New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-22
PHILIPPINES TO BE HELD.
ACTION BY THE PRESIDENT.
THE BIG MONITOR MONTEREY ORDERED
TO MANILA.
GENERAL MERRITT TO BE CLOTHED WITH
THE POWERS OF A COLONIAL
GOVERNOR GENERAL.

GOVERNOR GENERAL.
tBy TELEGRAPH rEIBuNE.l
Wasi ington. May 21.-Thc permanent posses.
sion Of the Philippines Is strongly indicated a.
the determined policy OF the United States In
the action taken by the President to-day In two
important matters, following closely in the line
OF the extra ordinary development which the prof.
ect to reinforce Admiral Dewey has assumed
In the last two weeks. the strength of the MILL
tary expedition in that time having been raised
from 5000 to $1,000 men. while the proportion
Of Regulars TO volunteers was maintained at
one third largely through the efforts Of Major
General Merritt.
TIE ORDERS TO THE MONTEREY.
The sole bulletin posted in the Navy Depart
ment to-day read follows:
The United States steamer Monterey has been
directed TO proceed 10 Manila and reinforce the
Asiatic Squadron
The significance Of this announcement may be
fully appreciated when coupled with the state
ment that the United States has had only two
armored vessels in the Pacific Ocean since the
Oregon rounded Cape Horn nearly a month ago.
They the Monterey and the Monadnock the
latter a modernzed monitor begun over twenty
years ago. and now or duty as guardship over
the naval station on Puget Sound. Up to the
present time the Monterey which Is new ves-
sci throughout. has been considered the sole
naval defence OF San Francisco, and her dis
patch across the Pacific, leaving the safety OK
the Golden Gate altogether dependent on shore
batteries. shows how urgently her presence ap-
pears to be demanded in Manila Bay For har-
Dor defence the Monterey is considered the most
formidable vessel in the American Navy except
the Puritan, and that vessel is superior to her
In a scarcely perceptlble degree. II at ALL
The second important development In the
Philippine matter to-day related to the scope OK
the authority which General Merritt will exer-
else when he reaches the Islands. In ADDITION
TO his military authority commanding Cen
eral OF the recently organized Army Department
Of the Pacific, ne is apparently to be clothed
with powers similar to those exercised by
Govcrnor-General in foreign colonial establish
ments. The State Department. under the d.
rec.ion of the President. has been engaged for
several DAYS preparing elaborate instructions
for General Merritt, which are regarded az
strictly confidential. Both Secretary Alger ana
Secretary Long have been frequently consulted
in regard TO these instructions, which are under'
stood to attach certain plenpotentary ATTRIBUTES
to the commanding General
A FORMIDABLE FIGHTING SHIP.
two steel barbette turrets and one military mast
Her displacement is 4OS4 TONS and she has the
highest type of vertical triple-expansion engines
driving twin screws with 52i4 maximum indi-
Gated horsepower producing a maintained
speed of fourteen knots. Her armament consists
Of two 12.inch breech loading rifles In her ror-
ward barbette turret firing S50-pound shells, ana
two similar rifles OF 1O-ipch calibre in her after
turret. firing 50O-pound projectiles. In addition
to a secondary battery of six G-pounder rapio'
fire four l-poupder rapd-fre guns ara TWO
Gatl,ngs Her side armor varies IN thickness
from thirteen inches amidships to six inches meas
the bow and stern. Her forward turret Is oi
eight-inch Harveyized steel and the atter turree
is half an inch lighter The forward barpette -
built Of thirteen-inch plates. and the OTTER par
bette is eleven and half inches THICK Iho
ships vitals are further protected by three
inch nrotectiye deck. as we'll as by the custom
ary arrangement OF coal-bunkers in American
lighting ships.
The formidability Of the vessel, aside from the
conceded superiority of her officers and men, ana
particularly of her gunners. is therefore much
greater than that OF any vessel In the spanish
Navy, aai her presence at the entrance of Ma
Mia Harbor will render it an excessively DAN
gerous locality for any Spanish vessel such as
the Maurld autnOIltlcS are just Ho" co'C"'ho
to send out to the Philippines TO retaliate on
Admiral Dewey for his destruction OF the Span
ish naval force In the Pacific.
HOW SHE WILL GET TO MANILA.
The difficulties attending the dispatch OF the
Monterey 10 a base fully seven thousand miles
from home are serious but the Navy DEPART
rnent is fully prepared to overcome them. The
Monterey's total bunker capacity is 236 tons. and
with this amount Of fuel she is capable. under
natural draught. at speed averaging from
eight TO ten knots. OF accomplishing two thou
sand miles straightaway. When II seemed like
ly. last year. that the presence OF the vessel
might be required at Honolulu. arrangements
were extemporzed by means Of temporary bulk
heads on her broad fore and aft decks 10 enable
her to take aboard additional one hundred
tons which could carry her safely another thou
sand miles. 1t is probable that this device VIII
be utilized in the long voyage the ship is now
ordered to make but as an additional security
# e. proposed 10 assist her. at any rate after
she recoals at Honolulu, by placing her in tow
o, n large collier. this method having the double
advantage of increasing her speed and at the
same time economizng her fuel.
II will also be possible after leaving Honolulu
to take advantage OF the numerous small ISL
ands extending In a chain fully 1000 miles to
the westward of the Hawaiian group. and 10
lie 70 in their lee and recoa from the collier
other islands too small to be placed on popular
mans but accurately located on the larger Ad-
miralty and Photographic Office charts are
numerous throughout the Western Pacific. and
good use can be made Of the Caroline group for
this purpose The latter islands still under
the nominal sovereignty OF Spain and in afford
Ing accommodation for the Monterey may at
the same time come under the domination Of
the United States.
The arrival Of the Monterey at Manila, to-
gether with the rehabilitation OF the forts at
the entrance Of that harbor. which will be
speedily accomplished when General Merritts
advance guard reaches there. is relied on to
make the American position In the East impreg-