New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-23
ARMY AND NAVY ACTIVE.
EMERGENCY PREPARATIONS CONTINUE
TO BE PRESSED.
UNSATISFACTORY PROGRESS ~ REcR'iiiH"-
ARrILLERyMEN SENT TO COAST DEFBNcES
SPANS TORPEDO BOATS CLOSELY
WATCHED MOVEMENTS or

WATCHED MOVEMENTS or
wARsHIPs
fRr TELEGRAPH THE Tr1nrSE.l
Washington, March 22.-Preparations FOR Ma
tlonal defence are going forward with undimin-
ished vgor in both the Army and Navy al
though attracting less attention than they did
a week or two ago In all arms OF the two SER
vices good progress in emergency measures has
already been accomplished. but none Of the
officers in control are deluded into the belief
that readiness for actual hostilities OF both Of
fensive ard defensive character has yet been
even approximately provided for by the steps
far taken.
Recruiting for the Navy has been especially
discouragng. and there seems to be little pros
poet Of filing the crews OF warships now ready
for sea even within the next two weeks. unless
a wave Of excitement sweeps over the country
ard arouses desirable mon to more enthusiasm
for service than has thus far been apparent
The Hawley Recruiting Board at New Orleans
has induced comparatively few skilled machin-
fists to enlist. and 1t now proposes 10 move up
the Mississippi far st. Louis after these
essential men. without whom the Columbia and
Minneapolis cannot be put in active commission
To-day a second Naval Board was started
West to supplement Commander Hawleys ef-
now in charge Of the branch photographic office
at Chicago. Chief Engineer Robert G. Deng.
from the Newport Training Station. and Surgeon
Walter A. McClung. member Of the Examining
Board Of the Navy Department. The Board will
60 at to St Paul and later to Duluth Mil
waukee and Chicago. II the situation grows
graver additional officers will he assigned to
these two Boards and recruiting stations will
he maintained in a number Of Western cities
and ports Of the Great Lakes.
RECRUITING FOR THE ARTILLERY.
In the Army the enlistments for the new ar
tillery regiments are proceeding at q rate which
will NJ those commands in about three months.
This rate is limited by the facilities for examn-
Ing applicants in arithmetic. which though tedious.
IS considered essential Large numbers OF men
who would make good infantry soldiers are
turned away because they have no knowledge
Of tn lower mathematics. The following re-
turn from Army recruiting officers was made
to-day:
Enlistment FOR artillery. city stations. thirteen
3i5. At points heard from 10 date: Heavy artillery.
%; light artillery. l. Aggregate 3C6
This shows rate Of twenty-clght a day, or
$40 month. Te!eg ans received by Adjutant-
General Corbin for the last five days indicate a
rate OF 900 month from this time forward.
The orders for the 9th Artillery. which had
originally provided for the concentration Of that
command Fort McIIenry. were changed to-
day. and the regiment recruited Will take the
place Of batteries which have already been sent
t. the new seacoast defences Colonel Willis
ton with the headquarters. one Major and two
batteries. will take station at Fort McHenry,
two field and two foot batteries will go to Wash
inCton Barracks. four foot batteries with on"
Major are assigned to Fort Monroe, and two
foot batteries and one Major are ordered to
Fort Hamilton.
The War Department to-day ordered the
moval of sixty seventy big rifles from Sandy
Hook at once to Watervliet Arsenal for safe
keeping These guns heavy calibre. and.
having been tested at the proving grounds.
were ready FOR mounting, but carriages are
completed for them and 1t considered dan
gerous 70 leave them at Sandy Hook where they
might he injured perhaps secured by an
enemy making a raid on the coast. The latter
exceedingly remote possibility was considered
sufficiently important. however to cause the
removal of the guns to a safe interior point.
whence they will he shipped to forihcations
rapidly as emplaccments and carriages pro-
vided.
A REMARKABLE WAR VESSEL PROPOSED
Charles l.. Seabury. Of Morris Heights New
York, who II now building large thrtyknot
torpedo boat FOR the Navy came to Washington
to-day and offered to construct a remarkable
war craft OF the combined torpedo boat destroy
or ard cruiser type far exceeding anything
known in Europe. He is prepared to build and
deliver in ninety days n tripe-screw vessel of
32j tons, to be driven by 5000 horse power 81
a speed Of thirty-fve knots. She will have the
unparalleled range of action Of 1000 miles at
moderate speed. The design shows three torpedo
tubes. and the armament consists OF two C.
Founders and four l-pounders.
The Gunboat Marietta arrived at Panama to-
day. where she will coal and continue at once 10
Callao to join the Oregon for the purpose Of ac-
companying that battle-ship through the Straits
Of Magellan and up the Atlantic Coast.
The arrival of the Cincinnati the Castine and
the Wilmington last night at Port Antonio.
Jamaica 12J miles distant from Santiago de
Cuba. is a significant Naval movement. two Of
these vessels being still nomnay attached to
the South Atlantic Station. While their con
tinued stay at Port Antonio might lead TO OBJ
jections by Spain 1t Is not intended to take them
any considerable distance from the south OF
Cuba
ADMIRAL sICARDS CONDITION
Admiral Scard will not remain much longer
in command OF the North Atlantic Squadron
week ago The Tribune printed an ntimation
from authoritative source that. having con-
vened the Court Of Inquiry. II was essential for
him to remain on duty until he could forward
the findings and evidence Mt Washington with
his Endorsement. but quickly following that act
ne would relnqush the post to officer whose
health would allow him to remain at sea. Ad-
miral SIcard secured leave of absence the last OF
January and It was feared at that time he
would not return to duty. but after week
ashore he suddenly resumed control during the
De LONE excitement. and remained on the Iowa