Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-12

has been I'm Florida, is expected back
tomorrow to report to Secretary Alger
upon the progress of the fertilization
works in that section of the country,
and probably especially as to the de-
Tense of Tortugas.
For the first time today the officials
of the war department admitted that
they We're straining every nerve to i'm
prove that part Of the defenses of the
country confined to their care. 1t Is
without question the most unusual
mark Of confidence in any executive Of
flcer to empower him to give orders
without limit on the purchase of war
material. yet this is what the Presl-
dent and Secretary Alger have done
In the case of Gen. Flagler, chief of the
ordnance. And the officer has not
shown any disposition to shirk this
large responsibility, but has instructed
every concern capable of supplying war
materials, such as rapid-flring guns
shot, shell and ammunition, to go to
work at fun capacity.
The navy department has now reason
to believe that IL has secured the two
warships, the Amazonas and her
sister ship, now building in England
for Brazil 1t was stated at the cabinet
meeting today by Secretary Long that
the naval attache at London, Lieut..
Colwell had almost completed the ne
gotintions OF the sale. So far, how
ever. final notification from him that
his offer has been accepted has not yet
reached the navy department.
The day passed again without word
from the court of inquiry, according TO
the statement of Secretary Long, who
says that he has received nothing
whatever from the court itself or from
Judge Advocate Mark.
The secretary has determined that
there shall be no wasteful cxtrava-
gance in his department In the expendi-
ture OF the funds so generously pro-
vided by Congress, and to this end he
has addressed the following letter to
the assistant secretary of the navy.
to the commandant of the marine corps
and to each bureau chief of the navy
department.:
Sir:-Under the emergency appro-
priation of $4,000, 900. made Wednes-
day, you will increase no expense OF
liability. except after written state
ments and estimate made by you and
approved by the President and secre-
tary. all in writing. special record
must be kept of every such requisition
If any such liability or expense has
been incurred by you by oral direction
make such written statement and es-
innate and submit it at once for such
approval. BY order of the President
Very respectfully,
JOHN d. LONG, Secretary.
In anticipation of rupture between
the United States and Spain, many
naval officers on the retired list have
notified the secretary of the navy OF
their willingness and readiness to per
form any duty in the line of their pro-
fession that he may deem suitable toi
them. There seems to be considerable
misapprehension on the part OF tht
general public as to the aVailabiiity OF
. -. ira lot
duty in times of war. Section 1862 OF
the revised statutes. bearing on this
subject, provides as follows: mo OIL
Ger on the retired list of the navy shal
be employed on active duty except II
time Of war"
Under this section 1t Is apparent tina,
II war should break out all officers or
the retired list competent to serve vii
be subject to the orders of the secre'
tary of the navy. Another statute
bearing on this subject, cotained In
sections 1863 and 1864. is as follows: "lr
time of war the President. by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate
may detail officers on the retired list
to the command of squadrons and sin
gle ships, when he believes that the
good of the service requires that they
shall be so placed in command In
making said details, the President may
select any officer not below the grade
of commander anu dSslbn MN " tnt
command of squadron with the ranl'
and title of flag officer and any officer
so assigned shall have the same au-
thorlty and receive the same obedience
from the commanders OF ships of his
squadron holding commissions OF an
older date that he will be entitled tc
receive II his commission was the
Oldest
1t thus appears that the President
has power to assign any retired officer
of the navy to duty during the progress
of war, but that he can only assign him
to the command of squadrons or ships
by and with the advice and consent OF
the Senate. There are many officers on
the retired list In the full enjoyment
of health and mental vigor, despite the
fact that they are now CO years of age
whose ability and experience would un-
doubtcdly he OF great advantage to the
nation I'm case 1t proved necessary to
90 to the defense of its honor and dig
nifty. Notable among these Is Rear
Admiral John C. Walker, recently re-
tired for age and WHO Is now engaged
in special duty rs president of the
Nicaragua canal commission.
pREgENT FROM PRINCE.