The record-union., 1898-03-24
OLD WARSErPS.
Eight Single Turreted Monitors to
be Brought Into Service.

AUrFeTeu N4C3i1COrS TO
be Brought Into Service.
WASHINGTON, March 23.-Secretary
Long to-day determined to bring into
service the eight old single turreted
monitors used during the war and now
lying at League Island navy yard, Phil
adelphia. He issued orders that the
monitors Catslzill and Lehigh proceed TO
Boston, and the monitors Nahant and
Jason to New York The other monitors,
Manhattan. Mahopac, Montauk and Ca
nonicus viii remain at Philadelphia,
where the work of preparing them fol
service viii begin Immediately.
Secretary Long to-day telegraphed
orders to Captain Ludlow of the monitor
Terror to proceed at once to Key West
and report TO Admiral Sicard The Ter
roI Will be permanently attached to the
squadron at Key West It is said that
she takes the place of the Massachusetts
and Texas, which have gone 10 Hamp-
ton Roads and that this move has been
contemplated for more than a week.
Secretary Long had an extremely busy
morning. Mr.. Roosevelt and the various
bureau chiefs We're with the Secretary
for some time perfecting the plans for
the speedy completion of the old moni-
tors. The Bureau Of Engineering can
put in three new boilers with little delay
The Ordnance Bureau has little to 10
on the monitors, owing to the good condi-
ton of their guns, armament, etc. The
/ quota of powder for their 10-inch guns
J is already sacked, and can be put
/ aboard IN a few hours.
Mr.. Long also saw a number of pub
lie men, including Senators Proctor and
Lodge.
WAITING FOR THE REPORT.
The DEVELOPMENTS of the morning for
the moment diverted attention from the
report of the court of inquiry, which is
now on it's way to Washington in charge
Of jude Advocate Mark. In addition
to the press dispatches concerning Lieu
tenant Marks trip. Secretary Long has
! received his own official advices that the
officer is on his way. The expectation
among the officials is that Lieutenant
Mark Will reach here Friday morning
! There are no plans for meeting him or
for any fOrmalities on his arrival He
will come direct to Secretary Long, and
place the report in his hands The Sec
rotary will convey it at once to the Pres
ident. This will give an opportunity for
! regular meeting on Friday. After de-
livering the report Lieutenant Mark
Will return to his post on the Vermont
at New York, unless the court of inquiry
! fas farther investigation to make, hich
is rot at al likely.
BUSY DAY AT WAR OFFICE.
Secretary Ayers office at the War De
! partment presented an unusually busy
( aspect to-day, a number of members
OF Congress called to have a word with
/ the Secretary, among them being Sena-
! tors Lodge and Hoar and Representa-
/ tive Marsh of Illinois. Abner McKin-
ley the Presidents brother, was also
among those who called, but his. stay
was brief
Representative Marsh is Chairman Of
! the House Committee on Militia, which
! recently reported the bill to reorganlze
that BODY of State soldiery, to raise it's
! erlclency and to appropriate million
dollars for its Import. The Chairman said
ne mad SPOKEN to Speaker Reed re-
/ Gently in regard to the bill, and he holed
to be able to call it up in the House
fol consideration within a reasonable
time
During his interview with Secretary
Alger, Mr.. Marsh urged that in the
| event Of hostilities, the first recourse
| of the Government for soldiers would
be the State militia, who should be in
vited to volunteer for the country's
! defense These men. he pointed OUT,
are we'll organized, well drilled and Off
! cered, and are in a position to render
very effective service. In view of these
facts, Mr. Marsh believed that it was
I hn I1fx. II
upon these soldiers for duty in case
they care to volunteer. If any mem
Der or officers of the guard preferred
not TO enlist because of family or bust
ness cares and responsibilities then
their places might be taken by volun--
teers from outside the service.
Secretary Alger was very much in
terested in the arguments made by
Marsh. and while not committing him
self on that point, seemed to regard
the suggestions made by his as prac-
ticable Afterward Mr. Marsh called
on President Mckinley and repeated
the statements he made to the Secre-
tary.
FORT JEFFERSON
During the morning Secretary Alger
was also in conference with General
Miles. commanding the army. respect
ing the military occupation of Fort
Jefferson on Dry Tortugas Island. The
determination to garrison this fort has
been reached by the Secretary after a
| conference with his aides and the
Navy Department officials and the
| questions now to be met are those Of
what improvements in the Notifications
now there may be necessary Already
a contract has been let by the Navy
Department for dredging a large part