The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-14
! ALONG PEACE LINES
All Administration Energies
Are Directed.
WITH PROPER PROVISION
For the Event of the Re-
sumption of HO8tiIitieS.
WITH PROPER PROVISION

Washington, D. c., Aug. 13.-With peace
proclaimed, all OF the energies of the
military and naval establishments today
were directed into pacific channels The
SUDDEN change from war to peace was
manifest at the war and navy depart
rnents. There was no further expectancy
Of dramatic developments, of battles or
of new campaigns. The orders given last
night for the immediate cessation OF hos
tiHties brought all military and naval
f&slovements TO a halt, and 1t now renamed
only to bring affairs back TO peace
basis In this, however, the authorities
were acting on the theory that the pro-
toool of yesterday was but the first step
toward peace, and not until final and
Lasting peace was secured could there be
an entire return to peace basis.
This was particularly true as to the
navy department. In that branch it was
accepted that permanent peace undOubt-
eddy would be made, and yet instead of
stripping our warships, redistributing
them into squadrons on a peace basis, and
returning them TO their o3d channels, the
naval authorities acted on the principle
that the present arnistice might end in
q resumption of hostilities. For that rea-
son the four batt,eships and two armored
cruisers ordered north from West Indian
waters are to undergo a complete over
hauling with a view of 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 yard viii be subordinated to
pushing the complete overhauling of the
big battleships and cruisers. Meanwhile
the smaller warships in West Indian
waters have been ordered to safe har-
bors, as the West Indian hurricane sea-
son is near at hand, while sufficient ships
for police patrol are left along the Cuban
and Porto Rican coasts. The big I'M
wieldy monitors viii remain at Porto Rico
and most OF the blockading fleet will CEN
ter at Key West under Commodore Wat
son. The peace protocol will give a breath
ing spell and time for bringing every ship
back to the highest state OF perfection.
The complete return to peace basis. the
establishment Of peace squadrons, ETC., Is
a matter for the future.
Tt Is expected that the American occu-
patton of aMnila will occur Immediately
after the receipt by Admiral Dewey and
General Merritt of the orders sent them
last night This may not be deferred by
the lack Of cable facilities, as the Amer
lean occupation of Manila probably will
result in the opening of a direct cable
communication between that city and the
outside world. The only difficulty thus
far has been that the cable company
would not recognize American control of
the cable so long as our forces were not
in possession of the city The orders sent
Admiral Dewey are much mre specific
than those sent other naval commanders,
as the occupation of Manila and the hold
ing of the bay and harbor involve more
important consideration than the mere
cessation of hostilities.
During the early hours of today the
war and navy departments received no
Acknowledgements from the various naval
and military commanders, but it was pre-
sumed that the orders suspending hos
tilities were being carried out in all d.
rections