The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-03-12
Department Of TeX0S abolished Qld
Department OIL SCUM Institute
WITH HEADQUARTERS At ATLANTA, GEORGIA
No Word from tho Court of Inquiry
officers Of the Retired List Otter
Their Notwithstanding Every
Nerve TO Improve tho nercnss OF
tho country.
washington, Mar. II, 1898.

41cichElg for, an'3i expecting the best
and preparing for the worst, about
lepres3nts the situation in the war and
navy department t1rese days. TIE Of
4icials still profess confidence that there
is to be Il peaceful outcoIh cf the
present threatening difficulties, but
meanwhile prepare with serenity to
me:'t their duG, il events should shape
themselves otherwise. The most inn
pcu'aant and significant development
on the day were the decision of the
Hous;i Naval Committee to place IL
tile rnval apprcpria tion bill rrcwls-
ion for three n;'w battleships and Il
conclusion on the part Of the Secretary
of War to issue to-,licrrow morning an
order creating n n'aw military depart
ment including within its confines thac
part OF ph; country which would be
in all liklihcUd nearest to the ieGl of
h1Sitili:iCS in case Il should come to
thi.t. The order will create 4 commo-
tion in the Soui1. The present depart
m;nt of Texas Is abolished and the
headquarters. which have been at San
An;onlI. Texas for 50 many years, are
algE:nioned. In pace of the cid de-
partment il created Il new onS, the
Cerl:Irsnt OF the South. General
Graham, q; present commander of the
department. of Texas, will command tina
new deparim;r:t. This department will
incluSta the States of SorfJ Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Ala bita,a; Mississippi,
, Louisiana and Texas. All Cf these
States, s1Nr: tn, last are at present
attached 20 the department of thE' East,
unde: command OF Gen. Merritt. of
New York 1t IL sad At the depart
mar,s that Gen. Mtrritc Ia fulki COM
peEsat:d for the strength OF the COM
enand wh.ch passes alNtsY from hE.n by
addition 10 his forcA; or the two reg
iments Cf artillery now recruiting.
Ica duusTtc.s Of usae new department
OF the South will be AZ Atlanta, Ga,
chos:g,, because OF he fine Stratagicali
value. rr5m its excellent railroad con-
nect.ons. Al present the government
has no accommodations in Atlanta for
the headquarters OF the department,
81 it will bs c,bligd>i tC hire the most
available buildings.
General Wilson, chief OF engineers,
who has kaen ir, Florida, Is expected
back tomorrow 10 repor" 10 secretary
Algcr upon th; progress OF the fortiii-
cs .on Ni1ukS in u;,at sectim of the
coul9.ry and especially as 10 the Qc-
fense Of Toytugas.
For The first time 'It-day thS, officials
of the War Department admitted that
they were straining every nerve 70 i'm
prove that pars of the dcf:re72's of th2
ccurilry cCc.,nned to tlr:Lr care. 1t is
without question the moss unusual miTk
Ls confidence in an executive tdiicer to
empower him 10 G!Va ord:rs without
limit for tha purchase of war material
yet this is what i:ha President and Sec
rotary !Algcr have done i-' the oase cf
No rhI Inf nf ppn
And the officer has not shawn any dis
posit:l-r. 20 sh.rk this h2Wge responsibility
but has instructed lsvery concerns capa-
llc of supplying war material such rs
rapid fire guns, ShClls, shells 2iaI am
mlininon, to so 10 work at full capaci
t..
The Navy Department has n,w ren-
son to Esla:'va thas' it has secured the
two warShips Amazonns ard her sister
ship, r:icw building IN England for Bra
I'll III WAS s'2tr;'l nt the CabinC,I meet
ing to-day by Secretary Long that she
naval attache at London. Lieutenant
Colwell, had almost completed th;s E'2.-
gotiaiairis for THE sale. So far, however,
che final notifications fr2m him thct his
offer has lH1en accepted has not yet
reached tina Navy Department.
The day passed again withornl work
frcm the Cour. Of i"tluiry, according to
INC SlUkclnent Oh secretary D.GT, who
says tfat he has received ,.icthing what
ever from th.r court l,!S3lf or from Judge
Advocate MsEIS, regardless of the fire.
quttia publications. 10 the contrary
The Secretary has determined that
ther1 shall is:i no wastafll eMlravagance
in this department. IN the expenditure
of u.r funds 40 gene!ously provided by
Congress ard to this end he has ad-
dressed the following letter to the As
sialr:lt Secretary of the Navy, the col.
on,:l comma':riant of ';he marine corps,
and ~ each CT tl!':i bureau chiefs cf SHE
Navy Department.:
'"Sir-Under the emergency cppro-
priaUon Of S50,OO0,00 made "Wednesday
You will lnsur no expense or liability
except after written statements and
estimates made by you and approved
by the President and Secretary, all au
writing. y special record must be
kept Of every such reruasiMon. If any
such liability or expense has been In
currad by you by oral direction, make
such written statement and estimate
and submit 10 at c!lce for such ap-
proval.
by order of the President,
Very respectfully.
CSh2lled) JOHN ID. LONG,
Secretary"
IN anticipation OF n rupture be-