Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

spondent in the country was watching it.
February -, 1898, Roosevelt, then assist
ant secretary of the navy, after con-
sultation with the President, cabled
Dewey at Hongkong to keep full OF coal
and in the event of declaration of war
with Spain your duty see Spanish squad
ron does not leave Asiatic coast. Those
present never forgot the expression on
President McKinley's face the next day
as the following thrilling message was
sent:
Washington. April 25. '9s.
War has commenced between the United states
and Spain. Proceed at once to Philippine Islands.
Commence operations particularly against the
Spanish feet. You must capture vessels or de-
stroy. Use utmost endeavor.
tSgnedl LONG.
Mr.. Long. the Secretary of the Navy.
spent hours with the President during
those days of anxiety. Finally the follow
ing dispatch, now famous. reached the
White House war room, via HOngkong.
May Z:
Manila Bay. May. '9s.
Long, Navy Department. Washington. u. c.:
Squadron arrived Manila daybreak this morn
ing. Immediately engaged enemy and destroyed
the following vessels televen eEumerated). Squad
ron uniniured Few men slightly wounded.
(SigneD DEWEY.
Then came the laconic reports of vic
tory from Santiago de Cuba. and the mill
tary operations in that zone. President
MchlnISy pau vi tOiSChtI otii6 Oil uiS-
patches and reports received and orders
and instructions sent out, under one d.
rection in his war room. not only vastly
simplitied the exercise of command. out
also secured absolute secrecy. most es-
sential element of military and naval sue
cess. He took pride In the fact that not
a syllable Of information ever leaked out.
~
Within fifteen minutes after Mckinley
was struck down by the assassin's bullet
the signal officer in charge at the war
room secured two distinct and exclusive
wires to Buffalo, one telegraph and the
other long distance telephone. All after
noon and evening authentic news from
the hospital came into the White House
over the direct wires. Immediately upon
the removal of the dying President to the
Milburn residence a telegraph instrument
was installed there. During that sad pc
riod almost 1000 messages were received
in the war ROOM
The new war room-the war sobri-
quet has always stuck to it-has been es-
tab,ished in quite another part of the
building. and Is now located just around
the corner from the Presidents Office
Probably the largest telephone booth ever
built was erected in the telegraph room
shortly after Mr.. Taft was elected. 1t
was constructed of the finest wood ana
handsomely finished. The President, how
ever. found that it was not quite SO con-
venient to his office as 1t might have been,
and 1t is doubtful If he has used 1t more
than once or twice. Instead, If he con-
verses over a telephone. he uses one
which has been installed In an ante-cham-
Der between his Office and the cabinet
chamber. 1t is a comfortable little apart
ment. and but few steps from the Pres
ident's desk.
There is pretty story about the little
silver and gold telephone receiver which
1,11t <Nff tn
Spain. 1t is ornamented with jewels The
queen can never get the wrong number
with the beautiful instrument because 1t
is connected by direct wire with the
royal nursery. There is no telephone in
the sleeping room of the President of the
United States. but in his study adjoining
is an ordinary desk phone, with glass
mouthpiece. The number. Main q. the
general designation of the White House.
is probably the most famous telephone
cali in the country. Mr.. Taft, like his
predecessors, Mckinley and Roosevelt,
uses the phone sparingly.
He sometimes calls his brother Charles
in Cincinnati or Henry in New York 1t
is not true that a special wire connects
the Presidents room with his brothers
office in Ohio. If there is night session
at the Capitol or important presidential
matters are pending. the President has
been known to call Senator Crane or
some of the other republican leaders.
but such a contingency rarely occurs. The
President does not have to bother look
ing up a mans number-in fact. there is
no telephone book in his study He has
an informal way of picking up the re-
ceiver and asking for the person with
whom he wishes to speak. The White
ofOr ho
Mr. Taft talks we'll over the telephone.
and his voice carries in a manner highly
satisfactory to the listener President
Mckinley spoke with a slightly softer &C