The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-10
PREPARATIoNs FOR WAR.
Fewer Signs of Haste at the Navy and
War Departments.

WASHINGTON, March 9.-There were
fewer signs of excitement and haste at the
War and Navy Departments to-day and
such preparations as are being made to-
wards putting the army and navy into Ell
ficient condition are now going on with
more method and less exhibition of the few
erish spirit of apprehension that charac-
terized the proceedings of the last few days.
There is a general expression of belief that
for the time at least there is no prospect
Of a hostile collision and that what seemed
TO be a crisis has been safely passed. Sec
rotary Long paid several short visits to
the White House during the day. Secre-
tary Gage was among the callers there and
Secretary Alger went over from the War
Department to see the President, all of
which led to a surmise that a special Cab
met meeting was likely to be held, but 1T
turned out that these visits were not pre-
arranged and were connected only with
matters of business pending before the re-
spective departments represented by the
secretaries. In the Navy Department the
officials were devoting their attention
largely to the fitting out of the triple-screw
cruisers Minneapolis and Columbia. Thanks
to the ability with which the officers OF
the Navigation Bureau have carried out the
plans formed by Secretary Long last fall
for the creation of a reserve list of naval
vessels both of these fine ships are in ex-
cellent condition and can go into service
in an incredibly short space of time COM
pared with the period that would have been
consumed had they been put out of COM
mission, as was the practice whenever it
was not found expedient to keep them in
active service. While lying in reserve at
League island they have been in fresh
water and so have not accumulated crop
of barnacles or retarding marine vege-
tation. Both ships have been under COM
mand of one captain, who, with a small
force of engineers and machinists, has
managed to keep their machinery in thor
ough order and by working the engines at
intervals has made it possible to get up
steam at short notice and get away. AS
to the destination Of the two flyers, it is
said at the Navigation Bureau this morn
ing that that point has not been settled.
These ships were designed especially as
commerce destroyers The first one
launched, the Columbia, was actually
nicknamed 1.-The Pirate long before the
Navy Department could formally attach a
name to the ship. They are not calculated
to fight war ships, and owing to their light
batteries would make a sorry showing
against anything that carried guns heavier
than six-inch caliber, provided they were
cornered and prevented from fight, which
would be their strong point in such case.
But for running down fleet merchantmen,
and probably for looking after such mer-
chant vessels as might be pressed into a
navy from the auxiliary list they would be
of inestimabe value. That is why there has
been so much talk among the naval Off
GERS of using them the neucleus of
flying squadron, but it is idle to suppose
that such unprotected ships with light bat
teries could be used to lombard ports
where there might be any guns mounted.
1t is likely that the two vessels will go to
Hampton roads as soon as they are fitted
out and manned, which is expected to be
about the 18th inst. according to the dates
on which the officers are ordered to report.
1t is desirable to get them down the Della
ware safely without undue haste and at
Hampton roads they would be ready for
quick work. There they will meet the
Brooklyn.
The detail of officers to command the
cruisers were announced at the Navy Lie