Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-11

The Navy Department has decided to
have the cruiser Charleston start at once
on its relief mission to Admiral Dewey's
fleet at Manila The orders issued anticf-
pate the departure of the Charleston from
San Francisco today. if it is possible to get
the ammunition and stores aboard. Ger
fanny she VIII leave within the next few
hours. and without waiting to CONVOY the
City of Pekin and the other ships loaded
with supplies of the relief expedition The
determination is to get the Charleston off
without another days delay, in order to
afford succor to Admiral Dewey at the
earliest moment possible. The orders to
the commandant of the navy yard at Mare
Island are to put on board the Charleston
all the ammunition she will carry so long
as her speed capacity is not retarded. 1t
is the understanding here that at least 100
tons Of ammunition can be put on board
BY extraordinary efforts on the part of the
authorities here. all the powder shot and
shell requisite for this relief expedition
Lave already been assembled at San Fran
cisco, although it was at first thought it
would take until after the 10Th to draw
these Supplies from various other points
The ammunition includes 5OO rounds of the
big projectiles for the eight-inch guns ~
the Olympia, about 10000 six-inch shells
ard 1000 fve-inch Shells as all of the
cruisers of Admiral Dewey's feet mount
hve-iEch and six-inch guns There is also
an ample supply of the smaller sizes of
shot and shell for the machine and randi
hre guns The stock Of powder will he in
three lots. aggregating over I1O.Ooo pounds.
Her Officers and Men.
Owing to the hurried departure of the
Charleston il is not expected that she will
walt for any considerable number of
troops. as these can follow later on tho
other relief ships. The cruiser has a crew
oA ABOUT ]oo men, and this will probab bly be
ausmented by marine guard of a few
hundred men. The Charleston is a protect
&C cruiser OF $3.50 tons displacement built
OF steel. and with eight guns in her main
battery. She has twin screws and an in
dlcated horse power of 6,66j. The autbor;
ties here hardly expect her to make moro
than thirteen knots with her heavy sto,.s
OF coal ammunition and supplies as tbis
Will carry her low in the water. Her coal
bunkers are rather limited so that she ,y;,,
probably have TO stop al Honolulu To 70
coal In all, her trip 10 Manila will co,er
ABOUT two weeks The City of Pekin which
VIII follow her, is a very fleet merchant
man, capable OF being pushed to eighteen
nAotS VI ii4OIe, 50 lnat even with the ha r,,li-
cap she has of starting several days after
the Charleston, there is a prospect that
she may overhaul her in the race across
the Pacific and reach Manila first This
will depend. however, on how soon the Cit,,
of Pekln can be made ready for a start
Saturday is the earliest day mentioned
The Charleston is commanded by Cantaip
Henry Glass ASIDE from carrying ammu-
milton and supplies to Admiral Dewey tho
Charleston will prove valuable adjunct
to his squadron. She will come next To tho
Olympia ard Baltimore in point of size
and effectiveness.
In determining Upon this speedy depart-
ure OF the Charleston, the authorities here
kave had in mind not only the need of Civ
ing early relief to Admiral Dewey. bu,
have also been somewhat apprehensive Of
the attitude Of the Philippine Insurgents
The news reports reaching here from the
Philippines. indicating that the insurgent
forces might resort TO massacre. are re-
ceived with serious attention by officials
as they recognize that our present position
IN controlling Manila bay imposes a GER
tain degree of responsibility In seeing that
civilized methods prevail and that the in