The times., 1898-04-12
JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE
War Departments Plan Is TO
Ask for 10000 Men.
VETERANS EAGER TO FIGHT
Custom House Clerks Desire to En-
Iist-In the Event of War They
VIII Be Granted Leaves OF Alb
sence and VIII Resume Their Du-
ties When Spain IL whipped.

The present plan of the War Depart
ment is to augment the regular service by
10000 men. Secretary AIger is inclined to
believe that this is insufficient for all the
needs of the campaign likely to open with
the invasion of Cuba, but for the present
this numerical strength is understood to
be the immediate intention of the depart
ment.
The National Guardsmen will be per-
mitted to volunteer before there is gen.
eral call for other men.
The State soldiery are fairly well equip
ped, and have had some experience in
military customs and duties. Naturally
the officials have preference for them.
There is a difference of opinion as to
the strength of the augmented army
but the officials in charge OF sup
plies have made arrangements for no
larger force than 10000.
Gen. Graham, commanding the depart
ment of the gulf. has recommended At
lanta, Ga, as a point of concentration.
He reports that the municipality has APP
prOpriated $1,000 to furnish a water sup
ply and other facilities for the Army.
The War Department people are consid- |
ering New Orleans and Tampa as other |
points of concentration from which speedy
access TO Cuba is afforded
The orders to the TweTty-fifth Infantry |
tho regiment intended for Dry TOrtugas |
have seen changed. The two companies |
Will proceed at once to Key West on rec
ommendation of Gen. Graham, who is in
command of the department of the gulf
The remainder of the six companies ul-
tinately intended for duty at Dry Tortu-
gas will be quartered at Chieamauga
pending orders from Washington to move
south. 1t has been found that these COM
panies can be accommodated at Key
West. and that the water supply will be
sufficient for their needs.
Custom House Clerks.
New York, April 11-Collector Bidwen
has notified the authorities at Washing
ton that the war feeling is strong among
the clerks in the custom house here and
that many of them desire to enlist He
added that the object of his communica- |
ton was to request authority to give |
leave of absence to all his employees who |
might be accepted by the War Depart
ment as volunteers until they could re- |
turn to the Treasury service.
One of the intending volunteers is Cen
eral James p. McIvor, withdrawal clerk |
in the warehouse division who recently |
asked the collector If places would be |
kept open for employees who might enlist |
to fight Spain. He said yesterday he was /
prepared to tender his services for duty
in the eneTny's territory
The general is sixty years old and serv-
ed throughout the civil war. in which he |
commanded the Second Brigade. Second |
Division, Second Army Corps. at one time |
In the letter which he has drafted ne will
say to the War Department that he is
not pensiOner, is sound in wind and /
limb and good for an extended and ag-
gressive campaign
Postmaster Van Cott said yesterday that |
a considerable number of his men were |
anxious to fight for their country in case
war was declared. They would like to !
know if they could return to their old |
places or re-enter the postal service at |
the close of the war. He also wished to i
know what arrangements could be made |
for supplying the places of these men If
they Joined the Army.
The Veterans.
New York, April n.-Bronzed and gray
veterans of the civil war are not saying
as much as the younger patriots these
days, but they are busy. a conference
was held at the headquarters of Lafay-
cite Post the other night to decide on
what was the veterans duty in the
present crisis, and the best way to do it.
"a IdISe representation Oh JQe OH1CeFS ana
membership was in attendance. Fiery
speeches of patriotic tone were deliver
ed by fully a dozen of the best orators
in the post, and il was decided that the /
post should offer a regiment to the Gov
ernment as soon as possible. The COM
mander of the post is Major Gen. Daniel
Butterfield: the adjutant William F.
Brown. and the quartermaster, Fred
erick Foster. 1t is reputed to be the
most influential and richest post OF vet
Grams in the city, if not in the whole /
country
As result of the conference circular
was prepared to be sent to every mem
Der of the post. 1t is expected that 9TH |
er posts will do the same, and the Iivelest /
sort of recruiting will be naugurated.
as each post will in the most friendly and .
patriotic rivalry. seek to surpass all 9TH /
ers. Rally Round the Flag, Boys
practically is it's keynote.
Gen. Butterfield said: ''The circular is
to be mailed to comrades who have
served with me and to Grand Army Com
rades. If there are any known who would
like to Join in the event of war they will
be gladly received, the more the better 4
This command. if called will be one of /
young men offered by Lafayette Post, by 1
the Grand Army. and by the Old Guard
of Veterans. Some posts or commands
may desire to offer company entire !
with it's officers or a battalion. Those
who are too old to go, with their loyalty 4
ever young and vigorous. can be of serv- [
ice in securing and preparing recruits"
There are SiXty-four G. A. r. posts in I
New York city. Among the best known /
of these are Lafayette. Abraham Lin I
coin, Phil kearny. Sumner. Gen. H w. /
Slocum. George G.. Meade. Farragut, Joe /
Hooker. John A. Dix. Sedgwick, Phil H /
Sheridan, w. S. Hancock. Gen Michael ]
Corcoran, Farnham, Gen. G. B. McCIel- |
Ian. H. B. Claflin In Brooklyn there are |
thrity-three posts.
Naval Recruits.
st. Paul, April 1l.-Fifty-four men and |
eight boys left last night for New York, |
headed by Engineer Denig, of the Navy, |
making total of ninety-nine recruits for
the Navy secured by the board during
it's stay of two weeks in this city.
The recruits We're given rousing fare
well, bands and citizens joining in a pro-
cession of escort through the business !
part of the city TO their train. where n
large crowd of shouting enthusiasts
yelled farewells to the sailors and ap-
prenticeS.
The board goes to Duluth next week.
The Rowan Launched
Seattle, Wash, April 1.-THE Rowan, or
torpedo boat No. s, has been launched |
from the shipyards of Moran Brothers. |
the event being witnessed by thousands.
Her dimensions are: Length 1I0 feet; |
breadth, II feet; draft, normal, s feet |
s inches. She will be propelled by two
trlple-eXpansion engines and twin screws, /
with a combined Indicated Iors, ,,-,,,.,r /