Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-17
A NEW DEPARTMENT
An Order Creating the Military De-
partment of the South.
SPANISH NAVAL COURTS OPINION.
No Word from Our Court Of Inquiry
lerymen Ordered to All the New
Coast Defenses from Boston
Around to Galveston.


the best and prepared for the worst,
about represents the situation in the
war and navy departments these days.
The officials still profess confidence
that there is to be peaceful outcome
OF the present threatening difficulties,
but, meanwhile, prepare with serenity
to meet their duty if events should
shape themselves otherwise. The Sec
rotary Of war will issue to-day an or.
der creating new military depart
ment, including within its confines
that part of the country which would
be in all likelihood nearest the field Of
hostilities in case it should come to
that The order will create commo-
ton in the south. The present de-
partment Of Texas is abolished,
and the headquarters which have
been at San Antonio, Tex, for SO
many years are abandoned. In place
of the old department is created new
one, the department Of the south.
Gen. Graham, at present commander
Of the department Of Texas, will COM
mand the new department. This de-
partment will include the states of
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala
bama Mississippi, Louisiana and
Texas All of these states, save the
last, are at present attached to the de.
partment of the east under command
Of Gen. Merritt, oflNew York. Head
quarters of the new department Of the
south will be at Atlanta, Ga, chosen
because of its fine strategical value,
from its excellent railroad connections.
For the first time yesterday the
officials OF the war department ad-
mjtted that they were straining every
nerve to improve that part of the de-
lenses Of the country confined to their
care. 1t is without question the most
unusual mark OF confidence in an
executive officer to empower him to
give orders without limit for the pur-
chase Of war material, yet this is what
the president and Secretary Alger have
done in the case Of Gen. Flagler, chief
Of ordnance. And the officer has not
shown any disposition to shirk this
large responsibility, but has instructed
every concern capable Of supplying
war material, such as rapid-firing
guns, shot, shell and ammunition, to
90 to work at full capacity.
The navy department has now
reason to believe that it has secured
the two warships Amazonas and her
sister ship now building in England for
Brazil. 1t was stated at the cabinet
meeting yesterday by Secretary Long
that the naval attache at London,
Lieut.. Colwell, had almost completed
the negotiations for the sale. So far,
however, the final notification from
him that his offer has been accepted,
has not yet reached the navy depart
ment.
SPANISH NAVAL COURTS OPINION.
HAVANA, March IL. Yesterday Capt
Peral, president of the Spanish naval
court of inquiry into the cause of the
Maine disaster, granted an interview
to the correspondent of the Associated
press Capt. Peral, who speaks excel
lent English, said:
Our divers are hard at work examining the
hull of the Maine Great difficulty is expert
enced owing to the deep mud In which the hull
is buried and the condition of the hull forward
of amidshps. The whole forward part of the
ship is mass Of iron and steel debris We
have h0lsted up much of it, but in the mud 1t
is not always possible to tell what parts Of the
ship, armor, deck, beams or stanchions are
found, the explosion so changed the positions
We cannot believe there was an external ex-
plosion Of u torpedo for the following rea-
sons; torpedo. following In the line of least
resistance must have blown great hole in the
mud at the bottom of the harbor No such
hole was found. A torpedo must have thrown
a large mass Of water into the air. II exploded
at depth OF only ~ feet or so, or Ut least have
produceda wave reaching the other ships and
the shore Of the harbor, We have examined
every one on shlpboard or shore, who saw the
explosion but no one can be found who re-
marked any upheayal Of the water or big
wave A torpedo explosion always kills fish In
the vicinity No fish were killed by the Maine
disaster, as fishermen who have known the
rhnr for me fnuttfu I ~