The herald., 1898-03-09
OFFICIALS ACTIVITY
SUGGESTS THE CONDITIONS IN
TIME OF WAR
LONG PARTICULARLY BUSY
With Preparations for Putting the
Navy in the Very Highest State
of Efficiency
Assocl.ted Press specIal wire

WASHINGTON. March S.-There was
a very strong suggestion Of the state
of affairs that might exist in time of
actual war in the busy scenes presented
at the Navy and War Departments to-
day. There was an almost unbroken
succession of conferences between off,
| GERS and officials of various degrees, and
| throughout both these branches of the
war establishment the greatest actlv-
ity was exhibited.
Secretary Long was particularly busy.
Before 10 o'clock he had been obliged
to retire to his private office and deny
himself to callers in order to hold a
conference. Senator Lodge was pres
ent as well as Chairman Hale. of the
Senate Naval COMMITTEES; Chairman
Boutelle of the House Naval Commit
tee; Captain Crowninshield, Chief of
the Navigation Bureau; Captain Brad
ford. Chief of the Equipment Bureau:
Captain Brownson and Assistant Secre-
tary Roosevelt. Chief Constructor Hich-
born and Admiral Matthews. Chief of
the Bureau Of Yards and Docks, were
retary to deal with special phases of
the question under consideration. The
conference had to do with preparations
for putting the Navy at the highest state
| of efficiency, and the fact that Secre-
ary Long is consulting at every ster
with representatives of the Legislative
| branch Of the government shows the
desire Of the President to keep within
the strict spirit Of the constitution.
CALL FOR MARINES
NEW YORK, March S.-The Evening
| World says:
| 1t was learned today that orders have
been received at the Navy Yard from
Washington to prepare two detachment:
of marines-one for the cruiser Colum
bia and one for the Minneapolis.
! There are between two hundred ant
| four hundred marines at the barracks
| The two detachments are making up ant
will be ready to start as soon as the
order comes from Washington.
There was a big rush of men, eager tt
enlist at the Navy Yard today. Before
the gates were thrown open a Grove
of men had gathered around, eager tt
| be first to reach the recruiting office or
the receiving ship Vermont. Many o.
those who came had been at the yart
yesterday and had been told to return
A few appeared in old uniforms. They
were men who had formerly been in the
service and had re-enlisted yesterday
All such men are accepted almost al
| once.
MERRITT'S MISSION
NEW YORK. March Especial inter,
est is taken in military circles in the triI
of Gen. Wesley Merritt, commanding thi
Department of the East to Key Wes
and the other Southern Atlantic de
fenses.
Gen. Merritt said last night: my pur
pose is to start on my visit of inspection
to the Notifications on the coast of tn,
South tomorrow. When 1 was at New
Orleans week ago contemplated going
across the country to Key West bu
found it would be easier to make railroad
connections by returning to New York
and starting from this point. I shal
go direct to St. Augustine and then visi
Key West and other points on the coast
of Florida. I shall also go to our de.
fenses on the coast of Georgia and bott
North and South Carolina. do MOI
think that will go to the forts and bar.
racks about Washington and Baltimore
or to Fort Monroe on this trip but will
leave them to be inspected later in the
| spring when the weather will be fnel
in that vicinity. I shall be away fol
two or three weeks"
THE REGULAR ARMY
| DENVER, Col, March S-Active pre-
parations for moving the stoops station.
ed at Fort Logan are being made and
everything is being put in readiness fol
sudden call to duty. The Denver & Ric
Grande railroad has been instructed b,
the War Department at Washington tt
be prepared to move troops upon notice
WORKING DOUBLE SHIFTS
WASHINGTON, March S-The Wash.
ington navy yard, where a large es
tablishment is maintained by the gov.
eminent for the manufacture of guns
and ordnance material, was started
working and men are now working there
night and day on big guns.
SUCKER STATE SOLDIERS
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, March S.--Adju
tant- General Reece of the Illinois Ma
tional Guard, said today: I'VE are wait
ing for the "boots and saddles to boarC
the cars for the East. Inside of twelv,
hours the greatest portion of the 75O
| mon and off1cors of tho Tl1ipoic Not;opo