The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-08-13
\ I h R Il
READY FOR FIGHT
Naval Forces to Be Retained
in the Highest State OF
Efficiency.
BATTLE SHIPS TO REFIT
Smaller Craft Ordered to Safe
Harbors for the Hurricane
Season.
MONITORS ON GUARD At PORTO RICO
No Movement Made to Disband
Troops But Charters
of Transports Are
Cancelled.
BELLIGERENTS THANK FRANCE
Plainfeld Mans Offer of Hos
pital camp--General News
of the New Peace.
Plainflcld Mans Offer of Hos
pital camp--General News
of the New Peace.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 1S9S.-With
peace proclaimed. all of the energies OF
the military and naval establishments to-
day were directed into pacific channels.
The sudden change from war to peace
was manifest at the War and Navy De-
partments. There was no further expect
aney of dramatic developments, of bat
ties or of new campaigns. The orders
given last night for the immediate cessa-
tion of hostilities brought all military
and naval movements TO a halt, and it
now remained only to bring affairs back
10 a peace basis.
In this, however, the authorities were
acting on the theory that the protocol OF
yesterday was but the first step towards
peace, and that not until final and last
ing peace was secured could there be an
entirSAsturn to peace basis. This was
partfe4zs4ly true in the navy depart
nlent. In that branch it was accepted
that permanent peace undoubtedly would
be made and yet instead Of stripping our
warships, re-distributing them into squad
rons on a peace basis, and returning them
TO their old channels. the naval authori-
ties acted on the principles that the pres
ent armistice might end in a resumption
of hostilities
For that reason the four battleships and
two armored cruisers ordered north from
West Indian waters are to undergo a
complete overhauling, with view to put
ting them in the pink of condition. For
many months they have been in tropical
waters; their bottoms are foul and their
engines and machinery need careful over
hauling. AS soon as they reach New
York all work at the Navy Yard will be
subordinated to pushing the complete
overhauing of the big battleships and
cruisers
Meanwhile the smaller warships in
West Indian waters have been ordered to
safe harbors, as the West Indian hurri-
cane season is near at hand, while suffi-
Gent ships for police patrol are left along
the Cuban and Porto Rican coasts.
The big unwieldy monitors win remain
at Porto Rico, and most Of the block
aiding fleet will centre at Key West under
Commodore Watson.
The peace protocol will give breath
ing spell, and time for bringing every
ship back to the highest state of per-
fection. The complete return to a peace
basis and the establishment of peace
squadrons is matter for the future
1t is expected tbt the American occu-
patton of Manila Will occur Immediately
after the receipt by Admiral Dewey and
General Merritt of the orders sent them
last night. This may not be deferred bv
lack of cable facilities, as the American
occupation Of Manila probobly will re-
suit in the opening of direct cable com
munication between that city and the out
side world.
rl+t.-
that the Gable Company would not recog-
niZe American control of the cable so
long as our forces were not in possession
Of The city. The orders sent Admiral
Dewey are much more specific than those
sent other naval commanders, as the oc-
cupation OF Manila and the holding of
the bay and harbor involve more impor-
tant considerations than the mere ces-
sation of hostiliIies.
During the early hours of today the
war and Navy Departments received no
Acknowledgements from the various naval
and military commanders but it was pre-
sumed that the orders suspending hos
fliities We're being carried out in all di-
rection.
Nothing has been done looking to the
uispandment OF the army and It is not
Mkely that anything Will be done until
the treaty OF peace is concluded Possibly
some soldiers may be mustered out al
their own request, but nothing will be at
tempted at present in the direction of
Inystering out any considerable part of
the army.
Arrangements have been made to send
larger reinforcements TO General Merritt
With the troops already at Manila and
those which will arrive within a very
few days General Merritt will have Il. 900
men. The 1000 troops at San Francisco
are to @ be & sent .. as rapidly as transports
now on their way from Negasah to San
The War Department is cancelling the
charters to the various vessels used for
the TRANSPORTATION of troops. The Cow