The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-04-20
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GETTING READY
FOR The FRAY
Final Preparations for the Conflict Are
Being Made.
SEVEN FLEET STEAM YACHTS
Suitable Tor Navigation In Cuban Waters
Have Been Procured.
ONLY THE NATIONAL GUARDSHEN
Will Be Enlisted by the War Department on the
First Call for Troops 80, 900 Men
fas viii Be Asked For.
ONLY THE NATIONAL GUARDSMEN

Washington, April 19.-Nilitary and naval
preparations continued today with undated
vigor. Seven feet steam yachts suitable
for navigation in Cuban waters were pro-
cured, and several bids for steam Golfers
were made.
Arrangements are making to utilize a
number of the powerful converted SMOOTH
bore guns, survivors of the late war, as
armament for the auxiliary cruisers. Many
agents for Ship owners were at the navy
department today offering to sell craft to
the government, but where the vessels are
suitable the prices are said to be excessive,
and no purchase were made.
An allotment Of funds for a balloon serv-
ice shows that the war department does
not propose to ignore any of the latest
scientific aids to warfare.
The authoritative statement was made at
the war department today that on the first
call for troops only the national guard will
be given an opportunity to volunteer for
service in war. This statement is In ac-
cordance with those made by Secretary
Alger to the national guardsmen who called
upon him at the war department Saturday.
when the modified Hull bill for the expan-
sion of the army in time of war was under
consideration. Mr.. Alger thinks that such
course Is in keeping with sound discre
ton and the dictates of common sense, for
the organized militia have gone to great
expense and have devoted much time to
perfecting themselves for military duty.
Any other course, he believes, would be
destructive to the best interests of the
guard. AS far as practicable, the state or
CARNATIONS entering volunteer service Will
remain intact, the governors of the various
states being permitted as they were In 1851
to designate regimental officers, which will
include those of the grades of second lieu
tenants to colonies. The president will re-
serve to himself the right to appoint the
staff and field officers. Many applications
may have been made to the war department
for permission to volunteer, and among
men of all creeds, nationalities and politics
there is an expressed intention and desire
to uphold the honor and integrity OF the
flag of the republic.
Exhaust Available Strength
1t was stated today that the first call
for troops would be for $4,000 men, which,
it is believed, will exhaust the entire
eeesesoeeeeseeee
that portion of their track between Church
and Lucille streets.
This Injunction puts an entirely new phase
on the fight of these two rival companies at
woodlaWn Instead of the Electric COM
pany having to force the Traction company
to take up their tracks the Traction COM
pany will now have to fight the Electric
company in the courts for permission to run
their trains across the tracks of the Trac-
ton company.
The Traction Compsny's Plans
There is some doubt, however, whether
this course will be followed by the Traction
company or not. AS has been stated in the
Age-Herald several times before, the Elec-
trio company has for several months had
an Injunction prohibiting the Traction COM
pany from crossing it's tracks at Church
street. The latter company thinks that
they can have this injunction removed and
1t was learned from one of the officers Of
that company yesterday afternoon that
they would probably wait for this injunc-
ton to be decided before attempting to
have the other removed. If they win the
first they don't want the second.
OF course the powers behind the thrones
that are engineering this war of injunctions
are the attorneys in the case. The Electric
company is represented by Walker, Porter
& Walker, and the Traction company by
Alex London. Both of these firms are doing
excellent work for their clients.
The Field Of Rattie
The accompanying map will give an ac-
curate idea of the field of battle. The Trac-
ton company laid it's track down the mar
raw street, or alley, leading into First ave-
nue. and there intended to cross the tracks
of the Electric company and turn into
Church street. But the latter company re-
strained them from doing SO by an injunc-
ton and matters have been at standstill
for several months Sunday night the Trac-
ton company extended its track from