Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-10
SEAMEN WANTED.
Orders to Enlist Men Who
Served in Spanish War.
Some Anxiety Over Reports Regarding
Health Of Admiral Dewey.
Private Authority Say that He Cannot Much
Longer Stand the Strain.

IL 'ssasV WSs"VsVy Ooy s"es ~ ~e"ssVs ~sS"
Longer Stand the Strain.
Washington, March 9.--The navy de-
partment has instructed the command
ants of receiving ships along the At
lantic coast to resume the enlistment
of ordinary seamen holding honorable
discharges for services rendered dur
ing the Spanish war. The officers In
charge of the naval recruiting station
in Chicago has been similarly instruct
ed and In addition has been told to en-
list landsmen under the same condi-
tons. The purpose of these orders is
to secure the men needed to meet the
increase Of the enlisted force from the
best material.
Plans and specifications are being
prepared at the navy department for
the general renovation of the naval
hospital at Chelsea, Mass, for which
an appropriation Of $45. 900 was made at
| the last session of Congress. Work will
be undertaken in the spring.
When his attention was called to the
StdtSHItHt toitihh liOuu "
| the effect that Admiral Dewey Is break
ing down and cannot last a month
longer. Sec. Long said he had no in
| formation whatever on this point. The
stories Of the admirars III health have
| been in circulation with more or less
persistency for the past four months
They are all traceable to private re-
ports and though officers Of the navy
| who have returned recently from Ma
Mia state that Dewey's health 80 far
as it could be gauged from his appear
ance, is about the same as 1t has been
for the past year. they agree that the
private reports probably have a fair
basis of fact.
It is not denied by these officers that
the admiral has aged in his appear
ance- notably within the past year; his
figure shows signs Of that weakness
which might be expected to come with
advancing years. Dewey will be g.
years old next December. and for many
years has not physically been q strong
man. Meantime he has had imposed
upon him the most severe and exacting
duties SO that 1t Is but natural that his
frail physique should show the effects
of the tremendous strain.
1t is said by persons familiar with
the Philippine climate that the second
year is hardest to bear for Caucasian
and Dewey soon will begin his second
year there. In addition to this. he
labors under the drawback of having
undergone a most severe surgical
operation for the relief of his liver.
These facts lead naval officers to be-
lieve reports that Dewey is showing
signs of physical strain.
On the other hand. as already stated.
there is absolutely no official evidence
on file at the department to show that
this is true. The full medical history
of Admiral Dewey is among the records
of the bureau of medicine and surgery.
They show every ailment he has ex-
perienced since he has been in the
navy. as well as the result of physical
examinations he has undergone when
he has been promoted from time to
time. But these do not disclose any
complaint at this time: the admiral has
not been made the subject of a sick re-
port since he went to Manila.
Some time ago the President feared
that the great strain he was under
might overtax him so he cabled Dewey
through Secretary Long permission to
return to the United States. The adj
miral declined to avail himself of this
permission and asked to stay. He is
free to return to the United States
whenever he cares to do so, and the
department will relieve him by cable
orders. In that case, Captain N. H.
Dyer. the commander of the Baltimore,
who is the senior captain on the Asiatic
station. would have command of the
American squadron temporarily.
Senior Andrade. the Venezuelan min
lister here called at the state depart
ment today. Reports from his govern
ment respecting the revolutionary
movement in the province of Miranda
indicate. he said, sweeping triumph
for the government forces.
The French ambassador. NJ. Cam
bon, called at the White House, today.
to pay his respects to the President
after an extended visit to Paris. The
election of NJ. Loubet as President of
France. occurred few days before
the ambassador left Paris for Wash
ingtor. He paid farewell call on the
new President. who, after a high tri-
butte to the United States. charged the
ambassador to convey a personal ex-
preston of good will to President Nc
Kinley. The visit at the White House
was informal. The President warmly
greeted the ambassador on his return.
Minister Sampson at Quito. has re-
ported to the state department that in
the battle which ended the revolution
in Ecuador, 600 men were killed and
several hundred mortally wounded and
400 prisoners were taken.
Government receipts, Thursday:
From customs. $735.629: internal reve-
nue.. $95O,837; miscellaneous, $26,3S1. |
Expenditures, $1,S30,0O0.
To ease the pressure in the selection
of applicants for appointment to the !
vacancies in the United States Marine
Corps created by the naval personnel
act, Sec Long has prescribed rigid
which must be passed
as condition of appoint
ment. There are 400 applicants for the
% v,locos created nv the act and it is