Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-25

-, "nu "niie they excite the deepest
ss.pa'ny or officials. no hope can be
neio out that the dead can be brought
paek' One Of these appeals makes a
p'''iui plea against the burying OF the
try" ~O""-
Inere are circumstances which, IL they
could be made known, would end such
appeals, and show that tho denartvno,t
has not been wanting in desire TO bring
uhe remains 10 this country These cir
Suinstances' however. have been with
uelu' mainly through a desire TO save
irlenus and relatives from the pain
which would be caused by a fun dis
closure OF the effect OF the explosion.
The press representatives have given I'm
part the terrible mutllation Of the bodies.
out II Is feared this has not been fully
realized by friends and relatives.
The men were sleeping on the BERTH
deck, with metal floors and ceilings
which. by force Of the explosion. were
ground together into confused mass
knowing this, there Is little hope that
many OF the bodies still missing will be
found; or, If found, that they will be In
a condition to be brought to the United
States.
THE NAVAL MILITIA.
the figures showing the strength of the
naval militia up to date. They show a
total force of 4.445 officers and enlisted
men, which is gratifying increase from
the S,7OS shown by the last report. The
number OF officers and men by States is
as follows: California. 1856; Connecticut,
10; Florida, 1856; Georgia, 225 Illinois. 49,
Louisiana, 262; Maryland. 240; Massachu-
sets. AL; Michigan. 1893: New Jersey, S64
New York. 472; North Carolina go: Ohio
2i6; Pennsylvania, a6; Rhode Island i3O;
South Carolina l52; Virginia, A. Total,
4h5.
notwithstanding Roosevelt says in
this connection that Illinois leads the
list, with forty-three commissioned Off
GERS and 423 petty officers and enlisted
men. Aside from the forces shown in
the above list, new brigades are in pro-
cess of formation. which promise to swell
the total to much larger figures at an
early day.
The organization Of this auxiliary SER
vice is under the direction of Lieutenant
Gibbons. United States navy. whose
energy has accomplished much in Sc
curing state organization and in the hsr-
monizing Of the bodies into one compact
force, capable in an emergency of CO.
operating with the regular navy.
In bis last report Mr. Roosevelt said
that the State naval militia, in the event
of a sudden emergency could be utilized
at once for manning the smaller national
cruisers. 1t could be depended upon,
mainly, he said as a second line of de-
fence. and also be used in placing mines
and the establishment of signal stations
for coast defence.
The appropriation OF $4,000 made by
Congress to aid the work of the naval
militia he added would be apportioned
among the States In a few days.
WASHINGTON SAFE.
Thanks to the promptness and efficiency
of the Chief Of Engineers and the Chief
Of Ordnance Of the Army. the city OF
Washington is now regarded as being
wellnigh safe and secure from attack by
water The fortifcations at Fort Wash
ington, and Sheridan Point, on the oppo-
site side of the Potomac, are sufficiently
advanced to be able to repel an ordinary
fleet of invaders, and in case of necessity
they could be vastly strengthened in
comparatively short time. These defences
are considered sufficient TO keep all
hostile vessels beyond the range of gun
shot Of the national capital
Moreover the river has been blocked
off and prepared for mines and torpedoes
at a point below the fOrtificatiOns already
mentioned so that il is probable that
some of the ships of an enemy would be
blown out of the water before IL would be
necessary to use the guns at the forts.
The officers of the British warship Hood
to-day cabled from the Island of Crete,
expressing deep sympathy over the dis
aster 10 the Maine.