The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-12
HOPING FOR THE BEST
At the Same Time the Country Is
Preparing for the Worst.
FORT SAM HOUSTON ABANDONED.
New Department Of the South Has
Been Created,
oRI SAM HOUSTON ABANDONED.
HEADQUARTERS AT ATLANTA.
Seven Southern stntes VIII he Under
General Grnham-NNar Material
Heing Bought Largely.

departments these days. The officials still
profess confidence that there is to be q
peaceful outcome of the present threatening
difficulties, but meanwhile prepare with
serenity to meet their duty II events should
shape themselves otherwise.
The most important and significant de-
velopment of the day was the decision OF
the house naval committee 10 place in the
naval appropriation bill provision for
| three new battleships and conclusion on
the part CT the secretary of war to issue
tomorrow morning an order creating Il new
military department, including within its
| confines that part of the country which
would be in all likelihood closest to the
| field of hostilties in case 1t should come
to that, The order will create a commo-
ton in the South. The present department
of Texas is abolished and the headquarters
which have been at San Antonio, Texas, for
so many years are abandoned. In place of
the old department is created n new one,
the Department of the South. General Ora
| ham, at present commander of the Depart
ment Of Texas, will command the new de-
| partment.
| This department will include the States
of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Flor
ida, Mississippi. Louisiana and Texas. All
of these States save the last, are at pres
ent attached to the Department of the East.
under command OF General Merritt of New
York
1t is said at the department that General
Merritt is fully compensated for the
strength of the command which passes
away from him by the addition to his
forces of the two regiments OF artillery
now recruiting.
Headquarters of the new Department of
the South will be at Atlanta. Ga. chosen
because of its fine strategical value. and
its excellent railroad connections
At present the government has no accom-
modatons at Atlanta for headquarters OF
the department. so 1t will be obliged to
hire the most available buildings.
General Wilson, chief of engineers. who
has been In Florida, is expected back to-
morrow to report to Secretary Alger on
the progress Of the fertilization work in
that section and probably especially as to
the defense Of Tortugas.
For the first time today the officials OF
the war department admitted that they
were straining every nerve TO improve that
part of the defenses of the country con-
fined to their care. II is without question
the most unusual mark of confidence in an
executive officer to empower him to give
! orders without limit for the purchase Of
| war material. yet this is what the presi-
dent and Secretary Alger have done In the
case of General Flager, secretary and chief
of ordnance And the officer has not shown
any disposition tc shirk this large respon-
sibility, but has instructed every concern
capable of supplying war material, such as
rapid fire guns. shot. shell ana ammuni-
| ton to go to work at full capacity.
! The navy department has now reason to
believe that 1t has secured the two war
| ships AmazODius and her sister ship, now
building in England for Brazil. II was
stated at the clbinet meeting today by
Secretary Long that the naval attache at
! London. Lieutenant Colonel Wall, had al
most completed the negotiation for the sale.
So far. however, the final notification from
him that his effort has been accented has
moi vet reached the navy department
The day passed without word from the
court Of inquiry.
The following letter to the assistant sec
retary Of the navy, tlrb colonel comma ndant
of the Marine corps and to each OF the bu-
reau chiefs OF the navy department MAJ
been sent out.
/ Dear sir: Under the emergency APP
prorriation Of $50. 900, 900 made Wednes-
/ day YOU Will incur no expense or Ia
/ bility except nfter written statements
and estimates made by you and aT-
proved by the president and secretary,
ali In writing special record must
he kent of every such reauisition. II
any such liability or expense has bsnn
incurred bv you by oral directlon. make
such written statement and estimate
and submit It at once for such ap-
prevail.
By order of the president
John n Lon- Secretary.
rhsre seems 10 be considerable misaD-
| nrebersicn on the part OF the general pub
lie as to the availability OF officers on the
roitred list for active duty in tines OF war.
I cectiop 1862 OF the Revised Ststutes, bear
ing ON this subject. provides that;
! No officer on the retired list OF tho
r.avy shall be employed on active iuty
except in time OF war. :.
ITrder this section II Is apparent that Il
war shall break out ELL officers on the re-
| tired Nsf comnetent to serve VIII be sib-
! ,ect to the 0rderG Of the secretary OF the
| navy. Another statute bearing on this
subject is contained In sections 1863 and
1914 as follows;
In time OF war the president by and
with the advice ard consent of the Fen-
| ate may detail Officers on the retired
list for the command OF squadrons and
| single chips when he believes that the
| good of the srrvice requires that they
shall he niared IN command. In mar
| ing such demands tho rrcsidcnt NAV Sc
| lect anv officer not below the Grads ~
commander and assign him IN the com
mand NJ squadron with the rank or
title Of "nsr rsf'cfr." and any officer
90 ASSIGNED shall hsve the same au'hor-<
itv and receive the came obedience
from the ~srr'nsuders ~ Sims ~ his
sonadrcn holding eormisslons ~ an
older date IS he would be entitled IN
receive II his commission was the old
est. a
n tbps arrears fbst the president has
rover 20 spsis- s-v retired officer NJ the
navy 70 snty durine the orozrfss of wsr.