New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-23

Continued from First Page.


devoted 10 ascertalning what he requires ana TO
supplying his needs. AS for Admiral Sampson
and Commodore Schey. the Department Is ex-
hausting its resources in providing information
regarding the movements of Spanish vessels IN
order that the American fleets may hunt them
down and destroy them. AS rapidly as possible
additional force is being added to the squadrons
in the West Indies in order that the effective
ness Of the blockade may be maintained and
that regular warships may be relieved for cruis-
Ing operations
INFORMATION FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
With the assistance Of the State Department
and through secret agents In all parts or the
world information is collected and sifted by the
members Of the Naval War Board. who suggest
TO Secretary Long movements which appear 10
be desirable, and these, If approved by the
President, are in turn suggested to the COM
manding officers ahoat. The entire establish
ment Of the Navy Department Is at work from
o'clock a. m. to ) o'clock p. m, and number
of junior officers take turns of all-nght watch
duty. in order that important dispatches may be
deciphered Immediately upon their receipt anu
turned over to Secretary Long Ior any requ"eo
action.
There is scarcely any perceptible disturbance
in the peace machinery Of the Navy Depart,
ment except thte greater activity Is displayed
in all the bureaus than IL ever witnessed In
peace times The Bureau Of Supplies and Ac-
counts, which under Paymaster-General Stew
art accomplishcs the duties that are divided
among the three departments of Quartermaster-
General Cummissary- General and PdymaSter-
General in the Army, proceeds with admirable
smOothness: the Bureaus Of Constr uCtiOn, steam
Engineering and Ordnance. after putting oil the
existing Navy in commission and httnS out the
large auxiliary fleet, are just now engaged in the
design Of more than thirty vessels authorized
at the present session OF Congress, and the
Equipment Bureau is buying more coal and
Af.t0 90 fNA,, hafn II
In the entire Department there has been scarcely
any increase in the clerical force. and there are
few outward indications that war Is IN progress
EXPANSION OF THE ARMY ORGANIZATION.
In the Army on the other hand tremendous
changes have occurred. and the War Depart
ment has been placed as much on war footing
as the troops in the field. In times Of peace
this Department is placid and unexcitng as
the Pension Office but to-day II is the scene Of
prodigious energy and hustle, due in a great
degree to the unforeseen lack of equipment pos
sessed by the National Guard and the whole
sale injection OF demoraliZng civil elements into
the service. well as to the ndefatigable dis
play Of socitude by Congressman for the ac-
ceptarce into the volunteers OF their innumer-
able constituents. over this arm Of the service
however. the President and Secretary Alger
both trained soldiers, maintain close 5urisdic-
ton of every detail, and no order escapes their
careful scrutiny.
The entire duty of assembling the volunteer
army has devoved upon AdjutantGeneral Cor
bin, and the force of 80 900 men has been care
fully inspected and mustered into the service
with CELEBRITY much greater than in 1861. In
the War Department one or more or the stan
generals is in consultation with the Secretary
at ell hours of the day. These conferences re-
late not only to the policy of Cuban INVASION
but, to a great extent, to the serious problems
of furnishing arms, ammunition. equipments
tents and food to the soldiers well as TO the
assignment OF officers and the organization Of
commands The snoothness Of the conduct of
business noticeable in the Navy Department
contrasts strongly with the apparent confusion
and excitement on the War Department side Of
the great building which covers them both. but
this is admittedly due to the disarrangement
caused by the influx Of volunteers and their
friends. and the uncertainty which still exists
TO Cuba.
The magnitude Of the military undertaking
is likely to be minimized by those ignorant Of
such matters. and especially by those who fail
to appreciate the general unfamiliarity OF the
civil elements over which the Government has
comparatively little control and which are.
nevertheless. Indispensable for the mobilization
of army corps. The manufacturers OF equi-
page. the railroads. the food providers. were all
wholly unprepared to meet the emergency, and.
While Jealous In their attempts. have up to this
time scarcely responded with the degree Of sue
that the Army had reasonably expected.
What has already been accomplished has been
in the face OF obstacles which are unknown IN
European countries, where the convenience OF
individuals can be automatically swept aside
by the Government.
THE VOLUNTEER ARMY 100000 MEN.
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