Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1898 — GREAT ACTIVITY SHOWN. [ARTICLE]

GREAT ACTIVITY SHOWN.

Important and Significant Steps Taken by the Naval and War Departments. Washington, April 14. Wednesday was a day of stirring activity at the na.yy and war departments. Anticipating decisive action by congress,'• th® machinery of the military and naval branches of the government was early put in motion and’events of grave significance followed in quick succession. The first event to become known was the acquisition by the navy department of the American line steamships St. Ixttiis and St. Paul, and coupled with the announcement came the information that in all probability Capt. Sigsbee would be placed in command of one and Capt. Goodrich of the other. Early’ in the forenoon the naval strategic board went into session and called Consul-General Lee into the conference. The session was a long one, and was devoted to a thorough discussion of offensive and defensive movements in Cuban waters, Gen. Lee being able to give the board much valuable information regarding the defenses of Havana. Crowdingclose upon the heels of these events teas the news that the flying squadron had raised anchors and put to sea. This fact caused intense excitement in all quarters, and fina.ly elicited the official statement that the squadron had. merely gone to sea for a short practice.cruise. There was an evident anxiety on the part of officials for news of the various Spanish fle,e;s, but up to a late hour no word had been received of any movement in that quarter. It was rumored that the Spanish vessels at Puerto Hico had sailed, but this could r-'-t be confirmed. Complete arrangements have been made for the immediate mobilization of practically the entire ntilitary force of the government at the Chickamauga National park at the first signs of trouble. It is expected in case of necessity a call will be issued for about 40,000 troops, preferably from the national guard of the different states and territories. In the event that the war policy contemplates the invasion of Cuba, the army may be increased to 10b,000 men. Of this the regular troops and the national guard will aggregate about 55.000 men. and the remainder vs ill be made up of volunteers. In the event of a call upon the national gua’-l'l attention will be directed first to the .organizations in the states of N’ew York, Pennsylvania and Ohio and the District of Columbia. Gen. Miles’plan is to mobilize 17 of the 25 regiments of infantry and five of the ten regiments cf cavalry at the Chickamauga park as speedily as possible.