The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-18
WAITING FOR THE ORDERS
RECEIVES NO COMMUNI-
CATION FROM WASHINGTON.
Stream of Visitors at the Light Artil-
Iery ArmOry-Preparati Be-
ing Continued.

The week that has passed since the Pres
ident submitted his message to Congress has
not tended TO relieve the nervous tension
among the militamen of indianapolis. If
they awaited eagerly the message, they
have awaited more eagerly the outcome oil
it. There was a lull in the excitement while
the Senate was debating the Cuban resolu-
tons. but when it finally passed the most
liberal resolution proposed there was new
fever of excitement among the militianen.
The information of the action of the Senate
came with the morning papers yesterday,
and it was hourly expected during the day
that the orders for the Indiana National
Guard to move would come. But the day
passed without q word from Washington of
an official nature.
Governor Mount remained close to his
home telephone all day, where he was in
communication with the telegraph offices
and with his own Office in the Statehouse.
Col. Charles Wilson, his war secretary, re-
manned in the Office during the greater part
of the day ready to receive anything that
might come from the War Department; but
not line came. A big batch of mail came,
however, and the secretary devoted d part
of the time to reading it and classifying it.
There were the usual offers of service i'll
selves to their country for service in any
capacity, from comrnanders of regiments
down to drummer boys and nurses.
1t is believed now that no order for the
mobilization of the state troops will be re-
ceived until both houses have agreed OH the
form of the Cuban resolutions and the Pres
ident has given Spain last chance to avoid
war. The opinion prevailed at first that the
action of the Senate dispelled all doubt
about war and that the War Department
would begin organizing the troops for cam
paign work at once, so as to have them OFF,
cered equipped and stationed at convenient
points by the time active hostilit!es should
Minister Woodford that Spain may yet adj
just the Cuban affair satisfactory TO the
United States has led to the belief that the
War Department will issue no order to the
state troops until Spain's reply to the Pres
ident'S last demand has been received. The
troops, however, will in the meantime con-
tinue their preparations, and will be held
ready TO respond to the call without a mo-
ment's delay
At the Light Artillery Armory there was
a constant stream of visitors all day yes
terday. The battery has it's full quota of
103 officers and priVates, and there are fif-
teen or twenty men waiting an opportunity
respond to the call. The waiting contingent
will have but little chance to go to the
there is not a man of the los but who is
eager for the order to go. Nothing but
death or serious illness will make a vacancy
in the ranks now.
The armories of the infantry companies
quiet yesterday. They have such
comfortable clubhouse quarters as the bat
terry boys, and do not make them their
headquarters except on regular drill nights,
but the ''webfoots" are just game as
the red legs and every infantry
man is ready for the fray. The
companies are all recruited up to the war
quota, and there are men also waiting to
break into these companies in case of acct
dents WHICH prevent those already in going
at the call.
No word has been received from General
Mckee and Captain Curtis since their de-
parture for Washington. They attended
the conference Of state militiamen with the
House committee military affairs Sat
urday, and are expected to return home this
morning, when they will make report to
the Governor.