The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-13

Just prior to the final reading of the
treaty, the commissioners were photo
graphed.
TROOPS FOR CUBA.
Charleston, S. c., December TO-
Four companies of the Tenth regular
infantry, with band and headquarters,
under command of Colonel PiersOn,
United States army, arrived in Char
lesion at 9 o'clock this morning from
Huntsville, Ala. The soldiers were
comfortably fixed in Pullman cars and
had a very pleasant though somewhat
slow trip down. The Ward Line steam
er Saratoga arrived here from New
York at 1 o'clock and came directly up
to the South Carolina terminal
wharves. The troops and baggage
trains had been side tracked near the
wharf, but loading could not begin at
once as some transferring had to be
done by the ships crew on board.
About 4 o'clock Depot Quartermaster
Willis found everything ready and be-
gan loading wagons, mules, hay, am
munition and stores. The men went
aboard about o'clock ard made them
selves comfortable. Loading continued
until a late hour, when the ship was
made ready for an early start. 1t is
expected that the Saratoga will sail
for Cuba at daylight.
Savannah, Ga, December 10.-The
transport Michigan sailed this after
noon for Marianao with two battalions
of the Second Illinois regiment. The
officers and men strongly objected to
going on the Michigan, which is an old
freight ship and as she has not yet
been overhauled by the government
and regularly fitted up for transport
work her accommodations are not the
most comfortable in the world. Pro-
tests were sent to the medical depart
ment against the use of the vessel by
the Illinois troops. General Lee de-
manded to have the ship inspected
again and sent Lieutenant Colonel Cur
, tis Guild, Jr., inspector general of the
, corps, and Assistant Adjutant General
Dorst to report upon it's condition.
Lieutenant Colonel Guild had already
| inspected the vessel and recommended
that it only be used for the shipment
/ of animals. Orders came from the
! war department that, owing to the un-
| settled conditions of affairs in Cuba the
/ transport would have to be used for the
| shipment of the men. 1t was listed by
| the quartermaster generals depart
ment to carry 800 men and 800 animals
| This morning, after careful inves-
! tigation of the ship, Colonel Guild and
| Colonel Dorst questioned the men OF
| the Second Illinois on what they pre-
Cuba on the Michigan or go back tc
their camps and wait an indefinite pc.
riOd for transport to carry them away
| The men decided to go on the Michi
gan.
The inspector general will report tt
| the war department that the vesse
should not be used any more for men
+ General Lee and staff will sail fo
| Havana tomorrow on the transpOr
Panama. one of the first prizes captur
ed in the American Spanish war;
CHRISTMAS DINNER FOR THE
| NEBRASKA TROOPS.
Omaha, Neb., December 10Th
World-Herald today sent by telegraph
$1,000 to the First Nebraska regi
ment, located at Manila, and $1,000 t
the Third Nebraska regiment, com
manded by Colonel William J. Bryan
now at Savannah Ca, preparing t
start for Cuba. This money is contrib
uted at the solicitation of The World
Herald by over 5000 contributors an,
is sent to the two regiments to pro
vide for Christmas dinner.
THE CUBA TELEGRAPH SYSTEM
Washington, December 10.-Genera
Greeley, of the signal corps, is prepar
ing for practical experience in tn
government operation of the telegraph
and to this end Colonel Dunwoody, on
of the most experienced and scientifi
officers In this branch Of the service
mas been ordered to Cuba to TAX
charge OF the extensive network of tel
egraph lines on the island. He vii
leave Wednesday and will make hi
| headquarters at Havana There ar
about 1000 miles of telegraph wire
connecting the various main points O
the island, an owned by Spain, and t
be left behind when evacuation is com
pleted. Eventually. it is presume
those lines win belong to the Cuba
| government, but during the Unite
States military control of the islam
these 1000 miles of wire must be care
for and operated by the United State.
forces.
STRENGTHENING OF DEwEYs
FLEET.
Admiral Dewey's fleet will b
strengthened shortly by the addition O
| some serviceable gunboats. The Ben
nington, now at Honolulu, has bee
ordered to proceed to Guam, in the La
! drone group, and make a survey of tn
, harbor with a view to the establish
: rnent there of naval station. Thi
done, she will join Dewey's fleet. b
that time, or even before, the Helen
Will have arrived at Manila, and tn
Concord and the Petrel now cruisin
around in Chinese waters, will have re
turned and, altogether. the admira
Will have a sufficient force of sma
vessels under his command to carr
out the presidents policy respectin
the philippines, and to bring into com
mission any of the islands which ma
prove refractory, and to release an
spanish prisoners held in confinement
by the insurgents