The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-24
ALGER DEFINES
HIS AUTHORITY
He is Supreme in the War
Department.
nnnrD NAhXiMH 1T III EhR
ORDER MAKING IT CLEAR
A NEW VESSEL Is ADDED TO
THE NAVY.
IT'S THE SPANISH GUNBoAT BARAcoA
Advces Received by General Quesada Indicate
that the Cuban Assembly Will Dis.
solve This Week, Clearing
Way FIR Adjustment.

Wash .ngthn. M:fch -sj.- The follow
inc order has been issued at the War
Department:
''Circular No. 80.
HEADQUARTERS of the Army. Adjutant
Generals Office. Washington, ID. c.,
March $500, 1879.
.'The following decision has been made
and is published for the information and
guidance Of all concerned:
.'War Department.
Washington. March %, 1899.
Ordered. that hereafter no chief or
acting chief OF staff corps shall be de-
tailed or ordered to any duty by any au-
thoriiy without the approval of the See
rotary of War.
tSigncd) ar A. ALGER.
Secretary of War.
by command OF Major General Miles:
III. C. Corbin. Adjutant General.
This order of Secretary Alger has been
issued to set at rest all questions as to
who is the supreme authority in the
War Department. 1t is an old contro-
versy dating back to the time when JEFF
ferson Davis was Secretary Of War and
General Scott General of the Army.
The last time the matter was brought
prominently to the attention of the coun-
try was during the administration OF
President Arthur, when Secretary Lin
coin wrote a very caustic letter TO Lieu
tenant General Sheridan stating that
the staff corps of the War Department.
with the exception of the Adjutant Cen
erals and the Inspector Generals corps.
were under the direct control and sub
ject only to orders of the Secretary of
War. The order of Secretary Alger will
hereafter include the chiefs of corps un-
der the sole control of the Secretary
General Miles has held to the cOnstruc-
ton based upon the letter of Secretary
Lincoln. The cause for the issuance of
the order was a recent order of General
Miles to Lieutenant Colonel Darlington.
acting chief of the Inspector Generals
corps. during the absence of General
Breckinridge, directing Darlington to
visit certain points in the West on an
inspection tour. The order Of the Sec
rotary does not refer to General Breck.
mridge's present duty in Cuba az he is
acting under orders issued by Secretary
Alger.
OUR NEW GUNBOAT BARACOA.
Washington, March 23.-The Navy
Department is gratified TO learn that its
representatives who have been working
for some time in the vicinity of Santiago
and Guantanamo. have succeeded in
adding another vessel to the American
navy in the gunboat Baracoa, which was
reported To have been towed into San
tiago yesterday. The Baracoa was on.
of the Spanish gunboats sunk near
Guantanamo She is a useful type OF
vessel fer patrol work and is about 30
per cent larger than the gnnboats San
doval and Alvarado now Mt the Wash
ington Navy Yard. &c carries one Hon
toria gun of So inch caliber, one of g.
caliber and two machine guns.
DISSOLUTION FORESHA Allowed.
Washington, March 23.-Advices from
Cuba received by Senior Quesada, which
he regards as trustworthy. are to the eff
feet that the Cuban assembly will dis
solve before the present week ends,
probably on Saturday. Mr.. Quesada re-
CARDS this as a most satisfactory out
come as the dissolution is brought about
voluntarily and without that agitation
which enforced action might have
cansed. 1t will clear the way, in his
judgment. TO a pacific adjustment Of the
affairs of Cuba.