Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-04-21
HAVE FIRST CHANCE
STATE MlllrlAMEN TO RE PRE-
FERREn AS NOLU NTEERS.
COMPANIES TO co INTACT
Governors of Various States to Desic-
nate Regtmcntal officers Including
Those from Second Lieutenants to
Coloncls Alger Makes Several Adj
ditional Allotmcnts from Fund.

Washington, April 20. An authori-
tative statement was made at the war
department yesterday that on the first
call for troops, only the national guard
is to be given an opportunity to vol
| untcer for service in war. As far MS
practicable state organizations enter
ing the volunteer service will remain
intact. the governor Of the various
states being permitted, MS they were
In 1861, to designate the regimcntal Of
Gcers which will include those of the
grades of from second lioutenants to
cooncls 1t was stated yesterday that
the first call for troops would be for
| exhaust the entire available strength
Of the national guard AT this time, AT
ter doduCting those who are sick and
otherwise Ineapacitated for immediate
| service.
Secretary Alger has made several ad-
ditional allotmonts from the emer-
gency fund for the war department
One million dollars was given for the
| auartormaster's department $l5 900
for work with balloons, and 100000
for pcrf,cting the army telegraph
service.
The navy department has received
satisfactory information that the coal
loaded al Newport News upon the Brit
ish tramp steamer Hampstead IL not
as supposed, intended for the Spanish
crafts at the Cape Verde islands, but
for Il line of merchant steamers. Ap
Elicarions are pouring into the wal
and navy departments for immediate
protection of supposedly exposed
points on the Atlantic and gulf sea
board. The officials say that It II
manfestly impossible to comply will
these requests and have no hesitation
in declaring that apprehension amonl
the people Of these towns Is largel.
groundless.
Rear Admiral Sicard reported mt tn
navy department yesterday and wa
Immediately assigned place ut des
in the Office of the secretary of tn
navy to act AZ official adviser to tn
secretary. Nearly all the naval officer
on detached or shore duty have put II
applications to be restored immedi
ately to sea service.
There appears to be mistaken i'm
preston In some quarters az to tn
functions Of the mosquito fleet. IL
moi destined for shore guard, nor ye
for attack, but. as explained by one q
the naval strategists, the primary ua
Of the vessels of this fleet Will be Z
protect the battlesbips and other iron
clads from attack by torpedo boats AM
destroyers The purpose Is to Great
In the navy something like the system
that prevails In the army In conduct
ing hostile operations. The battle
ships correspond to the heavy artillery
the mosquito feet TO the infantry, ant
the torpedo boats to the cavalry. TIT
board OF naval bureau chiefs IL con
sidering the advisabllity Of utilizing
some OF the old converted smooth-bor'
guns for the auxiliary cruisers. Work
ing day and night and using up raw
material for the manufacture OF guns
as rapidly as II can be produced, thu
naval ordnance bureau IL unable Il
supply the enormous demand now
made upon IL Tor guns Of medium cal
ibre. Two assignments to the nava
commands were announced yesterday
| Commander J j. Eaton taking com
mand OF the Resolute, Lieutenant Com
mander r. T. Jasper, now at the naya'
academy, taking command OF the light
house tender Suwanee In place Of
| Lieutenant Commander J r. Moser
who goes to the Albatross.