ton to Portland, is frantically appealing to the Government for troops.

Boston, March 16 - The hostile fleet has been picked up by a dispatch boat 150 miles off Cape Cod, headed west and steaming slowly. It could not be determined whether the fleet is making for Boston or New York. It is the evident purpose of the commander to conceal his objective until the troops reported to be approaching under convoy shall arrive.

Panama, March 16-The Governor General has reported to Washington that steamers arriving at Colon have sighted hostile cruisers in the Caribbean. He has forwarded an urgent request that troops in the Canal Zone be increased and that an adequate ammunition supply be established at once. Preparations for the defense of the Canal are inadequate.

Washington, March 17-Reports from various States indicate that the President's call for 500,000 volunteers has met with instant response. The greatest difficulty is being experienced in the effort to assemble, organize, and equip the recruits. It has developed that

there are practically no officers available for organizing and training. The total lack of even a partially trained reserve for filling out the essential branches of an effective field force presents the gravest problems. There is an alarming shortage of cavalry, signal, engineering, hospital, and field artillery equipment. The total available supply is hardly adequate for the regular army and more or less complete militia organizations. Reports made public indicate that both the regular army and the militia are lacking in organization and equipment. All the available coast artillery reserves have been sent to the fortifications along the Atlantic Coast. This will supply about half the men needed at the guns.

New York, March 17 — The mobilization of the regular army in the Albany district is complete. With the troops from the Mexican border, withdrawn in spite of vigorous protests by Texas authorities and by several border cities, a force of 20,000, organized as a full division, is concentrated in the military camps. One division of cavalry is en route.

San Francisco, March 17-A mass meeting was held here to-night to protest against the militia leaving California. The presence of what are believed to be hostile warships off the southern California coast is persistently rumored. The coast artillery has been brought to its full war strength. The artillery reserves have been brought in.

Washington, March 18-It is the consensus of opinion of army and navy heads that the enemy intends to strike in the region between Washington and Boston. A high army officer, whose name is withheld, is quoted as expressing the belief that New York, because it is one of the most vulnerable of our large cities and would be most effective as a base of operations, and because, as the center of our arteries of commerce, its fall would have a paralyzing effect on the nation, has been selected for the initial attack.

Washington, March 18-In spite of vigorous efforts to muster every available man during the two weeks that have elapsed since the President's call for militia, the figures made

there are practically no officers available for organizing and training. The total lack of even a partially trained reserve for filling out the essential branches of an effective field force presents the gravest problems. There is an alarming shortage of cavalry, signal, engineering, hospital, and field artillery equipment. The total available supply is hardly adequate for the regular army and more or less complete militia organizations. Reports made public indicate that both the regular army and the militia are lacking in organization and equipment. All the available coast artillery reserves have been sent to the fortifications along the Atlantic Coast. This will supply about half the men needed at the guns.

New York, March 17 - The mobilization of the regular army in the Albany district is complete. With the troops from the Mexican border, withdrawn in spite of vigorous protests by Texas authorities and by several border cities, a force of 20,000, organized as a full division, is concentrated in the military camps. One division of cavalry is en route.

trains; 12 supply trains; 12 pack trains. For the most part the militia is supplied with a 3-inch light field gun only.

Washington, March 18- All the Atlantic States, as well as Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington, have flatly refused to allow their militia to leave. The President's military advisers are reported to be urging him to order the concentration of militia over the heads of those governors who are refusing to transmit his call. It is admitted that should such an order be resisted, it could be enforced only through process of law. The commanding officers of the North and South Atlantic districts are greatly exercised over the lack of coast-guard troops to protect the detached harbors, fire-control stations, and military works.

Harrisburg, March 18-The Governor has agreed to send the Pennsylvania militia to the Albany region. The militia is practically without field artillery and other equipment necessary to field service.

Springfield, March 18-The Massachusetts