hat is now
called for, the army will number about 250,000; and it is expected that
active operations will be begun at once, and that Porto Rico as well as
Cuba will be seized at the earliest possible moment; it is expected that
part of our fleet will proceed at once to San Juan, Porto Rico, and
destroy the fortifications there, so that our army can without serious
opposition land on the island.

* * * * *

The cruiser _Columbia_, which was disabled in a collision off Long
Island, is being rapidly repaired in the Brooklyn Navy-Yard. If she had
not been very strong there is little doubt but that the _Foscolia_ would
have cut her in two; the frames of the vessel, however, are so well
constructed that these, with the protective deck, prevented more serious
damage. Naval officers are very much pleased to find how well the vessel
withstood the collision; they say that if the _Columbia_ had been a ship
like the large ocean liners, nothing would have prevented her sinking
with the ship that struck her. When the officer on the _Columbia_ saw
that a collision was inevitable, he gave the order "Full speed ahead";
it is very fortunate that he did so, as otherwise the _Foscolia_ would
have hit her amidships; and the damage must then have been very serious,
as the water compartments in that part of the vessel are large, and when
filled might have caused her to capsize. The damage proves to be much
less severe than was at first thought; after two or three weeks it is
thought she will be on duty again.

This is not the first time that the _Columbia_ has been in trouble of
this kind; two years ago she collided with the _Wyanoke_, a coasting
steamer; in spite of the trying circumstances at that time, not a man
was lost on the sinking coaster, so perfect was the discipline on the
_Columbia_.

* * * * *

It is reported that the balloons recently received from Paris will be
sent forward with the first expedition to Cuba; arrangements for
equipping the balloon train are under charge of Lieut. Joseph E.
Maxfield of the Signal Service. It is reported that one of the French
balloons will be first given a careful test from the deck of one of the
war-ships off Cuba. The necessary plant for generating the gas is
already in Tampa; the gas will be forwarded in steel tubes, which will
hold a large volume when the gas is compressed.

* * * * *

It is