The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-08-16
TOBE REPAIRED.
Pending Establishment of Peace Our
War Ships Will Be Overhauled.
They Will Be Put in the Pink of Perfec-
tiOn-Authoritles Acting the Prin-
cipIe That the ARMS ice Might
End in Renewed Hos Utilities.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.-With peace
proclaimed all the energies of the mill
itary and naval establishments Satur-
day were directed into peaceful chan
nels. The sudden change from war to
peace was manifest at the war and
navy departments. There was no fur-
Their expectancy of dramatic develop
ments of battles or of new campaigns.
The orders given Friday night for
immediate cessation of hoStilities
brought all military and naval move
ments to a halt and it now remains
to bring affairs back to a peace basis
In this, however, the authorities
were acting on the theory that the
protocol of Friday was but the first
step towards peace, and that not I'M
til a final and lasting peace was Sc
cured could there be an entire return
to a peace basis.
This was particularly true as to the
navy department. In that branch it
was accepted that permanent peace
undoubtedly would be made, but yet
instead of stripping our war ships, re-
distri buting them into squadrons on
peace basis and returning them to
their old channels the naval authOri-
ties acted on the principle that the
present armiStice might end in a re-
sumption Of hostilities. For that rea-
son the four battle ships and two ar
mored cruisers ordered north from
West Indian waters are to undergo a
complete overhauling, with view to
putting them in the pink of condition.
For many months they have been in
tropical waters; their bottoms are foul
and their engines and machinery need
careful overhauling. AS soon as they
reach New York all work at the navy
ward will be subOrdinated to pushing
the complete overhauling Of the battle
ships and cruisers. Meanwhile the
smaller warships in West Indian waters
have been ordered to safe harbOrs. as
the West Indian hurricane season is
near at hand. while sufficient ships for
police patrol are left along the Cuban
and Porto Rico coasts. The big. I'M
wieldy monitors will remain in Porto
Rico, and most of the blockading fleet
will center at Key West under COmmo-
dore Watson. The peace protocol will
give a breathing spell and time for
bringing every ship back to the high
est state Of perfection. The complete
return to a peace basis. the establish
ment of peace squadrons, etc, is a
matter for the future.
1t is expected that the American oc-
cupation of Manila will occur immedi-
ately after the receipt by Adm Dewey
and Gen. Merritt of the orders sent
them Friday night This may not be
deferred by the lack of cable facilities
as the American occupation of Manila
probably will result in the opening
of direct cable communication
between that city and the out
side world. The only difficulty thus
far has been that the cable company
would not recognize American cOntro
of the cable so long as our forces were
not in possession of the city. The or
.ders sent Adm. Dewey are much more
specific than those sent other nava
commanders, as the occupation o
Manila and the holding of the bay anC
harbor involved more important con
sideration than the mere cessation o
hostilities. During the early hours o
Saturday the war and navy depart
meuts received no acknowledgment
from the various naval and military
commanders. but it was presumed
that the orders suspending hostilitie
were being carried out in all direc
tionS.