Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-03-12
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Continued from page ~

Statutes bearing on this subject provides
as follows: NO officer on the retired list
of the navy shall he employed on active
duty except in time of war
Under this section it is apparent that
If war should break out all officers on
the retired list competent to serve will be
subject to the orders of the secretary of
the navy. Another statute bearing on
this subject IS contained in sections 1853
and 1854 as follows:
IN time OF war, the President by and
with the advice and consent of the Sen
ate, may detail officers here retired for
the command of the squadrons and single
ships, when he believes that the good OF
the service requires that they shall be 50
placed in command. In making said de
tails the President may select any officer
not below the grade of commander ana
assign him to the command of squadron
with the rank and title of flag officer
and any officer so assigned shall have
the same authority and receive the same
obedience from the commanders OF ShlpS
of his squadron holding commission 81
AN older date than he would be entitled
to receive if his commission was the
OlitSj
1t thus appears that the President has
power to assign any retired of1lcer al thr
navy to duty during the progress oil Wal
but that he can only assign nm To the
command of squadronS or shipS by ana
with the advice and consent oil Inc Sen
ate. There are many officers on thr re-
tired list in the full enjoyment Of health
and mental ViGor, despite the fact that
they are over G. years OF age who's"
ability and experience would undoubtedly
be of great adVantaS" to the nation i'll
case il proved necessary to get to war.
Notably among these is Rear Admiral
John G Walker. recently retirel Tor age
and now engaged on special duty as
president of the Nicaragua canal COM
mission.
Secretary Alger has authorized
General Flagler the chief of
ordnance TO make arrangements
at once for procuring large
number Of rapd-tire guns for sea-coast
tefenceS The action is taken without
waiting for the allotment among the
various bureaus of the war and navy
departments OF thu. 100000 600 voted for
the national defence. the secretary be
licving there viii he no trouble in arriV-
Ing at an equitahI" adjustment of the
money now available
The ordnance bureau viii take all he
rapid fire guns that can be procured
within a reasona Bile time and will ship
them to the sea-coast f0rtifications as
RAPIDLY as possible They constitute
what is known as the auxiliary defence
for the Qualifications Contracts for the
deliveranre Of carriages for these
TaDll-lllt gums IltNt, tt!S' '''il ttt'i''
lied and will be shipped to the fortif-
cations as soon as completed.
It is now admitted by the 0rinanc"
officials that directions have been given
to the various arsenals and armorie5
controlled by the government to IN
crease the working force to the fullest
practicable extent, with view to hur-
rying the completion Of existing pro-
ducts Likewise, all firms having con-
tracts to supply the government with
ordnance have been requested To Work
their men night and day in order TO
finish the work in hand and to arlan%A
their business with a View to increased
orders.
AS to small arms, extra ammunition
orders have been already placed with
the Bridgeport, Conn, and the WIN
chester Arms Co. of New Haven. Tn"
negotiations for the supply of large
numbers of small arms, army equip
rnents and accoutrements are now in
progress. The bureau officials have II T
Yet indicated the exact number which
Will be ordered. but that the aggregat '
viii be large is shown by the fact tia,
manufacturers have been given the
cue to make all they can.
Fort McHenry in Baltimore harbor
VIII he selected as the headquarters 81
one OF the new regiments OF artillery
instead OF Fort WadsW0rth. \. Y, Is
was originally proposed. This chang q,
it is said. is due to representations thar
have been made to the secretary of var
that both the new regiments should not
he located in New York, but one shoul
an fllrt llp7' South The selection of Fort