes q demand for
indemnity for the destruction or tho Maine and
for the relatives of the officers and men who
went to death In her. which 10 generally believed
to bo the first step the Administration will take,
the military and naval services will not be found
wanting should 1t be necessary to support the
demand by force.
Members OF tho Senate and House committees
on Naval Affairs are anxiously waiting for
definite information on the sinking of the
Maine. The outcome Of the investigate will
have an important bearing upon tho action
OF the committees toward increasing the naval
establishment by more warships. The sub
committee Of the House, having the present
Appropriation bill in charge. has decided to
postpone for the present consideration Of the
increasing clause until q full report comes from
Havana, Upon this will largely depend whether
or not the other battleships are to be author.
lied. II Is said that II the accidental theory pre-
walls some members OF Congress will be inclined
to oppose provision for more vessels on tho theory
that VIC ara not vet fully acquainted with the