Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-02
Joint Meeting oh Army and Navy
Officials.
CENTRAL BASH OF OPERATIONS
Questions That are Receiving
Earnest, Consideration.
TRANSPORTATION OF MEN

The fact that neither branch Of Congress
was i'll session was responsible for the pres
ence of great number of the members of
10th houses at the State, War and Navy
Departments today. In many instance s
they came to attend to matters of private
business, but in others, at the request of
officials for the consideration of important
questions before the department. Particu-
larry SO was this the case at the Navy De-
partment where committee, consisting of
Messrs. Hanna, Chandler and Plat of Con-
necticut were for long time in consulta-
ton with the officials, discussing questions
pertaining to the vesse.s provided for in the
naval bill
Plan of Defense.
During the morning there was also q
n:eeting Of the joint board of the army and
navy on the plan of defense. This board
consists Of Capt. Barker of the navy and
Col. Wagner of the army. They are con-
sidering the question of the most desir-
able point in the south to be used as a
central base of operation in case of hos
tilities. While they were in session they
were also furnished with stateme mt show
ing the total strength Of the Spanish navy,
including description of each vessel.
The question the be ard is now considering
vas, two years ago, the subject Of inv.s-
tigation by the War Department, and the
question of the practicability Of Mobile
Tampa or New Orleans as base of sup
plies for the army concentrated in the
south was then reviewed. Gen. Miles is of
the opinion that 100000 men could be
transported to any point on the gulf or the
Atlantic coast in the south within forty
eight hours after the call to arms. The
fact that this can be done was demon
strated by the feat performed by the rail
reads during recent big celebration in
Washington, when 100000 men were
brought into the city and taken out again
inside of twenty-four hours.
<Secretary Alger had a number of callers
during the morning, including Senators
Pasco, Cullom, Carter and Platt of Con-
necticut and Representatives. Hull, sColliss
ard Dingley. Shortly after II o'clock the
Secretary left for the White House, where
he had matter of some business to trans
act with the President. During the morn
ing he also saw Eumber of chiefs OF the
department and General Miles.
The 100000 allotted to the quartermas-
ters office from the emergency fund is for
the purpose of meeting any expenses Incl
dent to the shipment of troops, stores, guns
and other munitions of war that cannot be
made from the annual appropriation.
General Greedy. chief signal officer, re-
ports that the work incident to the COM
munication by electricity of the forts and
posts comprising The defenses at the proper
seacoast cities well started. Probably
within ten days 1.-THE connections will be
made at New York city, and within a few
weeks, at the most, at all the other places
at which it is proposed to introduce this
method of communication. The range find
ers ard other apparatus designed to meas
ure with accuracy thei speed and distance
of passing vessels will also be installed
promptly at the NariohS places along the
coast where they are needed.
The bureau of construction and repair of
the Navy Department has given directions
to the officials at, the Mare Island yard to
improvise means for the protection of the
tools and machinery necessary to the
proper work of repairing the vessels now
going. The hope, is n9w expressed at the
bureau that its work VIII not be delayed as
long as was originally thought would be
the case. ys