The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-26

Washington, May 25.-While relief Is
being rushed to Dewey the invasion OF
Cuba will by no means be abandoned,
although much depends on the opera
tons of our men-of-war. The change
in plans provides for delay only until
additional supplies can be obtained for
the invading forces. The procrastina'
ton Is deemed justifable. Conditions
in Cuba are at their worst. Further
delay cannot change the situation ma
terially.
In the Philippines a crisis is APP
proaching. Great anxiety is felt lest
Dewey and his little force may be un-
able to hold the islands against great
odds. In his dispatch to the depart
ment yesterday, Admiral Dewey says
there is great danger Of an outbreak
among the Spaniards near Manila ana
he has considered the situation sufilc-
ientlv grave to warrant his arranging
that foreigners in the neighbOrhood of
Manila may be taken off by foreign
warShips i'm the port, in ease of trouble.
A first relief force of $500 men was re-
ported by the Navy department ready
to start for the Philippines today
Twelve hundred of this number so on
the naval supply ship Pekin ana the
remainder are appcrtioned to the two
transports, sydney and Australia. They
will proceed at once to honolulu, there
TO be joined by the Charleston ana con-
voyed to Manila harbor.
NEW SHIPS.
In addition to those vessels the war
department is negotiating for the ships
Centennial, San Francisco and Zea-
landia Arrangements have been con-
Cluded practically, so that they can
be ready for use in few days. Terms
for transferring the steamships Colon
and China to the government have not
yet been agreed on. other vessels on
their WaV to the western coast from
Asiatic stations will be secured on their
arrival. Among the latter are the fol-
lowing named: The Tacoma, with a
carrying capacity of 1900 men; Vic
toria, 5000 tons. with a capacity of o.
900 troops; Argyle, 1900 tons and a
capacity for carrying 1900 men. The
vessels have been offered to the gov
ernment on condition that they be
given an American registry. AS a last
resort only has that concession been
made.
Four large ships will be in port June
10. and they will be secured immedi-
ately by the war department. They
are the Olympia, capable Of carrying
1000 troops; the Ohio, with a capacity
of 1900 men; Arizona, $500 men, and
the Columbia, 1000 men. No plans
further than the preparing of this fleet
and the equipping Of the 1900 men to
be carried by them is being considered
by the department. Every branch of
the army is to be taxed to the utmost
to furnish the supplies necessary for
the adequate Quitting of the eXpedi-
tion in the short time remaining.
Should a larger fleet be required the
department may have to resort to i'm
pressing ships. AT present that is a
remote possibility. 1t has been found
that no dependence can be placed on
the Klondike fleet. The vessels are too
small and in every way unfit for the
service.
ASSIGNMENT OF MONTERREY.
In sending the Monterey to Manila
the administration has taken a step
which 10 Of equal Importance with the
despatch OF troops If not greater. The
Monterey herself will be able to defend
the harbor Of Manila against the ap-
pToach of a hostile fleet. With the
ships which Dewey will have after the
arrival of the Charleston it will enable
him to overwhelm any possible fleet
which Spain might send to the islands
and il would render him invincible
against all corners, even if France or
any other nation were to come to
Spain's assistance. Moreover, the
Monterey, once in the Asiatic squadron
will remain there. The difficulty in
sending the great monitor over an ex-
panse of 1000 miles of ocean with only
one opportunity to coal on the way
is so great as to preclude her being
ordered back to San Francisco for any
but the most urgent reason.
Unless a permanent occupation were
i'm mind, the government would not
think of having so powerful a vesse
in Asiatic waters for the Monterey is
not a warship which would be wasted
on an ordinary cruise like those in
which American fleets on the AsiatiC
station have hitherto been engaged
Its purpose is evidently the permanent
defense of the harbor of Manila.