Mesa free press., 1898-05-06
WASHINGTON NOTES

w AA0111lNO yin INO LA0s
The United States has purchased
the Umbria and the Etrurla, Cunard
liners.
One thousand Cubans have wired
the President offering their services to
defend Key West.
Surgeon General Sternberg of the
army has had applications for posi-
tions from over 1000 surgeons.
A st. Vincent special says the
scarcity of coal might prove draw
back to the fleets movements.
1t is believed in Washington that
Great Britain and other nations will
insist that Spain prohibit privateering.
The President has directed that a
call be drawn for 100000 volunteers
to serve nine months or to the close
of the war.
A special from Havana says the
Spaniards will never leave Havana
standing if they are comnelled 20
leave Cuba. The entire city is un-
dermined.
A special from London says Spain's
bold plan of campaign is to lombard
New York and other Atlantic coast
cities while our forces are laying
siege to Cuba.
There is a difference of opinion
among congressman concerning the
length of the war with Spain. Gen.
Lee says it will take only two weeks
to clean out the Spaniards.
The United States military attache
at Vienna, Lieu. J. l.. Chamberlain,
and the United States military attache
at st. Petersburg, Lieut.. George L..
Anderson, have been called home.
An Internal machine was sent to
the white house one day last week,
but was intercepted by the police. 1t
was filled with powder intended to ex-
plode when the lid should be raised.
The navy department last week
purchased seven high-speed, light
draft yachts. None draw over
ten feet, and are intended for gun
boats in the shallow streams of Cuba.
The cabinet decided that the secre-
tary of the navy should have charge
of all movements of war vessels.
Army officers to be sent to Cuba will
make arrangements with Gomez for
cooperation.
Senator Elkins in an interview said:
"I am in favor of waging war that
will teach the nations OF the world a
lesson. I would like to see the
United States take Cuba, Porto Rico
and the Philippines"
Col. u. r. Forest, formerly of the
Tooth regiment of Pennsylvania volun-
teers, and DR.. G. Reed of the 23d
Pennsylvania, have rendered their
services to the secretary of war. Both
have been through many battles and
are ready to go through many more.
A big surprise was created by the
appointment of Charles Emery Smith,
editor of the Philadelphia Press, as
postmaster general, vice Gary of
Maryland, resigned. 1t is understood
that Gary was not in sympathy with
the administration on the war question
and had to get out.
No less than fifty-three ships have
been added to the navy since the
passage of the $5O,OOO,OO0 appropria-
day. This number includes about fif-
teen revenue cutters, lighthouse
tenders and coast-survey vessels, and
nearly forty others purchased at home
and abroad.
Secretary Gage has issued a circu-
lar in which he states that in case OF
any officer, clerk or employe, under
| ! I, nv ,i,ni1, 70
leave the service temporarily to en-
gage in the military service in the
event of war, he may be re-instated
at any time within one year. Tempo
rary appointments will be made to
fill places so vacated, with the under
standing that upon the return of the
employe the temporary clerk will, be
removed so that the former occupant
of the place can be re-instated.
Superintendent Kimball of the life
saving service has conferred with
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt on en-
ploying the men in that service for a
regularly organized system of report
ing war vessels sighted at points re-
mote from ordinary ports of entry.
Such system will prove valuable
adjunct to the regular observation
service. A novel departure in naval
practice is the formation of a marine
battalion, which will accompany the
North Atlantic squadron and be used
in landing operations.
Acting under instructions from the
Spanish minister, the Spanish consuls
in various parts of the country are
making arrangements for the de-
parture for the Spanish colonies in
their several localities. The Spanish
residents of Boston, about thirty in
number, and the Spanish colony in
New York have left on a steamer
chartered for that purpose. The
Spanish officials at Philadelphia and
many other points are taking register
of all Spaniards within their jurisdic-
ton, for the purpose of learning the
number of those who desire to leave
at, once. The Spanish government
pays the expenses of all those who go
to Cuba or other Spanish ports. Some
of those who are about to leave pre-
Fnx. 10 II H.