The Washington herald., 1907-10-17
WAR RSPIRITRAMPANT
America Declared to Be Ready
to Fight JapS.
PREPARED FOR AN EMERGENCY
Entire Working Force of Atlantic
Navy Yards Employed in Making
Ready Battle Ships for Service, if
Need BE. in the Paeifs--SienaI
Corps Men Are Preparing.

The following article was sent out by
the Washington news bureau of a New
York paper last night:
Preparation for a hostile emergency in
the Pacific is occupying the time and at
tention Of the military and the naval au-
thorities to such an extent that all other
work has been suspended in some
branches Of the two services.
The war fever is spreading through the
personnel of the army and the navy
Many officers are now aware OF the cir
cumstances which led TO the decision to
send the battleship fleet TO the Pacific
and with their eyes opened in that re-
spect they are watching the trend Of
events with absorbing interest
War Spirit Rampant.
The idea that war is coming appar-
emily firmly fixed in the minds of some
Of those having superior means Of OBJ
taining information as 10 the govern
ments attitude. Others. while deprecat-
ing the talk of war, and inclined TO the
belief that there Will be no conflict. con-
under way are justified by the situation
as they understand il, and commend
President Roosevelt for what they re-
gard as admirable foresight on his part.
Under orders from the Navy Depart
ment the entire working force at the
navy yards on the Atlantic coast is being
employed in making ready the vessels Of
The battle-ship fleet for the sO-CalIed
class Of labor that can be utilized in get
ting the fleet into condition for its long
voyage has been withdrawn from its
usual duties at the yards and put TO work
on the ships
Signal Corps Alert.
The authorities of the army signal
corps are devoting themselves exclusively
TO arrangements for the installation Of
electric fire control apparatus in the for
itiications at Subig Bay the new naval
station in the Philippines The work is
being conducted to the detriment of other
projects, but the orders to complete IL,
which are understood to have come di-
Tectly from President Roosevelt, are i'm
perative
Under equally imperative directions.
new fire control instruments are being
installed on the battle ships which will
60 TO the Pacific. A torpedo company
OF the army artillery corps has been en-
gagged in torpedo practice Army rifles
OF six, ten, and twelve-inch calibre. and
twelve-inch mortars are being sent to
Subig Bay as fast as they are completed.
The transportation of this ordnance is
being accomplished with significant dis
patch.
Contracts have been let for $1,000 tons
Of coal, to be delivered in the Philippines.
Recruiting the Navy.
There are other things that Indicate
1.-THE intention Of the government to place
the army and navy on a war footing
within the ability of its present resources.
although complete evidence Is lacking
that such is the purpose Of the apparent
activity in connection with these addi-
tional matters. For example, recruiting
for the navy is being pushed with en-
ergy, but, taken in connection with the
fact that the fleet IS 4,C0O short of the
authorized enlisted personnel this course
OF IN eauthOrities is not necessarily sig
nifcaHT
In the army recruiting is conducted
with considerable activity, but existing
conditions, without reference to the
prospect Of a hostile emergency. an
pear TO justify strenuous endeavor.
The present strength of the enlisted
forces is approximately $1,000 men.
which is about 1000 short of the de-
sired peace establishment.
IN the quaTtermasLer's department of
the military establishment there is much
activity, but it is said to be not greater
than peace conditions demand, and no or
ders have been issued to that branch Of
the army TO prepare for trouble The
number or troops in the Philippines is
about 1900, including 5000 Philippines
constabulary. There has been no effort
TO increase this force and nothing to show
that an increase in the near future IS
contemplated.
THE decision Of the President to send
the battle ship fleet TO the Pacific had
Its inception, at least its apparent con-
ception, in disquieung information fur
nished 10 the military departments Of
the government by confidential agents
abroad.
President Kept Informed,
These reports were all placed before
the President for his perusaL The out
come was the decision to send the Allan
tic fleet to the Pacific.
The official assertion that the fleets
voyage to the Pacific is a practice cruise
IS technical bubble It's practice will
consist Of establishing proper bases of
operations and otherwise getting ready
Tor conflict. Present plans do not con-
template the return of the fleet To the
Atlantic, or even its retention at stations
on the Pacific coast Of this continent
Unless the purpose now in the minds of
those men who Will have a large part in
determining its future movements under
goes change. the fiet VIII proceed TO the
Philippines, and will remain there"