The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-25

Miles Orders Detachments OF
Twenty or Thirty Men to Undergarrison-
cd Points Where New Guns Have Been
M~ounted-Said This Order Is Not signifi-
New York Herald. 2Oth.)

1AOuOte0-Saf0 1n1B OTueT - NOR S1Snlu~
| cant
New York Herald. 20th.)
Possibilities of the foreign situation are
thoroughly appreciated in the war de-
partment, but it cannot be said that the
authorities have been moved by any re-
cent developments to take any new ex-
t~raordinary steps toward increasing the
fighting strength OF the country. Certain
orders which have been issued and the
shipment of small supplies of ordnance,
coincident with recent events in Cuba,
have been interpreted as of sinister i'm
port. Concerning these Major General
Miles said today:
Day before yesterday I issued a circu-
lar letter to the commanding officers Of
all the military departments, directing
them to detail detachments of artillery,
about twenty or thirty men in each. to
undergarrLsoned artillery posts where
new guns have recently been mounted.
My orders nave already begun to be car
rled into execution.
W have not yet obtained from con-
SreSS autnorIty to enlist the two new reg
lmentS CT artillery which are so much
needed. 1t is, therefore, necessary to
utilize, as far as possible, the facilities
now at our command Since We cannot
yet quarter an adequate force of artil-
leTymen. in immediate contact with the
guns, owing both to lack of men and to
the lack of barracks. there is nothing to
NC dOIC III NhC pItStlll u u dtidlI Ut
tachments to care for and man the high
power guns and mortars as they are plac-
ed in position. There are tEenty-six
points where new ordnance now requires
or soon will require attention, and to
garrison them properly will require more
than seven regiments Of artillery as a
minimum
| WHERE MEN ARE NEEDED.
New Qualifications to which General
: Miles referred are:
Portland Head, Portland. Me.
Great-Diamond Island, Portland, Me.
Fort Constitution, Portsmouth, N. H.
Growers Cliff, Boston Harbor, Mass.
Paddock's Island. Boston Harbor. Mass.
Long Island Hear, Boston Harbor,
Mass.
Dutch Island, N~arr2gansett Bay. R. I.
Long Island Sound, N. Y.
Plum Island, eastern entrance to Long
Island Sound, N. Y.
Fort Hancock. New York Harbor.
Firms Point, approach to Philadelphia.
North Point, approach to Baltimore.
awkin Point, approach to Baltimore.
Fort Washington and Sheridan Point,
approach to Washington, d. G.
Fort Caswell, Wilmington, n. c.
Tybee Island, Savannah, GA.
Fort Morgan, Mobile, Ala.
Fort st. Philip. New Orleans.
Fort Point, Galveston, Texas.
Ballast Point, San Diego, Cal.
Lime Point Ridge Cor Fort Baker if so
named), San Francisco Harbor, Cal.
Fort Stevens, mouth of Columbia river,
Wash.
Morrow Stone Point and Admiralty
Head.
1t is no secret that the military infor-
nation division of the adjutant generals
office is thoroughly Informed as to the
! strength of the military organizations OF
the various states, and the most elabOr-
ate and detailed plans are on file at the
department. with regard to their moboll-
cation on different bases according to diff
farent HoprpoS of npcaSSity as we'll as to
problems of subsistence, transportation,
clothing, ammunition, etc.
RAILWAYS IN READINESS.
Great railway systems Of the country
est notice large bodies of troops to points
of rendezvous, together with all the
stores of the quartermaSters, subslSt-
. ance and ordnance departments, and ar
engagements, are perfected by which ade-
quate transports for a large number OF
troops may be furnished from the Allan
tic and Gulf coasts in case OF emer-
gency.
Tt has been estimated by the officials
Of the Pennsylvania railroad that they
can transport 100,GO troops over their
system in from twenty-four to thorty-
six hours if necessary. 1t is likewise
stated that several divisions could be as
sembled in the Ohio valley and transport
ed to the gulf coast in a slightly longer
time. In case of trouble the regular in
fantry, cavalry and artillery, according
to the plans of the department, would be
drawn from the interior posts and dis
tributed among the seacoast fortifica-
tions. Militia by the presi-
dent would be assigned to the same
points and assimilated as far as possible
with the regular troops.
EFFICIENT NATIONAL GUARD.
Of the National guards, those of New
York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, II
linois, Maryland and District of Columbia
are considered the most efficient in the
country, and it would be from these that
the most efficient aid could be drawn.
The president, however. is not empower
ed to call for a portion or the entire mill
tia Of any or all states as Such.He can
either call for a certain number Of troops
from the country at large, or, which
would be unlikely to be done, he may au-
thorize the impreSsment of any citizens
of the states selected by enlisting officers
In order to enlist in the United States
army the militia Of the states as at pres
ent organized, the order of the governor
of the state to that effect is necessary.
Beyond making necessary
s. to meet any emergency that may arise,