Evening star., 1898-04-08
Fewer Visitors Than Usual in the
Big Granite Building.
TO COMMAND AUXILIARY CRUISERS
Vessels Bought From the Morgan
Line Named.
OFFICERS RECALLED

lig building in which are located the
Stste, War and Navy Departments. In
deed, to many of the lookers-on the un-
IsLa al serenity app cared ominous. Officials
geLerally In discussing the situation now
APPEAR to be resigned to what many of
tEem think Is now inevitable war The
talk has shifted in a measure from that
of preparations for offensive and defensive
operations to the possibilities of an actual
conflict between the Spanish and American
forces. Cabinet day took the Secretaries
away from their desks much earlier than
usual. and this probably was responsible
for the fact that very few persons were en-
hand for the transaction of business. Sem
ators and representatives were conspic-
| ucus by their absence, and this. too. in
spite of the fact that neither house of
Congress was in session.
There Was singular absence of visitors
al the State Department, and the officials
were able to devote their entire time to
the preparation Of Cuban correspondence
which will accompany the Presidents mes
sage on Monday. Likewise was there
scarcity of news in the diplomatic branch,
ard Assistant Secretary Day said, in re-
sponse to inquiries, that there was nothing
to make public either from Minister Wood
ford or from Corsul General Lee. The
officials of the department now appear
sangune that all Americans in the Island
of Cuba will be able to leave there before
hostilitfes commence. Ample preparati DnS
have been made by the government with
this object in view, and If any Americans
there neglect to avail themselves of the
opportunities offered to get away from the
island, it will be at their own risk 1t is
a matter Of qualification that Up to this
time no hostile demonstrations have oc-
CURED either in Spain or in Cuba against
citizens Of the United States. Such an out
burst of resentment was perhaps to be
apprehended at this time more than any
other, especially because of the Easter
holidays. when business is suspended and
the streets are crowded with people.
The only news given out at the Navy
Department today were the naval orders
and movements. These indicated, how
ever, great activity. The list of orders
was larger than has been the case at any
time during the recent emergency.
Secretary Long saw nut few callers be-
fore he left for thu cabinet meeting These
included Senator Wilson Of Washington,
Senator Sewsll of New Jersey, who came
with Mr.. S. c. Neal the counsel of the
American line of steamships, which may be
impressed into the service of the United
States in case of war, and Senator Butler.
At the War Department Secretary Alger
had conferences with General Wilson. chief
of engineers; General Miles, commanding
the army, and Quartermaster General End-
dingtoE, each of whom represents a branch
Of the department which will be called upon
to perform important duties in case of war
Senator Proctor was also one of the callers
on the Secretary.
Commanders of Auxiliary Cruisers.
Commanders have been selected for the
four auxiliary cruisers recently purchased
from the Morgan steamship line. FL Sud
will be commanded by Commander VIM. H.
Emory, a native of this city, and recently
detached from duty on the Asiatic station.
Commander VIM. H. Brownson, the nero of
the Brazilian revolution, and now in Eu-
rope looking after warships available for
purchase, has bean assigned to the COM
n'and of Ei Norte. FL Rio will be under thu
command of Commander Charles H. Davis,
now on duty at the naval observatory. The
fourth ship, FL Sol. will be under the CON-
nand of Commander Charles L. Train, now
on waiting orders.
The names practically selected for the
four pig merchantmen are Yankee" and
Dixie" and Prairie" and slope" 1t
WIS ~ Ldlic lHtSe SHIPS dtl6F
cities, thus following the custom IN the
matter of vessels of the cruiser class, but
as the mere hantmen are not likely to be
kept permanently on the naval list it was
concluded best not to give them names
regular cruisers which may hereafter be
added to the naval establishment. The
names under consideration are intended tp
represent the different sections of the coun-
try-'Yankee" the north and east, Dixie
the south, Prairie" the middle west and
'Slope" the extreme west The last-men-
toned name Is not altogether satisfactory,
and may give way to either "Argonaut,"
Yosemite or some other designation dis
tnctly representative Of the Pacific states.
Ordered to Their Regiments.
Many army officers now on duty at var
ious military colleges have been relieved
from such duty and ordered to join their
| regiments. The understanding is that they
are to return to duty at these institutions
at the beginning OIL the next scholastic
year ii not prevented by war. The follow
ing are the officers affected:
Capt. Arthur Murray, 1st Artillery, Yale
University; First Lieut.. John T. Honey
cutt. 1st Artillery, st. Thomas Hail, Holly
Springs, Miss; First Lieut.. VIM. c. Raj
Ierty, 1St Artlilery, seton Hall College,
South Orange. NJ; First Lieut.. Henry H.
Ludlow. Sd Artillery, Agricultural College,
Oktibbeha county. Miss: First Lieut.. VIM
G. Ham. Sd Artillery, Northern Illinois
Normal School. Dixon, ILL.,; First Lieut.
Stephen NJ. Foote, 4th Artillery, New York
Military Academy. Cornwall-on-Hudson.
NY; First Lieut.. John c. w. Brooks, 4th
Artillery, State University of Wisconsin,
Madison; First Lieut. Writ Robinson, 4th
Artillery. Harvard University: First Lieut..
George e. Sage. 9th Artillery. Mt. Tamal-
pals Military Academy. San Rafael. CAL:
Second Lieut.. VIM. C. Davis. 9th Artillery,
State Agricultural College at Fort Collins,
Col; First Lieut.. VIM. p. Stone, 9Th Ar
tillery. Arkansas Industrial University at
Fayetteville: First Lieut.. Elmer Hubbard,
9Th Artillery, State University of Nevada.
q. RAno.
Capt. Murray and Lieuts. Rafferty,, Haan.
Foote. Brooks and Robinson wiz Join their
proper station.
Lieuts. HoneycHtt, Ludlow. Sage, Davis
and Stone win report In person to the COM
Maud1ug OfYlcer 9Th Arffllerv of Hoy-< HRnA