Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-05-28

San Francisco, May a6.-Thc start was
made for Manila late yesterday after
noon. and the first American army to
sail for foreign shore is now on the
broad Pacific.
At o'clock Rrigadier General Ander-
son signalled from the Australia. direct
ing the City of Picking and the City Of
sydney To get under way. The sigma!
was seen from the shore, and The waiting
crowds commenced to cheer wildly. No
time was lost on beard the transports.
The crews worked with a will and in Il
short time the anchors We're up and the
vessels We're under way. Then the 800
soldiers who had been impatiently await
ing the signal to start climbed To the
rigging and swarmed all over the big
ships. shouting and cheering like mad
The bay was alive with small craft Of
every description. and ferry boats were
pressed into service to accommodate the
eager crowds and carry them to the head
of the golden gate that last farewell
might be said.
The big transports steamed slowly
along the water front and the crowd on
shore raced along to keep them in sight
The noise made by patriotic citizens on
sea and shore was something terrific
Every steam whistle i'm the city appeared
to be blowing: cannon We're fired and the
ain lasted for fully an hour. AS the
Australia passed AlcatraZ island. in the
lead of the other ships. the battery of
United States artillery stationed there
fired salute to General Anderson.
The colors We're dipped in recognition
and the steamships sounded their sirens.
The boats. small and large, follow ed as
the transports moved slowly forward
and not until the heavy swells of the
Pacific were encountered did they turn
back. 1t was shortly after 5 O'Clock
when the vessels entered the ocean
When last seen the transport fleet was
steaming slowly to the southwest. After
the pilots were dropped the vessels went
ahead at full speed. and in six days. if
ali goes we'll. they will enter Honolulu
harbor ana join the Charleston.
The three transports carried about
2oOO men. The expedition. which is under
command of Brigadier General Ander-
son. consists of four companies of regu-
lars under command of Major Robe; the
First regiment of California volunteers.
Colonel Smith: the First regiment of
Oregon volunteers. Colonel Summers: n
battalion of the Fifth heavy artillery,
Major Gary; about 100 sailors and II
naval officers. The fleet is loaded with
supplies to last year and carries q big
cargo of ammunition and naval stores
for Admiral Dewey's fleet.
1t is not probable any more troops will
be dispatched before another week. The
Zealandia is being prepared to carry
soldiers. but none of the other transports
is in port. The China is not due until
May eS and if the steamships of the
Northern Pacific company are chartered
and put under an American register. it
will take some time before that fleet can
be in order. 1t is thought here the fleet
will not keep company with the Charles
ton after leaving Honolulu. They all
carry enough coal to steam at full speed
from Honolulu to Manila while tile
Charleston, in order to economizc coal
will not go faster than 10 knots an hour.
If the transports do not wait for the
cruiser they may he expected to arrive
at Manila about June 90