The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-19
Entire Pacific Fleet OF Transports BE-
ing Put I'm Order for Bringing Back
the Gallant Fighters.
WESTERN BLOOD In THE NAVY
CHANCE FOR INLANDERs WHO WANT
SERVICE ON WAR SHIPS.
Secretary Long Seeking Recruits,
Who VIII He Given Their Training
ON Farraguts Old Flagship.

WASHINGTON. May 19u-The War De-
partment officials expect What within two
months the Pacific transport fleet will be
on its way home from Manila with the last
of the volunteer regiments. The entire Pa
cifc fleet is now being overhauled and pro-
visioned for the voyage to Manila and re-
turn. There will be no delay in the sail
ing Of the ships. OF the feet of transports
IN the Pacific, the Sherman, Grant and
Sheridan are under orders for Manila, and
will carry regular troops TO take the place
Of the volunteers.
Secretary Alger had a long conference to-
day with the heads of the STAFF bureaux of
the department regarding arrangements for
the return of the volunteers. Nearly every
State has requested that the regiments be
returned to the States from whence they
came. II this be decided on. while awaiting
muster out they will be held in camp either
at San Francisco or at state camps where
they exist. 1t is expected that the Mime
sofa regiment will be sent TO Fort Smelling.
the Oregon regiment TO Vancouver bar
racks and the Washington troops to the
post near Seattle. IL is asserted. however.
that the soldiers prefer to be mustered out
at San Francisco. as they then will receive
travel pay to their homes and can make
transportation rates that will give them
some extra money. The government, how
ever. has the option OF transporting them
TO the place where it received them. and
may decide to follow that plan If. on further
Investigation. il should be deemed feasible.
General Otis. at Manila. was notified by
cable to-day not TO send home any of the
tents with which the volunteer troops in
the Philippines are equipped. These are
new tents procured especially for the Phil
ippines campaign. and in the interest of
economy and expediency IL has been de-
;ided to keep them in the Philippines for
the benefit of the troops to be sent there
10 relieve the volunteers.
Secretary Long is interested in the re-
suit OF an experiment which Is to be made
under the direction of Capt. John NJ. Haley,
for the enlistment of 300 men in the middle
West and West 1t is believed Western en-
listments will quicken that sections interest
In the navy. Many inquiries have been re-
ceived by the department. from the West by
young men OF adventurous spirit who would
like TO join the navy. but cannot afford the
expense of travelling to New York or Bos-
ton with the chance of rejection after their
arrival 1t is proposed. therefore. to send
a recruiting officer through the West TO
gather in 800 or $50 recruits. Only bright
and promising American citizens between
the ages Of eighteen and twenty-five will
be taken. They must be able to read and
write. Exceptional inducements are TO be
offered these recruits in the shape of a long
cruise on Admiral Farragut's old flagship,
which Is now at the Mare Island navy yard.
She has been thoroughly refttted at a cost
of about $&0.V0. The recruits will be sent
to the receiving ship independence at San
Francisco for several months of preliminary
shaking down." and then will embark OH
way of Cape Horn or across the Pacific to
China, thence around to India and through
the Red sea and the Mediterranean. Her
executive officer will be Lieut.. Commander
Alexander Sharp. a nephew Of Gen. Grant,
who distinguished himself during the recent
war as the commander of the auxiliary
yacht Vixen, which was attached TO Schley's
squadron. In addition to the recruits, she
viii carry 80 experienced men. On arrival
in New York the recruits will be assigned
TO war ships II this experiment Is a sue
cess, as Captain Haley confidently expects
1t to be. it will be repeated with a view to
the enlistment of more Westerners.
The secretary OF war has secured from
Judge Advocate General L.eber an opinion
confirming his right TO loan or give to mu-
inequalities. e. A R. posts and other pa
triotic organizations such Of the cannon cap
tured from the Spaniards in Cuba and Porto
Rico as are unserviceable To-day the first
OF the guns which are In possession Of the
army were bestowed upon the military post
at Fort Thomas. KY. They are two beauti-
full bronze pieces of antique pattern made
IN Barcelona in i76S.
The difficulty which was aroused at Ma
naos. Brazil, last April on the occasion OF
TIE visit to th4t place OF the United States
steamer Wilmington. which was on a voyage
OF exploration Of the Amazon, is said at the
State Department 10 be trihing in character.
The facts are briefly stated in a report TO
the Navy Department from Captain Todd,
OF the Wilmington. ard are being further
inquired into. When II became known tina,
Captain Todd proposed going farther up the
river than Manaos, the supposed head or
deep navigation, there was a decided reluc-
lance on the part of the officials to allow
him to proceed. He went up the river loo
miles. however. without securing TIE neces-
sary papers from the Brazilian government,
though these were received at Manaos be-
fore his return. During his absence. and
also the absence OF AIr. Redman, the United
States consular agent at Manaos, some dis
orderly persons attacked the agency, as
well as the place of business of a firm tina,
had aided in securing pilots for the Whining
ton. but there was no substantial damage.
Acting under orders from the War De-
partment. Maj. William Langfitt, corps of
engineers. has made a complete survey of
Honolulu harbor and prepared a map OF
harbor lines similar to those Of the United
States. II the report OF Major Langfitt
should be approved by the secretary OF war
the city wharf ike will come under the
jurisdiction OF the va. Department.
In response TO the Urgent request OF the
Industrial commission Senator Kyle has
consented to continue at the head OF the
commission. and accordingly has withdrawn
his resignation as chairman. In a letter
written at the senator's home ct Aberdeen,
s. D.. he reiterates that i'll health was the
only motive that actuated him in rendering
his resignation, adding: 9Th Importance
OF the committees work grows with each
month. and i believe both Congress and the
country will he grateful for the task we are
now performing. Every public-spirited citi-
zen is greatly interested in the trust in
vestigation now In progress"