New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-20
QUESTION or TRANSPORTAIlON
TROOPS READY AT SAN FRANCISCO bCl
SHIPS TO CARRY THEM LACKING.

SHIPS TO CARRY HEN bfNNi>A-'
San Francisco. Sept. 10 (SpeciaD.-Transpor
| tation is the question awaiting decision nov"
| There is no obstacle to the troops assignee t0'
| dutv at Manila sailing at once Dut lack VI sn'p'
| 10 carry them No transports are In the mar 10
The ships Of the second and third expeoi'io" ~
Manila are believed to be on the way ne'e
! Colonel Long in charge Of all such matters sa'u
! this evening" ~
General Marcus Miller has been to see me re,
eenv new transports as experience has taueht
MS that the fitting of them Tor troops caiIi i =
be don, in a few days. and has always occupi i1
| soveraI weeks There IS every reason 10 sup
| nose that the second and third expedition Trans
| ports are now returning The emma IS iO1 Isa
| for on Wednesday. The Zealandla the Chria
| and the Senator composed the Seconu ca 49,
| lion and while the China, being the fastest SNIP
| will arrive first, the other two shouid io''o" -
few days. ,,o., ,-itv the
| CITY of Paris. the Valencia and the NeWpo ra /.
we're in the third expedition. As the orders Wete
to General Merritt to send back all ,raiispo ~
not needed these undoubtedly are aiSo Oh M
way Seen thousand men can easily be accom-,
,,oodated on these vessels, and allow lo,s Oh lo'
| for each man. OF course, when they VIII am
here only be guessed at Ihey are IN ST nro
| TO he cleaned and reloaded with coal ana pr
| visions I should say that three or tour udS >
would make them fit for sea II VIZ pe , 80,
omy Of time and money tor the uos :, nd
| noatinq them into troop ships might take a
month or two I have wired Wash'hStoh t'
| Instructions and expect an answer to-H'oi''"'
Colonel Baldwin, the chief purchasing co'"-
missary has to buy nothing Ior 'he co"'e"
n,,ted oxneditio; A fortnight ago he was ap-
| prised by the Chief Commissary At '" dS"''T
TON that snch A move might be expected he
ario.,,, made his ARRANGEMENTS and has now IN
store or contracted for ratone for the voyage
]
don't that the Government anticipated the ORDERS
issued to-day by ten days al least. and that
tbev we're not the result of an emergency or
NJ sudden had news from Manila.
Amonp Army officials the inference Is tnat
while Maior-General Otis states In his last dls'
| match that he has no need Of more men the uil-
certain conditions prevailing in the Islands MAKE
Il advisable = reinforce him In expectation OIL
possible complications.
with tho vast number OF insurgents ana
nine millions Of ISLANDERS" said an ofhcer To-
night. 1T is conceivable that the Americans may
feel IT prudent 10 have a larger army co'-
oor,rated ,here Originally 10000 Ten were
So down as the force to be given General lei-
ritt and sending those regiments ana de'ach-
mauts is only fulfilling the promise made to MIN
by President Mckinley months ago OF course
the unexpected might happen. and Aguinaldo -
a factor not vet determined. but oe!leNe "haI
has urged the Government TO dispatch these
additional troops is really the moral effect Of
the order on Spain. the insurgents and the
world Il shows that the United states is III
the same TO stay. and will play its part active
IS and take It's winnings with no consultation
Of any one else.
Particularly at the present time reinforcing
OTIS may be laid 70 shrewd dipomacy The
Peace Commission is to meet in Paris soon
Our Commissioners may be less hampered in
their actions and expressions II We are pre-
parnd for any emergency In the ISLANDS. Aple
10 enforce any demands we may make. our
ultimatum would have more weight with men
10 hack IT, The step is an indication or the
convictions OF the American people OF their UNI
limited resources should necessity require their
manifestation.
General Merriam is supposed to be en- route
from Honolulu The China IS due on Nednes-
day and should bring him He Will decide on
the details of the expedition II he arrives then.
but otherwise his presence VIII not he unduly
awaited II Is merely question or ransporta-
ton as the troops are ready.
With General Merriam on the China, AdJu.
tant-Gcncral Rabcock and Brigader General
Francis V Greene are expected. General Bah
cock comes 20 resume his duties as Adjutant-
General Of the Department ~ California. ana
General Greene's status Is not clearly dehned
Few Army officers put any credence IN the
statement that he is In dsfavor with General
Merritt or the War Department. When General
Merritt was requested by the War Department
to name four Brisadier- Generals for promotion
70 the rank OF Major-Ceneral, he named Greene
and Babcock among them. and II is not likely
that he would have done 50 II General CSeene
had done anything 10 incur tho displeasure o.
War Department officials.