New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-09

TRANSPORTS SECURED AND CONvOYS
ORDERED.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l

Washington. June S-The problem Of securing
an adequate number Of merchant ships for the
transportation Of troops to Manila now
to have been solved by the War Department
authorities, and sufficient number Of vessels
to carry the second and third instruments will
soon be available at san Francisco. Owing TO
the scarcity on the Pacific Coast Of ships suit
able for transport service. much difficulty has
been experienced in facilitating the movement
OF troops to the Philippines. and shipowners.
realizing that the Government would be COM
PEELED to charter all vessels It might require for
the dispatch Of troops to Manila from Pacific
Coast cities most exorbitant rates were asked.
and the War Department had either TO accept
them or to impress what vessels 1t required.
SIX MORE SHIPS CHARTERED.
All obstacles have now been removed. how
ever. and further trouble is expected to be
encountered in providing all the ships necessary
for the movement Of soldiers Arrangements
were made by the War Department to-day by
which six additional vessels were secured. and
steps were taken to add FIVE more to this list il
they needed. Within the next week the sec
ond military expedition for the occupation Of
the Philippines leaves San Francisco. and Will be
followed about ten days later by the third and
last one Troops numbering about twenty thou
sand Regulars and volunteers will then nave
sailed and by the latter part Of July the full
American force should be safe In the harbor OF
Manila.
General Merritt will go on the last expedition
with his staff and the clerical force assigned to
him by the War Department Conveys for both
expeditions Will be provided by the Navy De-
partment. though II seems unnecessary 10 send
warships with the transports. when there is not
a Spanish ship in the whole Pacific Ocean which
could offer then, the slightest molestation. Yet
II has been deemed advisable by both the Army
and Navy that protection should be afforded so
many troops afoat, and a vessel Will be as
signed to each expedition competent TO deal with
any type Of Spanish ship that might possibly be
encountered.
The first expedition. consisting Of three YES
sells with the Charleston escort, Is now
we'll on it's way across the Pacific and is due 10
arrive off Cavite about the 2Uth inst The Mon
terey and the Monadnock are exr ected 10 con-
voy the second expedition from San Francisco
and the Bennington. due In a few days from
Hawaii. will accompany the third and last As
a result Of the acquisition Of the required num-
Der Of transports extraordinary activity VIII be
begun a, once in preparing them for their long
voyage and ell will be ready for sea within two
weeks
TO GUARD THE TRANSPORTS.
To provide the necessary safeguards cor the
movement OF so large a number OF troops on
the longest sea Journey ever made by soldiers
Of this country. the available strength OF the
Navy on the Pacific Station has been drawn
upon until row not a single hrst-cass warshp
remains at the Mare Island Navy Yard. or
trose still on the coast three are being repaired
and the other Is old wooden craft No naval
station has been drawn upon 20 the same extent
as this IN Increasing tho effective strength OF
the North Atlantic and Asiatic fleets, and not
until the war ends and probably for some time
after that VIII Il again assume its former rank
as one Of the most important commands Of the
service. The few remaining vessels constituting
the remnant OF what was a few months ago
formidable feet are the Philadelphia the York
town and the Ranger all OF which are al Mare
leland n various stages Of advancement. When
readv for sea these too. 10 be sent away
IN foreign service either TO Hawaii or Manila.
so that bout the time that Admiral Miller. the
commander n-chef retlres IN the autumn. MS
SQUADRON will probably consist only Of his ha2-
ship the Albatross. an antiquated old Fish
Commission steamer. unsuited for an officer Of
his rank. but yet the only one upon whicn ne
can hoist his fag
yrSsFLS SUNK AT MANILA TO BE RAISED
San Francisco. June S.-The United States
Government will raise the Spanish vessels SUNK
IN Manila Harbor by Admiral Dewey's guns.
Three San Francisco firms-T. p. White!aw Z"
Son. A. Woodside & Co.. and the Pacihc Mail
Steamship Company-will be called on for BIDS
for the work
fEor n sketch of the Philippine Islands see
Page ID