The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-26
PREPARATIONS UNABATEO
America Is Now on a Nest War
like Footing.
GREAT ACTIVITY DISPLAYED
slight Resume Of the Notable
ENeats which show How thc
American Army aud Navy and ihe
Whole People Arc GettinE Ready
for Immediate strife.

The report that several vessels are 10
be withdrawn from the Key West squad
ron is denied by Secretary Long. The
strength of Captain Simpsons squadron
viii he maintained.
Lieutenant Commander Mark went 10
ihe White House at half past nine O'Clock
and the President denied himself to all
other visitors for an hour and half.
They were at work over the evidence and
drawings. After this Mr. Mark went 10
the Navy Department with the drawings.
They viii be Autographed. Arrangements
have been made 10 print AT the Govern
ment Printing Once ten thousand cop
les OF the report of the Maine board.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt has an
pounced officially the purchase OF Tour
yachts and eight tugboatS yesterday.
He has ordered them delivered al the
BROOKLYN navy ward Immediately. ana di-
rected the various bureaus 40 put Them ln
condition FOR naval defense with the ut
most dispatch.
He has also directed Commodore
Crowninshield. chief OF Navigation TO
officer and man these vessels ANA send
them to Key West as raVluiN az ihtA
can be prepared.
Following il a list Of the vessels pur-
chased. Yachts Alicia Amy, Hermione
and Columbia. Tugs Storm king. Ar
gus. r Luckenback. ". Luckenhack
paoli. Winthrop p. n. Wise and EiJro.
New names will be selected for these
vessels by the time they are ready 10
leave New York. The assistant secreia-
~ has also appointed board 10 aScer-
tain the number Of guns and quantity
IF ammunition each of the newly dC-
uuired revenue cutters can carry.
cant. William NJ Folger has been Sc
Iected to command tho protected cruiser
New Orleans On her arrival AT New orh
where he is now stationed. in charge ni
the light house district.
The Navy Department today ordered
commanders TO the single tUrret moni-
tors Lieut.. L. ). RichmOn 10 the Ma
haut and Lieut.. H. +. Fichbohm. TO the
Jason. these two to 90 10 New York.
Iieut William Irwin TO the Auntauk.
destined for Portland. Ne; Lieut.. II. g.
Peck - the Lehigh. and Lieut.. NJ Z.
Hail. a. The Catskin. the latter two ior
the defense % Boston. Lieut. York No
81 is detailed in command Of The new
tu.. Maginacot
The Government has practically de-
ciGcd "a order twelve dynamite torpedo
boat destroyers from Lieut.. Nixon, of
the Crescent Shipyard i'm Elizabeth. y.
].
Mr. Nixon arrived I'M Washington yes
terday and submitted SET of plans.
which he had been altering. When he
returns 10 his yard he says he viii take
the orders.
Lieut. Nixon has hid i'm for three
thirty-knot torpedo boat deStroyers. and
the board reported favoring his bid.
When il was decided to increase the
order Lieut. Nixon was summoned to
Washington. and asked if he could pro-
q,
his ward. consulted with his assistants.
and then came back 10 Washington 10
SAY he could launch the first one in nine
u dnys and by working the others along
al the same time. finish every one two
weeks afterward.
Chicago. March 26.-Gen. II. 4. Wheel
er. of the FIRST Brigade. Illinois Ma
tional Guard, has just returned from a
conference with Gen. Miles and other
Army officials i'm Washington. He made
This significant remark:
If I did not expect to fight I might
talk"
The first thing Gen. Wheeler did after
returning from Washington was 10 call
a conference of his officers. During the
greater portion Of the morning he was i'm
communication with individuals of his
staff
While the general preserves his reti-
cpuce as to the nature Of his coDSulta-
jious In Washington. he makes mo- Sc
cret of one fact-his brigade Is being
pat in readiness for instant service.
A To the reasons for this he makes no
comment. The public is left To draw its
own conclusions
Boston. Mass March 96.-The Boston
chamber OF commerce, at special meet
ing Yesterday afternoon. adopted reso-
luton as follows:
Resolved. That should the failure Of
every laudahle effort 10 maintain peace
compel the nation To seek the arbitrament
Of arms. the Boston chamber Of commerce
pledges that. as i'm the past. the mcr-
chants of Boston will if necessary. de-
vote life and fortune to the accomplish
ment Of victory.
Resolved. That We extend to the suf-
ferng people Of Cuba our sympathy in
their distress. and recommend most earn
cStly the collection Of money and SUD
plies. and heartily indorSe whatever ac-
tion the President Of Congress may take
for their relief and sustenance."
Boston, March 26-PreparationS are
being made at the navy yard here to re-
Ceive the monitors Catskiil and I.ehiCh
which are expected soon. Work on the
Lancaster and the MaChias is being rush
ed. however, SO as TO have. if possible.
everything cleaned up by the time that
the monitors arrive. Sailing orders for
the Machias have not as Yet been re-
ceived. hut Commander Mcrri believes he
will be ordered 10 Hampton Roads.
Camden. y. J.. March 26.-The three di-
visions of naval reserves here had a