The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-03-22

fore the emergency arises. and this can
be definitely done by building battle
ships and destroyers ard by adding
permanently to our naval lists of Off
GERS and men and by Immediately pass
ing through Congress the pending per-
sonnet bill, which is absolutely neces-
sary to the handling of the new navy.
The results, however. of the prepara-
tons so far, with the material at hand
are =minently satisfactory. The. great
est preparation that has been made
was with the drilling of battleships and
torpedo boats last summer. and as a
result the navy is now doubly as eff
cient as one year ago. The people of
the United States may trust to the
navy with absolute confidence that it
will respond to our call with the high
est credit to itself and the nation. The
question of the purchase of the O'Hig-
gins is still in the air. Spain will not
get her, and if she is sold it will be to
the United States"
THE MAINE STILL IN EXISTENCE.
According to the orders to naval offi-
GERS, issued by the Navy Department
to-day, the battleship Maine is still in
existence. At least two of the orders
would seem TO give that impression
They read as follows:
Lieutenant a. w Catlin, L. S. NJ
c., detached Maine. and home; Lieu
tenant G. F. w. Holman, detached
Maine, home, and wait orders
It is presumed that the Inflated bat.
tleship will not be stricken from he
naval register until after it has been
finally established beyond the possible
lily OF doubt that the shattered hull can
not be raised and reconstructed into at
least semblance of her former self.
Although there is scarcely ground for
the hope that the vessel can be raised
and restored to the navy, the depart
ment will not abandon it's efforts in this
direction until the wreckers now at work
upon it report that it is impossible
The navy has particular need of first
class guns at this time, and would re-
gard the recovery Of the main battery
Of the Maine as a consummation de
voutly to be wished. Although there is
not much prospect for raising the Maine
With it's reported broken backbone there
is good reason to believe from the re-
ports of the divers that many if not all
OF the guns may be recovered eventually
Vii tlAC NiCNHA anu put III places W (
they may be able TO render good service.
CAPTAIN w. P. DUVAL.
Captain William P Duval of the Fifth
Artillery has reported at the War De-
partment under orders for temporary
duty in the offices OF the Secretary of
War and the Major General command
ing the army
Mr.. Duval is instructor in practical
military exercises at the artillery school
at Fort Monroe; and is regarded as an
expert in all matters pertaining to the
artillery branch of the service He has
been promoted to his present grade as
a result of the recent increase of ar
tillery regiments. Although not officially
admitted at the department, it is gener
ally understood that he was summoned
to Washington to confer with the mill :
tary authorities on questions involving
the employment of the artillery in active
work along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.
MEN WANTED FOR THE NAVY.
The enlistment branch of the navy to-
day issued a large poster advertising for
men for the United States navy The
recent putting into commission of the
cruisers Columbia and Minneapolis, and
the prospective demands that will be
necessary as result OF the acquisition
of the Brazilian ship Amazonas and the
American yacht Mayfower, requires the
enlistment of additional men. Enlist
ments will be made at the following
places: The navy yards at Boston,
Brooklyn, League Island Philadelphia,
Washington Norfolk, Mare Island; No.
66 South street, New York City: United
or hTinliuoo OF TVr;n d .
custom house at New Orleans and The
custom house at Gloucester, Mass
The following classes of men are
wanted: Seamen, Is to 80 years of age.
at S24 per month: ordinary seamen. is
to 80 years of age, $40 per month; chief
machinists, Is to 80 years of age. at $40
per month; machinists first class, Is to
30 years of age, at 500 per month, and
machinists, second class, IS to 50 years
of age, at $40 per month.
The requirements for enlistment pro-
vide that all candidates must pass a
physical examination, showing them to
be free from disqualifying ailments.
Seamen and ordinary seamen must pass
examination in seamanship and must
/ have had experience at sea- Machinis.s
are required before enlistment to pass
ali examination showing that they are
machinists by trade.
| MILITARY DIVISION CHANGES.
| The orders of General William NJ.
Graham, assuming command of the new
military department Of the gulf, have
been received at the army headquarters
Ii is said here that no immediate move
ment of troops as result of the change
of military divisions recently put into
effect is contemplated, but that the
movements for the present will be con
| signed to the transfer Of artillery troops
to man the Notifications recently com
pleted.