The herald., 1898-03-27

mander w. M. Folgcr. now in charge of tho
New York light house district. may be
placed In command of the newly acquired
Brazilian cruiser Amazonas, now the New
Orleans, but detail has not yet been made
or even determined upon.
A HARMONY BOARD
| For several days proposition has been
| under consideration by Secretaries Long
and Alger to form q board composed OF one
OF each Of the army and navy to SYSTEM
atemize and harmonize the defensive op-
erations along the Atlantic seaboard, In
order that there might be no clashing be-
tween the two great arms of the govern
ment. 1t Is understood that the PROPOSE
tion was considered favorably by both Sec
| retaries, and they proceeded so far as to
appoint the board, the representative OF
| the navy designated by Secretary Long
being Captain Dorst, one of the attaches
of the secretary. Some objection was
made by the army officers to the creation
of the board, and a day or two ago Captain
Dorst was withdrawn from the proposed
board.
1t seemed yesterday that the whole
proposition would be abandoned, but today
1t was revived, and Lieutenant Colonel A.
w. Wagner, chief of the bureau of mill
tary intelligence. was designated by Sec
retary Alger to act with Captain Barker as
the representative of the army.
Late this afternoon Captain Barker and
Colonel Wagner had an extended confer
ence with Secretary Roosevelt In the lat
teY's private office. Preliminary plans for
the operation of the board were formu-
lated, but no definite statement concerning
the nature of the boards work could be
obtained from any Of the parties to the
conference. In case of hostilities, the
work of the board will be very important.
as through 1t the two great departments of
the government will at all times work in
perfect union.
THE NAVAL MILITIA
AS rapidly as possible the navy depart
ment is pushing the work Of preparation for
calling into active service such of the naval
militia of the United States as may be
needed and will volunteer for service. AS
already announced, the naval militia of
Massachusetts and New York have ten
dered it's services, and as soon as the neces-
sary arrangements can be made such Off
GERS and men as may be needed will be
placed upon the old monitors now at the
League island navy yard. Philadelphia, and
tugs purchased for harbor and coast de-
fenses.
Naval officials regard the naval militia
as a most valuable adjunct to the navy
proper, as it could be utilized not only to
man the smaller vessels, but could be de-
pended upon as second line of defense
AS Assistant Secretary Roosevelt points
out, there are two very important features
which could be attended to by this second
line. One is the placing of mines, and the
other the establishment of signal stations
for coast defense.
NO ACTION TAKEN
Secretary Long tonight specifically stated
that the question of action to intercept the
Spanish torpedo flotilla had not been taken
today. AS the flotilla is proceeding slow
ly in midocean, far from means of COM
munication, 1t will likely not be heard
from for some time, and officials mean
while are at a loss to know it's whereabouts.
When asked as to a report of the receipt
of the reply from Minister Woodford. Sec
retary Long said the reply had not come
to his knowledge and his department had
not been advised of the fact that such
communication had been received.