The record-union., 1898-06-21
The General Expected to Accom-
| pany This Expedition.
He viii Probably Stop at Hongkong Ia
Order to Receive Further Instruc-
tionS From the Authorities
at Washington.

1 Il
third expedition to Manila will sail on
next Tuesday, or Friday at the latest.
This announcement was made at Gem
eral Merritt's headquarters this morn
| ing, notwithstanding a report from
other sources that the transports can
not be gotten in complete readiness by
| that time
The officers who are supervising the
preparations on board the vessels APP
pear to differ with the steamship people
concerning the time needed to complete
the alterations, and have reported to
General Merritt that the transports
ought to be ready to receive the SOL
diers by Thursday.
AS yet General Merritt has not made
public the time of his own departure.
but it is known among his officers that
he is exceedingly anxious to get away
on the next expedition, and will do so
unless the authorities at Washington
interfere with his present plans.
The report has been frequently circu-
lated aro1pld army headquarters that
General Merritt will divert the course
of the vessel in which he will journey to
the Philippines, so as to touch at Hong
kong before landing at Manila Gem
eral Merritt will make this move in or
der to place himself in communication
with the authorities at Washington be-
fore he commences operations in the
Philippines. Further instructions will
doubtless await him at Hongkong,
which is the only cable point at which
he can touch after leaving this city.
In order not to delay the vessels of
the third fleet, supplies and coal are
now being placed on board, and if the
carpenters can finish the fitting up of
the hunks by Thursday the five vessels
exceedingly doubtful if this can be
done, especially as the working force
employed on the vessels is by no means
large. The Indiana is still receiving
coal. The Morgan City has been coaled
and is ready to receive stores which,
however, have not yet arrived at the
dock. The Ohio is receiving both coal
and freight. There is nothing doing
on the Valencia. The guards are on
board, and are, apparently, enjoying
greatly the ease of camp stools. The
Valencia has to go on the dry dock.
When she will go is uncertain, but the
army officers say that she is to form
part of the third expedition, and, or
course, she will go. Considerable work
will have to be done on her before
she can bs made ready. The City of
Para is receiving freight, and at the
same time the work Of fitting up the
sleeping quarters of the men is pro-
crossing rapidly. The. Newport dock
ed about 1870 p. m. to-day, and will
be got out as soon as possible.
Just what ships will be used for the
fourth fleet cannot be learned, but the
fleet will probably consist of the New
port, now at her dock; the City of
Puebla, due from Puget Sound; the
steamer Peru, due from HongSong on
June 24th; the Alameda, which is
scheduled to arrive from Australia on
June 18TH and the Acapulco, which will
doubtless arrive from Panama on the
same date.
Japan may indirectly aid Uncle Sam.
There is a report current at the Pacific
Mail dock that the steamers Of the
Japanese line, Toyo Company. may be
used as substitutes for the ships char
tered by the United States Govern
ment from President c. p. huntington
There is a traffic agreement between
the TOyo Company and the Pacific Mail
for the operating of new steamers now
being built for the former company.
As the Mail Company has given up the
Pelxin and China, and will give up the
Peru. the Toyo line, which operates a
number of large steamers in the Ori-
ent, will probably furnish ships for
the trade until its new steamers shall
be completed.
Every effort is being made to recruit
the Third Artillery four of whose bat
teries are designated for Manila and
two for the next expedition, up to the
war strength of 200 men as soon as
possible The recruiting officers at In
Chicago and st. Louis were
ordered to make special efforts to get
in men for this regiment. Twenty-Five
recruits came in from Indianapolis yes
terday, and forty-seven are expected
from Chicago tomorrow.
The officers and men of the Seventh
(Continued on Eighth Pagel