The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-26
SAVANNAH GA TUESDAY APRIL 26 1885,

possible, so 1t may be two or three weeks
before ne will join his command.
80 far the talk of the succe essor to Mr.
roosevelt as assistant secretary has been
mere speculation, and it can be stated pos
NiVely that up TO this time the President
mas not made a choice as to his successor
There was derth of news from the seat
OF hostilities off the Cuban coast so far
as the department was concerned. or if
IL was In the possession of Information 1t
was so carefully guarded that nothing
leaked out. A few kilograms came from
Key West announcing the arrival there
of prizes, whose captures have been report
ed to the press.
Nothing could be obtained as to the in
tentions of Commodore Schley in so hast
lly rushing away the flyers Columbia and
Minneapolis from Hampton Roads, but it
is oeneVed that their purpose is to shelter
the Paris or other liners from attack at
the hand of a Spanish cruiser.
There was talk of establishing a supply
depot in the Philippines to meet the con-
dItions in Asiatic waters. Our fleet there
now has no home and under neutrality
laws the stay of the ships at any port is
limited to few hours. This is unpleas-
ant besides involving the expenditure of
great deal of coal, so that it may be-
to seize a port in the Philippines and for
tify it as base of supplies.
The department to-day purchased two
more tugs, the Hortense of New Orleans,
and Mary Willick of Galveston.
A good many details remain to be ar
ranged in order to carry out the war de-
partment's project for the mobilization
of the volunteers, but these are rapidly
being disposed of. The department receiv-
ed word to-day that John Logan, son of
the late General and Senator Logan, had
raised a cavalry regiment, which he Of
fered to the government under his own
command. 1t is hoped that this can be
accepted as part of the quota of men to
be furnished by Illinois.
John Jacob Astor of New York, not con-
tent with offering the government free his
splendid yacht Normahood and free trans
portation for troops and supplies over the
railroads in which he is interested, has
come forward with notice that he has rails
ed and equipped at his own expense a
battery of artillery, which he desires to
offer to the government, under his own
plans, for service in Cuba. This offer will
probably be accepted, although
the department has been de-
luged with offers to raise volun-
teers in this way to the aggregate mum
Der of at least $1,000. AS the Presidents
authority under the volunteer bill is to
enlist only three regiments outside of the
regular quotas TO be furnished by the
states there is not much opportunity to
accepted the services of these patriots. The
orders to the district militia 10 go inIo
camp at Soldiers Home was revoked just
at the moment when it was in execution,
owing it is said, to the fact that the sud
den call away of so many employees from
the departments without notice threaten
ed to cripple the government service.
The action of the President in recon-
mending formal declaration of war was
welcomed by officials in every direction
as putting the present struggle on a more
dignified basis and tending to the avoid
ance of international complications.