The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-05-12
Mastering in is Expedited.
Volunteer Forces in tho Various States
Are Daily Being Augmented.

Reports keep coming to the War
Department from the army officers
who are acting as mustering-in officers
at the various State rendezvous. The
reports from Pennsylvania show that
$500 infantry and s3o officers have
been accepted. Reports from New
York show that 1892 infantrymen
have been accepted at Peekskill, while
the Seventy-first Regiment at Camp
Black had been entirely mustered in,
including forty-two officers and o64
men. Colonel Green, of that regi.
ment, wired the Adjutant General
that his command was ready to start,
and that he was awaiting instructions.
1t was intended to take some OF these
troops from New York to Tampa by
transports at once.
Captain Davis telegraphed the War
Department from New York, how
ever, that none of the four regiments
of the State will be ready to leave be-
fore Saturday. The report from Mas
sachusetts state that the officers there
have mustered in 200 officers and
2545 men, The reports from Illinois
state that the Third and Fifth Regi-
ments will be ready by noon of Thurs
day, and that SO far IoI officers and
1901 men had been accepted.
Within few days it is likely the
Ohio and Illinois naval militia will be
ordered out. This will be a conces.
sion to the demands and influences
which have been operating to this end
within those organizations.
The trouble with the Ohio naval
militia and the objections to its use
in this war have been the lack of
training of the men, and the sane
condition, according to the Navy De-
partment officers, prevails in the
Illinois organization. There has been
much internal dissension, too, it is
said, which has impaired the efficiency
of the men.
The Pennsylvania militia will also
be ordered out. 1t is probable these
organizations will be assigned duty on
the old monitors now at League Is
land. There are three of these ves-
sells at that place being equipped with
new boilers. They will probably be
distributed along the coast, perhaps at
New England ports, where there Is
continued demand fot otection.
The navy officers do not accept
without much criticism the presence
of the Katabdn in Boston Harbor
This vessel is accounted OF little use
for coast defense, for the purpose of
which the old monitors answer much
better, they say.
The experts believe that the func-
tions of ram would indicate that the
Katahdin will be more serviceable to
the navy as part of the North Allan
tic fleet.
The War Department is receiving
a great deal of information in regard
to suspects in this country. Assist
ant Secretary Meiklejoln, who has
charge of the secret service of the
military, is in close communication
with the police authorities ofvarious
cities, and has been surprised at the
extent Of the advices which come to
him gratuitously from all the prin-
cipal cities.
If one may judge from the infor-
nation received at the department,
there are indications of a very liber-
al spy system established in this
country by the enemy, with prob
ably headquarters in Canada.
Minister De LONE first established
the system and it is kept up. But
since the outbreak Of hostilities it is
not found that any Of the American
detective agencies have had any re-
lations with the Spanish Govern
ment, though it is conclusive that
there are men in this country of
American nationality and citizenship
who are industriously engaged in
furnishing information to the enemy.
1t has not yet been settled before
what tribunal Downing will be
brought to trial. The defense of
this alleged spy will be denial of
the constitutionality of the law un-
der which he is to be tried, proba.
bly, by a military court. The
charges and specifications have been
prepared on the basis of the infor-
nation accumulated by the secret
agents and developed by the, it is
asserted, damaging papers and doc
uments found i'll the possession Of
Downing.
The officers Of the War and Navy
Departments have rendered an opin-
ion on the articles which will form
contrabrand of war. Later OH a
list of such articles will he DreDared