Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1898-05-12
Hurry Orders.

WASHINGTON, May 12.-The cruiser
Charleston leaves San Francisco al
most Immediately on its relief mission
to Admiral Dewey's fleet at Manila
without waiting to convoy the City of
Peking and other ships loaded with
troops and supplies.
The orders to the commandant OF the
navy yard at Mare Island are to put on
ton she will carry 50 long as her steam
ing capacity is not retarded. 1t is the
understanding here that at least 13O
tons of ammunition could 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 assembled at
San Francisco already, though it was
thought at first it would take until after
the 10Th to draw these supplies from
various other points. The ammunition
includes 500 rounds Of the big projec-
tiles for the S.inch guns Of the Olym-
pia, about 10000 6.inch shells and
10000 5.inch shells, as all of the cruis-
ers of Admiral Dewey's feet mount
8 and 6-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 powder
Will be in three lots, aggregating over
40. 900 pounds.
Will Not Garry Many Troops.
Owing to the hurried departure of
the Charleston it is not expected that
she will carry any considerable number
of troops, as these will follow later on
the other relief ships. She has crew
of about 800 men, and this probably
will be augmented by marine guard
of few hundred men.
The Charleston is protected cruiser
of $3.50 tons displacement, built of
steel, and mounts eight guns in her
main battery. She has twin screws
and an indicated horse power of 1866.
The authorities here hardly expect her
to make more than Is knots with her
heavy stock of coal, ammunition and
supplies. Her coal bunkers are rather
limited, 80 that she will probably have
to stop at Honolulu to recoal. Her trip,
to Manila will take about two weeks.
CITY Of Pekins Will Catch Uy:
The City of Peking which will follow
her is a very feet merchantmen, capa.
BILE of being pushed to II knots or more,
SO even with the handicap she has of
starting several days after the Charles
ton, there is prospect she may over.
haul her in the race across the Pacific
and reach Manila first. This will de-
pend, however, on how soon the City
of Peking can be made ready for
start. Saturday is the earliest day
mentioned. The Charleston is com.
manded by Captain Henry Glass. Aside
from carrying ammunition and supplies
to Admiral Dewey the Charleston will
prove valuable adjunct to his squad
ron. She will come next to the Olym-
pia and Baltimore in point of size and
effectiveness.
Fear Acts of Insurgents.
In determining upon this speedy de-
parture of the Charleston, the author
tiles here have had in mind not only
the need of giving early relief to Ad-
miral Dewey, but also have been some
what apprehenslve Of the attitude Of
the Philippine insurgents. The news
reports reaching here from the Philip
pines, indicating that the lnsurgent
forces might resort to massacre, are re-
ceived with serious attention by the
officials as they recognize that our pres
ent position in controlling Manila bay
imposes certain degree of responsible
ity in seeing that civilized methods
prevail, and that the insurrectionists
do not resort to lawless and incendiary
mea sures.