The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-03-17
q ntinI cs.

Washington, March 13.-IIoping for
the best and prepared for the worst
| about represents the situation in the
| Var and navy departments these days.
| The officials still profess confidence
that there is 10 be peaceful outcome
OF The present threatening difficulties,
but meanwhile prepare with serenity
To get their duty if events should
shape themselves otherwise. The
most important and significant de-
| reloI mentS Of the day were the decis-
| ion of the house naval committee to
! place in the naval appropriation bill a
| provision for three new battieships.
and a conclusion on the part of the
| secretary of war to issue an order Gre
atinG new military department in
| Guiding within its confines that part
of the country which would be In all
| likelihood nearest TO the field of hos
| t.litics in case is should come to that.
| The order will create a commotion i'm
| the south. The present department Of
| Texas IS abolished and the headCuar-
tiers. which have been at San Antonio,
| Tex. for so many years, are aban-
doned. In place of the place of the
t. cid department is created n new one.
the department of the South. Gen.
1 Graham. ut present commander Of the
| department of Texas, will command
| The New Department.
| This department will include the
States OF South Carolina, Georgia.
Florida. Alabama, Mississippi, Louis
lana and Texas. All of these states.
save the last. are at present attached
| TO the department of the East under
command of Gen. Merritt of New
York. Headquarters of the new de-
| partment will be at Atlanta, Ga.
| chosen because of its fine strategic
value from its excellent railroad CON
| ncctiOnS.
1t is without question the most I'M
usual mark of confidence in an eXecu-
| tive officer TO empower him TO give
orders without limit for the purchase
Of war material, yet this is what the
| president and Secretary Alger have
done in the case of Gen. Flagler, chief
| ot ordnance, and that officer has not
| shown any disposition TO shirk this
! large responsibility, but mas Instructed
every concern capable of supplying
war material such as rapid-fire guns,
shot. shell and ammunition, to 90 to
work at full capacity.
| The navy department has now rea-
sons tn believe that it has secured
the two warships, AmaZonas and her
sister ship now building in England
| for Brazil. 1t was stated at a cabinet
meeting by Secretary Long that the
+, naval atrache at London, Lieut.. Col
well had almost
| Completed the Negotiations
| for the sale. So far, however. the
final notification from him that his
offer has been accepted has not yet
reached the navy department.
| The day passed again without word
from the court Of inquiry according to
the statement Of Secretary Long, who
says that he has received nothing
| whatever from the court itself or from
| Judge Advocate Mark.
In anticipation Of n rupture between
| the United States and Spain many
naval officers On the retired list have
notified the secretary Of the navy Of
/
| perform any duty in the line of their
profession that he may deem suitable
| for them. There seems to be consid
cradle misrepresentation on the part of
| the general public as to the available
| ity Of officers on the retired list for
| active duty in times Of war. Section
| 1iG2 Of the revised statutes, bearing
| on this subject, provides as follows:
mo officer on the retired list of the
| navy shall be employ ed in active duty
| except in time of war" Under this
| section it is apparent that IL war
| should break out all officers on the re-
| tired list competent to serve Will be
| subject to orders from the secretary OF
| the navy.
False in Every Particular.
The statement was persistently cir
| cula.+ed yesterday afternoon, and in
| some cases the report came from those
whose sources of information should
| lie reliable. that the administration
was In possession Of intInations or in
| formation that the result Of the In
vastigation Of the court of inquiry as
| TO the cause of the Maine disaster
would show that the explosion which
destroyed the Maine came from some
external agency. A cabinet officer was
even quoted as making this announce
ment, and another report had IL that
the stenOgraphic notes of the inquiry
were before Secretary Long. When
the matter was brought to the atten-
ton OF Secretary Long he pronounced
the statement as false in every partic-
ular. There is not word OF truth In
Them" he said. mo word has been
received by the president or any one