Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-12

while prepare with serenity to NEE
their duty if events should shape them
selves otherwise.
The most important developments o.
the day were the decision Of the house
naval committee to place in the nava
appropriation bill provision for three
new battleships, and a conclusion on
| part of the secretary of war to issue
tomorrow an order creating a new mill
tary department, including within its
confines that part of the country which
would be in all likelihood nearest to the
field of hostilities in case it should come
to that.
The present department of Texas is
abolished by the order and there is Gre
ated the department of the south. Gen.
Graham, commander of the department
of Texas will command the new depart
ment, which will include the states of
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida Ala
bama Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.
All these states save the last are at
present attached to the department of
the east, under command of Gen. Mer-
ritt of New York. 1t is said at the de-
partment that Gen. Merri&t is fully COM
pensated for the strength of the COM
mand which passes away from him by
the addition to his forces of two regi-
ments of artillery now recruiting Head
quarters of the new department of the
south will be at Atlanta Ga, chosen be-
cause of its fine strategical value, from
it's excellent railroad connections.
Gen. Wilson, chief of engineers, who
has been in Florida, is expected back
tomorrow to report to Secretary Alger
upon progress of the fertilization works
in that section of the country, and PROB
ably as to the defense of the Tortugas.
Today for the first time, the officials
of the war department admitted that
they were straining every nerve to i'm
prove that part of the defenSes of the
country confided to their care. The pres
ident and Secretary Alger have empow-
cred Gen. Flagler, chief of ordnance, to
give orders without limit for the pur-
chase of war material. Gen. Flagler has
instructed every concern capable of sup
plying war material, such as rapid-fire
guns, shot, shell and ammunition, to go
to work at full capacity.
All firms having contracts to supply
the government with ordnance, have
been requested to work their men night
and day in order to finish the work in
hand and to arrange their business
with view to increased orders.
AS to small arms extra ammunition
orders have been already placed with
he Union Metallic Cartridge Company
of Bridgeport Conn, and the Winchest-
er Arms Company of New York.
The negotiations for the supply of
large numbers of small arms, army
equipments and accoutrements are now
in progress.
Fort McHenry, in Baltimore harbor,
was selected as headquarters of one of
~ -.-.fa a,s4t1 81,
Fort Wadsworth, as was originally
planned
THE AMAZONAS SECURED.
The navy department has now reason
to believe it has secured the warship
Amazonas and her sister ship now
building in England for Brazil. 1t was
stated at the cabinet meeting today, by
Secretary Long, that the naval attache
at London, Lieut. Colwell, had almost
completed negotiations for the purchase
The final notification that the leuten-
ants offer had been accepted, has not
vet reached the navy department.
Secretary Long still says that he has
received no word from the court Of in
quiry itself or from Judge Advocate Ma
riX.
NO WASTEFUL EXTRAVAGANZA.
Ine secretary mas determined tnat
there shall be no wasteful extravaganza
in his department in the expenditure of
the funds provided by congress, and he
has addressed the following letter to the
assistant secretary of the navy, the col
onel commandant of the marine corps,
and to each bureau chief of the navy
department.:
"S1-Under the emergency appropria-
ton of $50 100000 made Wednesday, you
win incur no expense or liability except