The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-02
TROOPS.
Plans Perfected at Washington
to Move 100000 Men.
Will Be Concentrated at Balti-
more, Mobile, New Orleans
THENCE BY STEAMER
To Key West Where They Can
Be Easily Landed
On the Coast of Cuba When
Necessary.
ORDERS ARE SENT OUT
To Prepare the IrOnclads
Katahdin and MiantOnOmah
For Sea Directly = Work on
Them to Be Rushed.
To Key West Where They Can
Be Easily Landed
On the Coast of Cuba When
Necessary.
ORDERS ARE SENT OUT
To Prepare the IrOnclads
Katahdin and MiantOnOmah
For Sea Directly = Work on
Them to Be Rushed.

Washington, March 2.-The quarter
master generals office has completed
railroad schedule for the transportation
of 100. 600 troops, their equipment and
necessary batteries.
The roads over which this travel viii
be sent are those concentrating into
New Orleans, Mobile and Baltimore.
Consultations have been held during
the past week and the plan is complete.
The first call for troops if war with
Spain should come viii include this
100000 men Not more than 10000 of
the first army which might occupy Gu
ba under this plan of concentration
would be regulars
These proportions, although it is said
by officials that they are merely con-
sistent with the general plan of pre-
pairing for emergencies, and do not sig
nifty expectation of war, clearly indicate
that the president believes trouble will
ultimately come in the settlement Of the
Cuban question.
The country has been so aroused over
the Maine tragedy that it Will be impos-
sible, finally, for the president to put
aside the demand of the people,
through congress and the press, for in
tefVent1On And in the present tenn
per Of Spain, Intervention means war.
Washington, March 2.-Orders went
out from the navy department late this
afternoon to put the ironclads MiantO-
nomah and Katahdin in commission on
the 10th inst. They are now at the
League island navy yard, where they
nave Deen laid up for year or two
past 1t is said at the department that
the purpose of putting them in commits
sion is to make berths for the survivors
of the Maine now at Key West waiting
on the court of inquiry which without
doubt will have finished with them by
the 10th inst. The MiantOnOmah is a
formidable double turreted monitor
carrying four 1O-inch guns. She is of
1890 tons displacement and steams 1O1b
knots per hour. In addition to her
main battery of rapid fire guns, and her
turrets are clad with 111A-inch armor.
Her commander has not vet been def
nitely selected, but the remainder of her
officers viii be as follows: Lieutenant
Commander Wilson, executive officer.
Lieutenant Underwood, navigator
LleuIenantS HOgg, Gill and Ensign
Coleman. watch officers: Past Assistant
Surgeon Weaver Chief Engineer Parks.
Inc katahdin, otherwise known as
the Ammen ram, is a freak in naval
architecture, and although opinions are
divided as to her qualities, there is lit
tie doubt that her presence in anv har-
Dor would make an enemy anxious She
iles mostly under water. with a turtle
back of steel varying in thickness from
y lncheS to inches, and the theory
Of her designer Admiral Ammen was
that this armOr plate could NOT he
vessel and that any such shot would
De harmlessly DETECTED by the sIoping
steel deck In action the coming tow
er and SmOkeStack are about all of the
snip that would present a mark The
former is made of steel eighteen inches
tHich- me katahdin is ram pure and
sllnple' having in the way of weapons of
oHenSe nothing except her sharD steel
peak and a few small raDid fire er17Ds
TO Keep of boarders or torpedo boats
,,71.ll,5 w n5n she was designed her speed was
paced az a very high mark, but she did
AoI IedllZe expectations. owing to her
pecular obstruction underwater mod
el- der personnel will be as follows.
captain, Commander Wilde at pres
SIL naval secretary of the lightho1Ise
board; executive officer. Iieuf Love-
navigator, Lieut. Culver: chief engi-
neer, Beg, and Ensign Campbell. The
$50 and so men.
1t was just learned at the navy da-
partment today why the Maine was tied
up to buoy in Havana harbor instea n
OF anchOring, a fact that has baar ~
base for some of the theories a. 70 ~
cause OF the disaster. 1t is stated +hat
o-IS lS HlaI-OI-War at a buoy in
tilach tI peter place for quick service
man Wnen anchored. but it a0DearS
lhat II a ship casts her anchor in h.
Nana harbOr, so foul and polluted with
yellow fever and other disease germs is
Inc In9d that adheres to it when it is
ILolsteu that the ship must go into
quarantine upon her return to am,
FLORIDA port.
Philadelphia, March 2.-The work of
preparing for sea the war vessels now
az League island, is progressing randi
y, naval officer stated today that
5I cns ohIy one to go into commission inn
Hleuiately is the monitor Mian+OD-
oman and large number of men have
Deeh working on her continuously. with
the exception of receiving her coal she
Is almost ready for sea. Steam was
golten up in her boilers today. in or
Ger to test her engines, which xvera
found to be in good working order Al
present she has only skeleton crew on
board, ana a full complement of men is
S1pScIeu S3I15lI tomorrow from Norfolk, New
work on the ram Katahdin is also
today. - SOeAiiilS
>. The coaling of the cruiser Afinneapo-
rs, which was started yesterday was
continued today and will not be COM
p1eJed Tor day or two
Inc cruiser Columbia, which has been
1ylng IN the back channel at League is
Iaho Tor some months was TO-DAY
brought out Of her berth and towed 11n
the delaware river to the League island