Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-12
P20GRESS0F PREPARATIONS,
War and Navy Departments, While
Hoping for the Best,

Ara Making Every Effort to Be in
such Condition, in the Event of
War, That They Can Maintain
the Nations Honor and Credit.
a New Military Department
Created-The Old Department of
Texas Done Away With-Be-
lisved That the Two Brazilian
Warships Building in England
Are as Good as Secured for the
United Ststes.
Washington, March 11.-Hoping for
thu best, and prepared for the worst.
about represents the situation in the
war and Navy Departments these
days The officials still profess conf
Qeuce that there is to be a peaceful
outcome Of the present threatening diff
frilty, but meanwhile prepare with
serenity 10 meet their duty if events
should shape themselves otherwise.
The most important and significant
developments of the day were the de-
csoD Of the House Naval Committee
TO place in the naval appropriation bill
provision for three new battle ships
and a conclusion on the part of the
Secretary of War to issue tomorrow
morning an order creating a new mill
tay department, including within its
confines that part OF the country
which would be in all likelihood near
EST to the field of hostilities in case it
should come to that
The order will create a command in
The South. The present department of
Texas is abolished and the headquar-
ters which have been at San Aatonio,
Texas. for so many years are aban-
d0ned In place of the old department
Is created a new one, the department
of the South. General Graham, at
present commander of the department
of Texas, will command the new de-
partment. This department will in
ciude the States of South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida Alabama, MISSISSIPPI
pi Louisiana and Texas All of thes
States, save the last, are at present at
I,
under command of General Merritt 1t
is said at the department that Gen
eral Merritt is fully compensated for
the strength of the command which
passes away from him by the addition
to his forces of two regiments of artil-
dry now recruiting. Headquarters of
The new department OF the South will
be at Atlanta, Ga, chosen because of
its strategical railroad connections.
AT present the government
HAS NO ACCOMMODATIONS
in Atlanta for the headquarters of the
department, so it will be obliged to
hire the most available building.
General Wilson, chief of engineers,
who has been in Florida. is expected
back tomorrow to report to Secretary
Alger upon the progress of the forth
ication works in that section of the
country and probably especially as to
the defense of Tortugas.
For the first time to-day the officials
Of the War Department admitted that
they were straining every nerve to inn
prove that part of the defenses of the
country confined to their care. 1t
shows without question the most I'M
loiltlt tOuliltlANt III biJG tAtCuliNt Ouittl
. empower him to give orders with
out limit for The purchase of war ma
terial vet this is what the President
and Secretary Alger have done in the
case OF General Flager, chief OF ord
nance. And the officer has not shown
disposition to shirk this large re-
sn0nsibility, but has instructed every
9ucern capable of supplying war ma
tarial such as rapid fire guns, shot.
shell and ammunition to go to work at
'ull capacity.
The Navy Department has now rea-
son to believe that it
HAS SECURED THE TWO WAR
SHIPS
&mazonas and her sister ship now
brilding in England for Brazil 1t was
stated at the Cabinet meeting to-day
bf Secretary Long that the naval at
t4che at London, Liuetenant Colonel
We'll, had almost completed the nego-
tialons for the sale So far. however,
tAc 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
tae statement of Secretary Long, who
saws that he has received nothing
Whatever from the court itself or from
Judge Advocate Mark.
Tae Secretary has determined that
t1cre shah he no wastefal extrava-
gam in his department in the eXpend-
l'urc Of the funds so generously pro-
y.cd by Congress, and to this end
he has addressed the following letter
t' the Assistant Secretary of the Navy,
iae colonel commandant of the marine
CORPS, and to each of the bureau chiefs
.. the Navy Department:
Sir:-Under the emergency appro-
nriaton of $50,O00,000 made Wednes-
cay You will incur no expense or La
b,lty except after written statements
aad estimates made by you end APP
proved by the President and Secretary,
al in writing. A special record must
We kept of every such requisition. If
fay such liability or expense has been
incurred by you by oral direction,
make such written statement and esti-
Laja and submit it at once for such
approval
iy order of the President.
VERY respectfully.
JOHN d. LONG.
Secretary"
N anticipation of rupture between