The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-14

or the best posts in the naval service.
II a battleship or cruiser had been
available he would have received a
command ere this.
The ordcr has not been officially an
nounced, pending the actual purchase
of the ships.
The report made by the Rodgers aux
1liary board for the armament of these
steamers provides for two six-inch rap
id-fire and ten five-inch rapid-fire guns
for the main battery, and Of twelve
six-pounders for the secondary battery.
The steering gear Of these vessels, as
well as the magazines, will be protect
ed. With rush work the vessels will be
In readiness for service in about thirty
days.
The meeting of Gen. Lee with the
naval board was held In the office of
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt Although
the proceedings were secret 1t is known
that they related almost wholly to the
military defenses Of Cuba and especial
ly of the forts in Havana.
Gen. Lees education and experience
naturally gave much weight to his OBJ
servations, and he was questioned in
detail as to the armament of the forts
at Havana harbor, the location and
strength Of land batteries and other
residence had given him knowledge Of
The conference discussed thoroughly
the entire question Of offensive and de-
fensive movements in the neighborhood
Of Cuba in the light of the information
which Gen Lee was able to impart.
Naturally no details were allowed to
get out, but one Of the members Of the
board stated as they dispersed that the
military situation had been thoroughly
considered and Gen. Lee had been able
to give them Information Of q very
valuable character.
Prior to the meeting Of the strategic
board, Gen. Lee spent half an hour in
conference with the assistant secretary
In the latter's office.
General Mobilization.
Signs Of activity for what now seems
to be a probable conflict were contin-
ued at the war department. Every
thing Is in readiness for a prompt
movement Of troops toward some CEN
trail point, particularly Of the forces
east Of the Rocky mountains, but Gen.
Miles says that nothing La likely to be
done In the way Of moving any large
body Of troops Southeastward until
there Is more evidence that their SER
vice will be needed.
Complete arrangements have been
made for the immediate mobilization Of
practically the entire military force of
the government at the Chickamauga
National park at the first signs Of
trouble. It is expected in case of neces-
sity a call will be issued for about
10000 troops, preferably from the ma
tional guard Of the different states and
territories.
In the event that the war policy con-
templates the invasion Of Cuba, the
army may be increased to 100000 men.
OF this the regular troops and the ma
tfonal guard will aggregate about 65,-
600 men, and the remainder will be
made up Of volunteers. In the event OF
call upon the national guard, atten-
ton will be directed first to the orga-
nizations in the states Of New York
Pennsylvania and Ohio, and the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
Gen. Miles plan is to mobilize seven
teen of the twenty-five regiments of
infantry and five Of the ten regiments
of cavalry at the Chickamauga park
as speedily as possible.
Gen. Flagler, chief Of the bureau Of
ordnance of the army, is bending every
effort toward the supplying of the sea-
coast Notifications with the rapid fire
and other formidable guns, and in this
he has the active help of the engineer
bureau. Gen. Flagler had another con-
sultation with the secretary of war to-
DE- for the purpose Of obtaining an
additional allotment of money from the
emergency fund for rapid fire and field
artillery guns and ammunition for the
same.
There was an evident anxiety on the
part of officials for news of the various
Spanish fleets, but UP to a late hour
tonight no word had been received Of
any movement in that quarter. 1t was
rumored that the Spanish vessels at
Porto Rico had sailed, but this could
not be confirmed.