The herald., 1898-05-28
TWO STEAMSHIPS CHARTERED
For Transportation of Trops From San
Francisco to the Philippines.
Reception at Honolulu
Associated Press Special Wire

having on board the captain Of the. first
class cruiser Olympia, flagship of Rear
Admiral Dewey, and two officers who have
been invalided.
The situation at Manila is unchanged
The insurgents are quiet. Beef costs $25O
per pound at Manila. The report that the
commander or the spanish gunboat Callao
was tried by courtmartial and shot for not
firing on the American ships which cap
tured the Callao is untrue. The Zafiro will
return to Manila on Monday next.
Rumors Of Disaster
NEW YORK, May 27.-The Worlds Lon
don correspondent says:
A special dispatch to the Daily Telegraph
from Manila says that the United States
cruiser Baltimore has been wrecked by an
explosion on board. She is now lying in the
mud at Macabulos.
Nothing in It
LONDON. May 27.-The stories circulat-
ed at Madrid and elsewhere regarding the
disabling Of the Baltimore are evidently
groundless. The dispatch received at the
Spanish capital from Manila apparently
referred to the alleged disablement Of the
Baltimore during the battle at Manila,
d
ploded some ammunition. slightly injurins
eight men on board.
Transports Chartered
WASHINGTON, May T.-Two more
steamships, the China and the Colon of
the Pacific Mail Steamship company, were
chartered today by Assistant Secretary
MelkleJonn OF the war department to carry
troops for the Philippines. The vessels. 1t
is understood here, carry fully 25O0 men,
and if they can be made ready in time will
form part of the second expedition to the
islands.
Mr. Meiklejohn succeeded in communicat-
ing with c. P. Huntington, the president
Of the company, by telegraph somewhere
in Iowa last night, and as a result of
propositions the China and Colon were Sc
cured. The latter vesselyis at San Fran
Francisco, where she is.,oading a CONNER
cial cargo for the. Orient, and was ex-
pected to sail tomorrow. The China ar
rived at San Francisco today. AS soon as
practicable both ships will be turned over
to the agent Of the quartermasetr's de-
partment for such changes as may be nec-
essary. Five vessels are now available
for the second expedition to the Philip
pines, the Centennial, Zealandia, Ohio, Co
Ion and China. Their combined capacity
is approximately 5000 rncnt ant it. is the
opinion of the officials here that they may
be ready to sail for Manila some time next
week.
The acquisition of the China and Colon
Is source Of satisfaction to Mr.. Me,kle-
John, who says the department Is now In
much better shape as regards transport
tation. He explains that there Is, no de-
sire on the part of the government to i'm
press vessels in the service unless such ac-
ton is absolutely essential for its purpose.
The government wants to be absolutely
fair in its terms Of charter, but at the same
time believes that 1t is paying for the ves-
sells all that they are worth. 1t may be, in
teresting to vessel owners to know that the
decision has been reached. by, Mr.. Meikle-
john In making contracts in the future to
concede to them certain features relating
TO crew and fuel which were embodied in
the charter of the Peking by the navy de-
partment.
No further steps have been taken by the
war department to obtain the six ships of
the Northern Pacific company, for which
the agents are holding out for a larger
oAhOuHt VI ioucy tHdH tue government Is
disposed to pay Mr.. Meiklejohn declines
to give any more money than that last
proposed, believeing that the benefits
which would accrue to the ships by Amer
lean register would more than compensate
for the lower prices at which the vessels
are asked to be turned over.
The China Arrives
SAN FRANCISCO, May 27.-At II :55 the
Merchants Exchange reported the steam
er China, which has been chartered by the
government to transport troops to Ma
Mia, as passing through Golden Gate. She
will be boarded by the Board Of Health and
if found to be In good sanitary condition
will go to her dock and the work of un-
loading her cargo will commence. She will
probably be turned over to the government
on Monday to be prepared for her voyage
to the Philippines.
Merritt in Command
SAN FRANCISCO. May N.-General
Merritt, who will command the American
forces in the Philippines, and who arrived
from Washington last night, has established
his headquarters in this city at the Palace
hotel. He held long conference with
Major General Otis this morning, but will
not divulge any Of his plans for the future.
General Otis will tomorrow take up his
residence at Fort Richmond, and will have
the volunteers now encamped there under
his eye at all times. He will enforce strict
discipline in the camps from now on.
| Today Captain c. L. Hooper received in
structions from Washington ordering him
, to proceed to Manila by the next transport
to assume command of the cutter Hugh
McCulloch to succeed Captain Hodgeson
who is ordered home
Arrangements have been made by General
Otis for the establishment of military hos.
pital near the site Of Fort Richmond
Tents will be erected for the sick soldiers
and nurses will be always in attendance
There are now many cases of measles and
bronchial affections among the soldiers
and the marine hospital, which has been
used temporarily, is inadequat to the de.
mands.
4 It Is not expected here that the transpor,