Arizona republican., 1898-04-08
Details of the Preparations
 Now Hurrying Forward
\ NEW NAVAL DEFENSE
the West Pointers and
 Annapolis Men Through
Applications From Retired Army Officers .and Civilians Coming In in Large Numbers. The Trade In Rapid Fire Guns Stil, Active.

Washington April Ion the instant that the government shall decide that war is inevitable the whole standing army of the United States will be or dered to move toward the Atlantic sea- beard The infantry and cavalry troops at all military posts east Of Denver for two weeks have been pre- pared to move eastward at short no tice.
 The war department today contin- ued the preparations for war. Yester day an additional allotment of a quar- ter of a million dollars was made for the purchase of high-power guns by the bureau of ordnance.
 Today further allowance of funds was made for buying eight rapid-fire guns for the coast defense. The fifty or more rapid-fire guns of 4.7-inch cal iber bought in England are about to be delivered in New York.
 The first class of cadets at West Point will be graduated and commis- stoned before the usual time in June The war department has the subject under consideration, and although 10 decision has been reached to send the young men to the field before the completion of the full four years course, strong sentiment prevails for ending the term at once and assigning the cadets to various regiments. Va cancies now exist in number of ar tillery troops, owing to recent increase Of two regiments by congress and more than the usual number are available in. other arms of the service. General Miles this evening refused to admit that it had been determined to gradu- ate the West Pointers at once, but said that if war became inevitable the cadets would be taken from their studies and sent. to regiments.
 Orders for the naval cadets who graduated on Monday have been for warded to Annapolis assigning them to ships in active service. The Key West fleet will secure the majority, and those that cannot be provided for un- der Captain Sampson will be sent to the flying squadron.
 In the graduating class was son of Fighting Bob" Evans, who was ap- pointed to the naval academy by Mr Cleveland
 The army administration is receiv- ing applications daily from former army officers, retired officers and civilians for appointments as staff of ficers. The applications are seriously considered, proper limitations of age, experience and physical ability being imposed.
 A reorganization of the fortifca- tions board has been determined on, in order to extend the scope of its work and to bring within its deliberations and conclusions other closely identified branches of the army. It is the inten- tion to place the board on practically the same footing it had under the ad- of Secretary Endicott, when the great plan of coast defense, now nearing completion, was formu- lated and designed. The corps of en- gineers, which has charge of the con- struction of emplacements and the bureau of ordnance, in charge Of the of all batteries, are now rep resented on the board by the heads of those departments, although it's mem bership includes competent engineers and ordnance experts.
 Under the proposed plant of reorga- nization botA General Flagler, army ordnance chief, and General Wilson, ngineer-in-chief, will be members and take part in the discussions. The work of this board is not so heavy as in for mer years, when the present system was being worked out, but, with the of the projects now under way, it is not improbable that atten- tion will be turned to other cities ex- posed to attack by small vessels and which could be rendered comparatively safe by simply mounting two or three heavy guns and half dozen mortars. Such a battery, the board contends would relieve the navy of detailing vessels to defend these cities.
 Defenses for the protection of the new naval station at the Tortugas are to be undertaken and carried on with haste. Two 10-inch guns have been ordered to be shipped south for in temporary emplacements until permanent structures for them can be furnished. Some place on the old fort, now almost surrounded by water, will be selected, and the big riages, will be mounted ready for ac-