Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-03-17
WITHOUT ANY LIMIT.
Con. FIaytr May Buy War Ma
terial.
The House Committee on Naval Affairs
VIII Recommend Construction of
Three New Battleship> A
New Military Depart
ment Created.

Washington, March l2.-Hoping for
the best and prepared for the worst
about represents the situation in the
war and navy departments. The most
important developments Friday were
the decision of the house naval com
mittee to place in the naval appropria-
ton bill provision for three new bat
tleships, and conclusion by the secre-
tary of war to issue to-day an order
creating a new military department,
including within its confines that part
of the country which would be in all
likelihood nearest to the field of hos
tilities.
The order will create a commotion
in the south. The present Department
of Texas is abolished and the head
quarters, which has been at San An
tonic, Tex, for many years, is aban-
doned. In place of the old department
is created a new one, the Department
of the South. Gen. Graham, at present
commander of the Department OF
Texas, will command the new depart.
ment. This department will include
South Carolina, Georgia, Flori!a, Ala,
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana and
Texas. All of these states save the
last are at present attached to the De.
partment of the East. under command
of Gen. Merritt, of New York, who 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 recruit.
ing. Headquarters of the new depart.
ment will be at Atlanta, Ga.
Yesterday for the first time, war de-
partment officials admitted that they
were straining every nerve to improve
that paru of the defenses of the coun.
try confined to their care. 1t is an un.
usual mark of confidence in an execu
tive officer to empower him to give or.
ders without limit for the purchase OF
war material, yet this is what the pres
ident and Secretary Alger have done
in the case of Gen. Flagler, chief OF
ordnance. This officer has instructed
every concern capable of supplying
war material, such as rapid-ire guns
shot, shell and ammunition, to go tc
work at full capacity.
The navy department has reason tC
believe that it has secured the two war
ships Amazonas and her sister ship
now building in England for Brazil
1t was stated at the cabinet meeting
Friday by Secretary Long that the
naval attache at London had almost
completed the negotiations for the sale
So far, however, the final notification
from him that his offer has been ac
cepted has not yet reached the navy
department. The day passed agair
without word from the court of inquiry
In anticipation of rupture between
the United States and Spain many
naval ouiCcrs on the retired list hav
notified the secretary of the navy o.
their willingness to perform any duty
in the line of their profession that h
may deem suitable for them. There
seems to be a misrepresentation on the
part of the public as to the availabili
ty of officers on the retired list for aG
tive duty in times of war. Section
1862 of the Revised Statutes provides
as follows: mo officer on the retired
list of the navy shall be employed oI
| active duty except in time of war;
The president has power to assig'
any retired officer of the navy to dut
during the progress of war, but he
can only assign him to the command OF
squadrons or ships by and with the adj
vice 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 go years of age, whose
experience would undoubtedly be OF
great advantage to the nation in case
it proved necessary to go to war.