The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-08
IO REINFORCE DEWEY
Expedition Will Probably
Start Saturday.
FIVE THOUSAND TROOPS
Coast Forces to Be Sent
Merriam May Command

washington. May THE details for the
proposed military expedition to the Fnh-
ippines have been advanced materially as
a result of conferences today cet"een
Secretary Alger, General Miles ana otner
officers Of the army This expedition,
which will carry in all about 5000 men.
will start from San Francisco as soon as
arrangements can be perfected Il Is not
yet finally determined whether all the
troops will go at once. although this Is
not thought to be likely. nor has the ex-
act composition been fully decided upon
The statement was made this afternoon
that, in addition to the regular soiolefs'
the quotas of national guards from the
states Of California. Idaho, Oregon ana
Washington will in all probability De &C.
tailed to go. and an order for their rem
devious at San Francisco Is expected very
soon. General Shoup's company Oh rine-
men, which was to join one OF the three
especially authorized regiments OF mount
ed men, is mentioned as likely 10 be sent
AS for the regular army troops, there
were two regiments of cavalry, four COM
nanies of the Fourteenth infantry and a
regiment of artillery readily accessible in
San Francisco. The four companies OF
infantry were stationed at Vancouver
Barracks, but, it is said, have recently
been ordered to San Francisco. Ten COM
panies of the Third artillerNare scattered
along the coast. but the greater number
are in aCliforuia. The Fourth cavalry is
distributed among the posts and forts IN
Washington, California, Wyoming and
Idaho, and the Eighth cavalry is in North
and South Dakota General Miles believes
it would be advisable to have cavalry
troops accompany the infantry and ar
tillery for the reason that they would be
extremely valuable for patrol duty. Their
number, however, necessarily VIII be lin
tied because of the great amount or room
required for the transportation or horses
The matter of arms and equipments Tor
the militia, together with any ordnance
supplies that may be necessary, viii be
met by the war department from the
Benecia arsenal in California. For trans
portation purposes, the department Of
ficials say there is no lack of available
vessels on the coast.
II is said at the department that
commander for the troops to go to the
Brigadier General Merriam, IN command
of the departments of California and the
Columbia, may be selected, though there
are other officers available for the COM
mand, which is eagerly sought.
A reticence in making public the plans
of the expedition is noticeable among the
officials, and heads of severals Of the
bureaus who will be called upon to assist
in furnishing supplies have not yet even
been advised of the departments pur-
poses.
COAST TROOPS RALLYING.
San Francisco, May lit is believed
here that the expedition to relieve Com
modore Dewey will leave this city by
Saturday, a week from today The de-
partment has been ordered to prepare both
the Australia and the City of Pekin to
receive troops, and as the two ships can
only carry between them about $500 men,
other vessels will be chartered. The
cruiser Charleston has crew of 2S7 men
and could accommodate the marines and
regulars that the government intends
sending to the front. Dispatches were sent
to the Charleston at Mare Island this
morning to rush her stores and provisions
on board and heVe ner ready 10 proceed
to Manila with the first steamer that can
be started 1t will only be a matter of a
few days before the army which has been
modified in this city will be in full force
at the Preside, going through its drills
and awaiting the further orders Of the
war department. Two batteries OF heavy
artillery, A and B. which were recruited
in this city, battery from Sacramento
and battery D from Los Angeles, were
mustered into the service today. All the
regulars at this port, as wei las the Cali
fornia volunteers, are ready to start for
the front as soon as orders are received.
Portland, Ore, May Accompanies c. D.
E and F, Fourteenth Infantry, Major c.
n. Rogers commanding. left Vancouver
Barracks for San Francisco tonight over
the Southern Pacific. Companies A and @.
now in Alaska. under the command OF
General Anderson. have been ordered to
join the regiment at the Preside and are
expected to arrive there in about ten days.
TENTH 0R0FRFD To ClJRA