Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-21
ALL SORTS OF
GOSSIP ABOUT WAR.
Bits Of Information Allowed to
Escape from Washington Off
cial Circles---Sone Speculative
Suggestions and Prospective
Developments.

Captain Bankers officers on the
Newark.
Prepa. ations go on steadily for
the Philippines military expedition.
Gen. Merritt, who will command,
stopped in Washington this morn
ing on his way westward from New
York, and spent most CT the day in
consul. asion with the officials of the
department, arrans ne details of
the Epedition. Another transport
was secured to-day, and the depart
ment is showing disposition to
treat Gen Merritt with the utmost
Iiberality in the equipment of his
force. 1t is expected that the adj
vance guard on one vessel under
the command of Gen. Otis, WI sail
out of the Golden Gate to-morg ow,
bound for the Philippines.
The complaints of the shoeless
am0Ifg the volunteers just brought
into tie army will soon be silenced,
as the department mas placed or
ders for 100000 pairs of soldiers
shoes.
A beginning was made to-day to-
wards the organization Of the indie
pendent volunteer forces under au-
thority conferred upon the Presi-
dent by special resolution. The Ma
tieaal Guard viii have no part in
these organizations, which will be
made UP of engineers, immuaes and
electricians.
The staff assignments are COM
ing out rapidly in the general Or
de9s issued by the department, the
appointments being made generally
upon The request Of the major gen
erals and the brigadier generals yet
to be provided for in this matter.
&-bdtG ICpdI SHlCuI tC-udt Ill
noulceI that the Polario, the Ham
burg-American line steamer at Key
West, which was authorized to land
certain passengers in Havana, had
decline to avail itself OF the privi-
lege, so the department is relieved
Of what promised to be an embar-
lassing incident, and of the neces-
Sly of establishing what might
prove to be a dangerous precedent
The department published in the
shape of consular laports to-day
some statistics from United States
Consul Williams at Manila. They
show that last year, cut of 1922 YES
sells of all kinds departing from the
Philippines, q were from the Unit
ed states, 100 from Great Britain,
20 from Germany, and AZ from
Spain The arrivals were about in
the same proportion Mr. Williams
last report is dated April I'd, show
ing most flourishing condition of
the Z anila customs, the receipts for
February last exceeding by $67, $40
the receipts for the corresponding
month of 1897.
Officials here dismiss as pure in
vention the story coming from
Montreal that former Minister
Pclo has succeeded in securing
for Spain coaling station on one
Of tie French islands of ST. Pierre
and Miquelon, off the New Found
land coast At the French embassy
the report is treated with indignant
contempt, as the French decree Of
neutrality is binding on the
French governor of these islands
and efectually prevents. are grant
ing of such exceptional privileges
as coaling stations. 1t is not gen
orally known that France possesses
these small islands in the North
Atlantic. When France gave up
Canada and New Foundland to the
British, it was provided in the
treaty Of the Utrecht that France
should retain the two islands Of
ST. Pierre and Miquelon, which
have since been utilized as coaling
stations for French steamers.
The Navy Department is about
to call for bids for a steel floating
dock, capable of floating ship of
$4,000 tons, to cost 100000, and
TO be located at New Orleans.
This dock, when completed, will be
one of the finest structures in the
country.
Gen. Miles had another long con-.
sultation this morning with Secre-
tary Long, and these repeated
meetings are construed here to
mean that point has been reached
in the campaign where the army
finds it necessary to call upon the
navy. for conveys to take troops
to Cuba. 1t is. realized that this
work is extra hazardous at present.
Conveys always are exposed to de-
struction at. the hands Of a de-
termined enemy, and With a
squadron Of feet Spanish cruisers
and torpedo gunboats of great
speed lying in wait somewhere