Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-03-06
TAXING NECESSARY STEPS
~ Put Uncle Sans Fighting Forces
on a War Basis.

ll Put uncle Sans Fighting Forces
on War Basis.
officers of the Army and Navy De-
partment Are Not Willing to Ad-
NIT That a Crisis Is Feared or
That War Is Sure to Come, But
They Do Admit That They Are
Getting Ready for Any Emerg-
eucy- Warships May Be Bought
Abroad, and the Navy Depart
ment Would Not Hesitate to Act
i1 Case There Was Reason for 1t.
Would Depend Upon Congress to
Baufy Any Reasonable Expense
That Might Be Incurred A Pre-
cedent for Such Action.
Washington. March 5.-The devel-
6nments at the State, War and Navy
apartments in connection with the
Spanish situation have divided them
selves into two distinct branches, one
ratng to the Main court Of inquiry
and the other the natural and neces-
say steps to place the naval and mil
tary arms of the service on an eff
dent basis. Concerning the court and
MS work the information reaching the
authorities here is of the most frae-
mentary character, and the highest
naval officials reiterate that nothing
i at hand to indicate even the tenden-
cies of the members of the court from
he evidence they have thus far re-
c5ived. Admiral Sicards telegram
asst night gives the only clue as TO the
plans OF the court, and this in effect
IS that it will be some time before the
testimony Of divers and other wit
nPsses can be taken, and an idea form
ed as to the date of submitting the
report. 1t is felt at the Navy Depart
ment that this will leave the question
50 far as the court is concerned
IN A STATE OF DOUBT
for some days longer. probably week
or ten days, for aside from the con-
ciusiOn of the hearings there is the
formulation of the important findings,
the framing of the courts opinion and
then the formalities of its transmits
sion to Admiral Sicard and thense to
Washington. While these last stages
win be very brief when the actual
findings and opinions have been ma
lred, yet they cannot be entirely
eliminated, and there appears to be no
deposition to be precipitous in mat
ter involving such grave issues.
CfI 81 ,al,, { !, u
Jet. the activity in the various naval
and military bureaus, continues with
out reference to the work of the court
Of inquiry This activity up to the
present time has not taken the form of
any concerted or elaborate plan or
emergency preparations. but has been
mainly through comparatively minor
acts. which taken together have shown
that the heads Of departments were
not inactive in preparing their
branches Of the service for any re-
ruirements which it was possible
might be made upon them.
A member of the cabinet stated to-
dav that there should be no misunder-
sanding or MISREPRESENTATION of these
steps. For instance, all of the mani
fold movements,
PARTICULARLY IN THE WEST,
of war material. are declared in the
most positive manner simply to be in
execution OF plans long ago developed
bN the fortifcations board for the de-
Tense of the coast Thus at Seattle
he War Department recently PUT
chased a tract of GAO acres of Magnolia
Bluff. a point regarded by the board as
indispensable to the proper defense of
Puaget Sound. This is now being put
into condition for the reception of the
heavy guns and other weapons. The
work. it is said. should have been done
long ago However, while it is stated
that these steps are in accordance
with past plans, there is no conceal
ment Of the fact that the administra-
ton is impressed with sense Of duty
in putting the two war branches IN
the highest state of efficiency to meet
any emergency. There is no DISPOSE
ton to anticipate an emergency, or
TO say that any situation will develop
which will call into use the prepare
icons now on foot On the contrary.
he highest authorities Of the naval
and military branches say they do not
expect any emergency, but are per-
forming the duty allotted to them of
being ready for any result that may
come, no matter how unexpected 1t
may be
These high officials do not wish to
minimize their preparations or to as
sert that they are merely routine,
neither do they wish these wise and
natural precautions to be construed far
loVOnd their legitimate extent and
made the basis
FOR ALARMING REPORTS
OF war measures.
The Navy Department is somewhat
embarrassed by the lack of seamen
necessary to fill the complement Of
sh ps already or about to go into COM
mission. and in view of the shortage
The officials in charge OF the recruiting
stations at League Island, Norfolk ard
New York have been instructed 70 en-
list such seamen as MAJ be available
and not confine themselves to persC MS
Nho have heretofore been III the
navy
he continued reports that Spain is
huying new warships led to counter
ports that the naval authorities here
were considering similar purchases.
iH no official quarter IT the navy de-
mftment could this be confirmed, as
s.-ps of this character necessarily
"uuld be guarded with the greatest
tecy. There is little fDubt. howev-