The record-union., 1898-05-12
RELIEF FOR DEWEY.
The Charleston Ordered to Start
Immediately for Manila.

WASHINGTON, w May 1.-THE Navy
Department has decided to have the
cruiser Charleston start Immediately
on it's relief to Admiral Dewey's feet
at Manila. The orders issued antici-
pated the departure of the Charleston
from San Francisco to-day if it is bos-
sible to get the ammunition and stores
aboard, and she will leave without
waiting to convoy the City of Pekin and
the other ships loaded with supplies.
The orders to the Commandant OF the
navy yard at Mare Island are TO nut on
board the Charleston all the ammuni-
ton she will carry SO long as her steam
ing capacity is not retarded 1t is the
understanding here that at least $50
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 have been assem-
bled at San Francisco already, though
it was thought at first that it would
take until the 10Th to draw these sup
plies from the various points. The am
munition includes 500 rounds for The
big projectiles for the guns of the Olym-
pia and about 10000 six-inch shells
and 10000 five-inch shells, as all of the
cruisers of Admiral Deweys fleet mount
flve-inch and six-inch guns. There is
also an ample supply of the smaller
sizes of shot and shell for the machine
and rapid-fire guns. The stock Of pow
der will be in three lots, aggregating
over 10000 pounds.
Owing to the hurried departure of the
Charleston, it is not expected that she
VIII wait for troops, and these will fol-
low later on the relief ships She hiss
crew of about 800 men, and this u1ob-
ably Will be augmented by q marine
guard of few hundred men,
The Charleston is a protected cruiser
OF o,loO tons displacement built of
steel, and mounts eight guns in her
main battery. She has twin screws and
an indicated horse power of G,666. The
authorities here hardly expect her to
make more than thirteen knots with
her heavy stock of coal, ammunition
and supplies. Her coal bunkers are
rather limited so that she will probably
have to stop at Manila to recoal II er
trip to Manila will take about two
weeks.
The City of Pekin, which will follow
her, is very fast merchantmen, oapa-
bic of being pushed to eighteen knots
or more, so that even with the handi-
cap she has of starting several days af-
ter the Charleston, there is a prospect
that she may overhaul her in +he race
across the Pacific, and reach Manila
first. This will depend, however, on
how soon the City of Pekin can be
made ready for a start. Saturday is
the earliest date mentioned.
The Charleston is commanded by
Captain Henry Glass. Aside from car
rying ammunition and supplies to Ad-
miral Dewey, the Charleston will prove
a valuable adjunct to his squadron. She
will come next to the Olympia in Point
of size and effectiveness.
In determining on this speedy depart
ure of the Charleston, the authorities
here have had in mind not only the need
of giving early relief to Admiral Dewey
but also are somewhat apprehnesive
of the attitude of the Philippine insur-
gents. The news reports reaching here
from the Philippines indicating that the
insurgent force is resorting TO nassa-
cres are received with serious attention
by the officials as they recognize that
our present condition in controlling
Manila Bay imposes a certain degree
of responsibility in seeing that civilized
methods prevail, and that the insur
rectionists do not resort to iawless ard
incendiary measures.
NOT YET READY TO SAIL.
VALLEJO (Cal), May n.-Orders
We're received from Washington to-day
for the cruiser Charleston to proceed
Immediately to Manila without waiting
for the transport fleet. No actual date
was set for the sailing of the Charles
ton, but she will undoubtedly leave for
the Philippines before Saturday.
Captain Glass, when asked about the
report from Washington that the Char
lesion would sail to-day, said that he
was expecting sailing orders, but had
not yet received them. The Charleston
has already been loaded with ammuni-
ton, and this morning was hauled from
the dock into the stream. There she is
being coaled from two lighters. She
cannot possibly get away to-day, and
probably will not sail until Thursday
evening or Friday morning.