The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-05
FIRST MANILA EXPEDITION.
The Men and the Ships That Comprised I,
The Stop Mt Honolulu,

feklhg ana City OF sydney. While Gen. Ander-
son was the commander OF the troops, the ex-
petition was really In charge Of the navy, repre-
sented by Commander William c. Gibson, who
sailed on the Peking. which thus became the
flagship. As the vessels steamed out of the
Golden Gate the ships proceeded in echelon.
the Pektng leading. the Australia of her port
quarter and the Sydney OF the Australia's port
quarter.
On the PeklnE were the First California Vol
unteer Infantry and the naval detachment. On
the City OF Sydney were three companies OF tho
First Oregon Infantry and three companies OF
the Fourteenth Regular Infantry. which had
been stationed for some time In Alaska. On
the Australia with Gen Anderson was the rest
OF the Oregon regiment, United States Vice.
Consul Boyd OF Honolulu was also aboard the
Australia.
The people OF San Francisco gave the troop
ships a rousing send-off. They reached Homo
lulu on June l. where they were Joined by the
collier Doric and the United States cruiser
Charleston. From Honolulu the expedition
sailed on the morning of June 4.
The welcome the ank soldiers and sailors
received at Honolulu was more enthusiastic
and stirring even than the ovation at San Fran
cisco. The ships were met In the offnR by q
little steamer. upon which were the members
OF q reception committee. In the name OF the
Hawaiian Government this committee bade the
troops and the sailors welcome to Honolulu.
The ships came to anchor and everybody went
ashore. the officers on the first day and the men
on the other days the ships spent in port. A
great feast was prepared for all hands in the
garden surrounding the Capitol. and while they
were in the city the Yankees owned 1t. The
Dowager Queen ofthe Sandwich Islands. Kapio-
lani. presented an American flag to the Charles
ton. sending with 1t a graceful note to the
cruisers commander. Capt Henry Glass.
The official statement Of the constitution and
disposition Of the expedition is as follows:
On the City OF Peking-First California Vol
unteers. composed Of 40 officers and e73 en-
listed men: 10 officers and II sailors OF the
navy. making q total OF SO officers and 1,OO4
men.
On the City OF Sydney-Thirteen officers and
31S enlisted men Of one battalion OF the Oregon
Volunteers; nine officers and 800 men. OF four
companies Of the Fourteenth United States In
fantry; one officer and so men Of the California
Heavy Artillery. and DR.. E. r.. Mcvay. ranking
medical officer. making O total OF "a officers
and $40 men.
On the Observation-Disclosures staff and
band, and two battalions Of the Oregon Volun-
teers. comprising 81 officers and $40 men.
The First California Volunteers are com
manded by Col. Smith; the Oregon Volunteers
~ " tAhlC olIo Nv SGlllOInld I16dN1 T
tillery by Major Gary. The detachment of the
Fourteenth United States Infantry is in com
mand OF Major Robe.
The soldiers are not as we'll equipped. 80 far
as arms are concerned. as they might be.
All OF the rifles are Of the Springfield pat
tern. mt few Of them are new. The only
new Springfelds in the expedition are 200.
distributed among the Oregon regiment. The
troops were uniformed. when they started. with
the regulation fatigue uniform of the National
Guard. except the detachment OF regulars.
which had the heavyweight regulation field
uniform Of the army. For the greater part Of
the troops. however. canvas uniforms and he'll
meta were secured in San Francisco. or were
bought here and sent to San Francisco in time
to be shipped on the transports.
The expedition was due at Manila any time
after June %. AS the City OF Sydney was a
slow ship and the speed OF her consorts had to
be regulated TO suit hers 1t did not cause any
anxiety when the squadron was not reported as
having arrived at Manila by June 25. When
the Charleston joined the squadron its speed
was still further retarded. The cruiser. with
her limited coal capacity; was compelled to
steam only eight knots an hour. and a letter
from THE SUNS correspondent, on board the
Australia. mailed from Honolulu on the arrival
Of the squadron. stated that it would be fully
three weeks before the expedition could reach
Manila.
Before Gen. Merritt, Military Governor OF the
Philippines. left New York for San Francisco
he told a reporter Of TIL U that 1t was his
intention to start the first expedition for the
Philippines as soon as possible after he reached
San Francisco. He said he would place In COM
mand the best officer available. and. II Ad-
miral Dewey concurred in the plan. Manila
would be Immediately invested.
a. 4 AL-A Al a -
mander OF the first expedition would be gov
erned entirely by what ADMIRAL Dewey thought
best. since Gen. Merritt believed that the Ad-
miral was completely the master OF the situa-
ton. A letter received from Gen. Merritt
shortly before the first expedition sailed stated
that he had outlined for Gen. Anderson a gem
eral plan for occupying the city and defending
1t against attack.
Admiral Dewey destroyed the Spanish feet In
Manila Bay on Sunday. May i. In his official
report to the Navy Department he asked for
troops to invest the city. Upon receipt OF that
report the Government began to make prepare
tons for sending the first expedition to the
Philippines. Great difficulty was experienced
in securing transports. Ships available on the
Pacific coast were held at high prices for sale or
charter. At length the three ships which sailed
out Of the Golden Gate twenty-five days after
the battle OF Manila Bay were secured.
Gen. Anderson. the commander OF the troops
is a veteran OF the civil war and is considered
| one Of the most level-headed officers In the ser,
vice. He was In Alaska, a Colonel In commanc
| OF the Fourteenth Regular Infantry. when wal
was declared. The Fourteenth was Immediate
" ordered to San Francisco. Not long attel
that Col. Anderson was made a i rigadier-Gen
eral OF Volunteers. Six days after the eyacua'
ton OF Fort Sumter. on April 20. 1861. Gen. An
derson enlisted as a private In Company A
Sixth Ohio Infantry. His genius for military
affairs was noticed almost Immediately
after he enlisted. and after little les'
than a months service in the yolun'
teers he was commissioner Second Lieuten
ant OF the Second. now the Fifth. Cavalry HI
came out OF the war a Captain in the Iwehti
United States Infantry. In March. 1888. he wa
made A Major and transferred to the Twenty
first Infantry. On June "a OF that year he wa
] transferred to the Tenth Infantry. with whicl
he served until he received his Lieutenant
1911