The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-24
TRANSPORTS ARE SCARCE.
Cause Of Delay in Sending Reinforce
ments to Manila.

Cause Of Delay in Sending Reinforce
ments to Manila.
WASHINGTON, May 23.-Much comment
and some criticism have been caused by
the delay i'm forwarding troops to the Philip
pine islands to support Admiral Dewey.
Beth the comment and the criticism had
their origin in the desire of the people that
the fruits of Dewey's brilliant victory at
Manila should not be endangered by any
lack of assistance from either the Navy or
War departments. 1t is know now, how
ever. that troops would have been sent to
Manila before this had it been possible for
the War Department to secure transpor-
tation on the Pacific coast The utmost
difficulty is being experienced by the de-
partment in obtaining such transports The
coastwise trade on the Pacific is not large
IS compared with that on the Atlantic, and
majority of the vessels engaged in the
trade are of foreign register. OF course,
ships flying a foreign flag cannot be used
as transports by the government. such
use would constitute violation of the Eeu-
trality laws of the nation whose flag the
ship bore
Tonight the War Department is nego-
tating by telegraph with the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company for the charter of two
of the company's vessels, the China and the
Colon The Colon flies American colors
but the China is under the Hawaiian flag.
The difference between the War Depart
ment and the steamship company is now
one of price. Whether satisfactory terms
will be agreed on remains in doubt.
Tonight Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn
received a telegraphic offer from the agent
OF the Northern Pacific Steamship Com
pany. at Seattle. placing at the disposal of
the department the company's entire fleet
of steamers, provided they be given Amer
lean register. These ships are the Tacoma,
Arizona, Olympia, Columbia, Victoria and
Argyll. All are British built vessels and fly
the British flag. Commenting upon the sit
uation which confronts the department Sec
rotary Meksljohn said: IF we cannot get
vessels at what we consider falr prices, we
shall be forced to impress such as we may
need into the service and leave the prices
to be adjusted subsequently by board APP
pointed for the purpose. We have made
every possible effort to secure vessels of
American register; indeed, we want nothing
else. But it is impossible to obtain them
to ask Congress to give American register
10 vessels that we can obtain. There is no
other way out of the difficulty
The likelihood is that the War Depart
ment will order such vessels of the North
ern Pacific Steamship Company as may be
needed to San Francisco and then ask Con-
gress to give them an American register in
order that they may promptly convey the
waiting troops to Manila 1t is the desire
of the department that the troops follow
ing those to be sent to the Philippines on
Saturday next shall go not later than
Wednesday,. June l.. 1t is imperatively
necessary that they be got to Manila as
soon as possible, but in order that they may
go at all 1t will be quite as necessary that
some foreign ships be given American reg
lister by Congress.
The advices received by the assistant sec
rotary from San Francisco to-day indicated
that three of the transports, the City of
Sydney, the City of Picking and the Aus
tralian would start on their long journey
late tonight or tomorrow. Notwithstand-
ing the long delay in getting the ships away
the officials here say t could not be avoided,
as there were many alterations which had
to be made in them necessary to the COM
fort and health of the crew.