Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1898 — READY TO FIGHT. [ARTICLE]

READY TO FIGHT.

BIS Force of Naval Reserves Fully Equipped and Waltlns for the Cull to Arma. New York, April 4. —Reports from all parte of the country show that the 4,500 men of the naval reserves are equipped and ready for duty. The only active work now going on is the enlisting in the. that are not up to their full complement. In every other respect the naval reserves are ready for an immediate start to the front. Kits have been overhauled and packed, arms and accoutrements tested and burnished, and examinations in tactics passed by the men. Every man is either at headquarters or within immediate call. Springfield, 111., April 4. —Gov. Tanner Sunday evening received a request from the war department at Washington to have the naval militia of Illinois in readiness to meet any call for their services from the national government. He at once issued orders to Commander Harrison to issue orders to battalion and division commanders instructing them to recruit their commands to the maximum stresngth allowed by law, to institute drills every evening and be ready to take special trains on receipt of orders to move. The force will in all probability go direct to Florida, and will be commanded by Edward H. Harrison, a graduate from the naval academy in 1882. The Chicago force consists of 400 sea sailors; 200 men from Moline, who are river men; 100 from Quincy and 100 from Alton, also river men, commanded by Commander Porter. Commander Harrison is the ranking naval officer in this city. The entire command of 800 will commence drilling here immediately. Detroit, Mich., April 4. —Gov. Pingree Sunday night received a dispatch from Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt requesting that the Michigan naval reserves be fully equipped and made ready for instant service in case of a call from the government. Goy. Pingree at once wired Adjt. Gen. Irish directing him to procure such uniforms and equipments as are necessary to fill out the requirements of the reserve in preparing for active duty. The Detroit and Saginaw divisions of the Michigan naval reserve includes 200 officers and men, their full quota being 250. Their armament consists of four 3-inch breech loading rifles and a Gatling gun.