Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1898 — PREPARED TO SAIL. [ARTICLE]

PREPARED TO SAIL.

North Atlantic Squadron Under Steam Awaiting Orders. PORT OF HAVANA TO BE BLOCKADED. President About Ready to Issue a Call for 100,000 Men—Probable Quota of/ the Different States Un- — v~r der the Call. j Key West, Fla., April 22, 2:35 a. m. — The warships lying in the inner harbor are apparently drawing nearer the flagship. Two are now moving out. They are thought to be the monitor Amphitrite and the gunboat Helena. The signaling is continuous and the searchlights of the lowa and the New York are industriously sweeping the waters of the outer harbor. Many are the conjectures as to the length of the campaign and the absence of the squadron from home. The consensus of opinion places the minimum period at three months and the maximum at six. It should be fully understood that neither experienced officers, raw cadets nor bronzed seamen doubt for a moment the ability of our navy to whip Spain’s sailors to a standstill. The far-seeing admit that it may cost many valuable American lives, but it will be done, come what may. Ready to Call for Troops. Washington, April 22.—With the actual beginning of war military and naval preparations were vastly stimulated Thursday. The navy bought a ship and a number of yachts. It secured some more material for guns and renewed orders for haste in the construction of guns. Orders were sent to the squadrons to guard their movements and the preliminaries of a blockade were executed. In the war deparement all arrangements have been made for a call for 100,000 volunteers, to be chosen from the national guard. The strategy board of the department looked over and perfected the plans, and efforts were begun to provide for a subsystem of coast pa-

trol by the state authorities. Movements of troops began a day or two ago were changed by direction of the department In some respects to meet the conditions of the moment at southern posts, but in general there are indications that the department is acting with the purpose of concentrating no lees than 80,000 men at the gulf ports within the next ten days ready for embarkation to Cuba. Secretary Alger's day at the war department was the busleet he has experienced for some time. Arrangements have been completed under the secretary’s direction for calling out 100,000 of the militia of the country to aid the regular army in the operations to compel the Spanish evacuation of Cuba. The officials are awaiting the passage of the volunteer army bill by congress in order that there may be explicit authority for asking for the volunteers. The number of men required from each state, it is said, will be in the proportion that its population bears to that of ths whole country. According to this ratio, the several states would be called on to furnish men as follows: Quota ot the States. Alabama, 2,000; Arkansas, 1,600; California, 2,590; Colorado, 1,06?; Connecticut, 1,286; Delaware, 273; Florida, 600; Georgia, 2.539; Idaho, 186; Illinois, 6,439; Indiana, 3,442: lowa, 3,018; Kansas, 2,230; Kentucky, 2,726; Louisiana, 1,552; Maine, 1,005; Maryland, 1,554; Massachusetts, 3,777: Michigan, 8.496; Minnesota, 2,299; Mississippi, 1,726; Missouri, 4,329; Montana, 419; Nebraska, 1,927; Nevada, 110; New Hampshire, 602; New Jersey, 2,370; New York, 10,011; North Carolina, 2,067; North Dakota, 369; Ohio, 6,799; Oregon, 663; Pennsylvania, 8,615; Rhode Island, 568; South Dakota, 1,480; South Carolina, 598; Tennessee, 2,448; Texas. 8,883; Utah, 340; Vermont, 507; Virginia, 2,230; Washington, 942; West Virginia, 1,111; Wisconsin, 2,619; Wyoming, 184; Arlsona, 146; District of Columbia, 369; Naw Mexico, 273; Oklahoma, 114. Secretary Alger has heretofore stated tliat in the first call for troops the national organized guard of the states would be accepted. The figures In possession of the war department show that In some of the states there is no such organization tuid in others it fulls below the quota which such states will be asked to furnish in the proportion which their population bears to that of the whole country. Ls the policy of asking each state to furnish its proportionate quota is finally adopted then under a call for 100,000 men many of the national guardsmen would be unable to go. It is suggested, however, that the president may disregard the method above outlined and {K-rmlt the full enlistments of 100,000 men from the guard us at present organized. Opponed to Prl vnteerlna. During the session of the cabinet telegrams wore sent to the effect that the Spanish fleet wits still at the Cape Verde islands. On the question of privateering the cabinet from the first has been a unit In opposition to it, unless that course should be forced upon us by the action of Spain. The president is strongly opposed to this Ao called system of robbery on the high sens, and unless he is driven to that extremity In retaliation the legitimate commerce of the world, so far as this country is concerned, will be ns safe after actual hostilities begin as now.