The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-26
THEY ARE OFF.
Advance Guard of the Army of
Invasion
Starts For the Philippine Is
lands in Two Ships.
$500 MEN UNDER WAY.
Plenty of Ammunition and Pro-
visions For Year.
A Great Ovation rendered the
Departing Troops.

San Francisco, May 26.-The start
was made for Manila late yesterday
afternoon and the first American army
to san for foreign shore is now on
the broad Pacific.
At o'clock Brigadier General Ander-
son signalled from the Australia for
the City of Pekin and the City of Sgd
ney to get under way Immediately. The
signal was seen from the shore and the
waiting crowds commenced to cheer
wildly. They knew what it meant as
well as the sea captains, for whom the
signal was intended. No time was lost
| on board the transports. The crews
worked with a will, and in a short time
the anchors were up and the vessels
who had been impatiently awaiting the
signal to start, let themselves loose.
They climbed to the rigging and
sWarmed all over the big ships, shout
ing and cheering like mad.
The bay was alive with small craft of
every description and huge ferry boats
were pressed into service to accommo-
date the eager crowds and carry them
to the head Of the Golden Gate that a
last farewell might be said. The big
transports steamed slowly along the
water front and the crowd on shore
raced along to keep them in sight. The
and shore was something terrific. Every
steam whistle in the city appeared to be
blowing, cannon were fired and the din
lasted fully an hour. AS the Australia
passed AlicatraS island, in the lead of
the other ships, the battery of the
United States artillery, stationed there,
fired a salute to Gen. Anderson. The
colors were dipped in recognition and
the steamships sounded their sirens
The boats, small and large, followed
along as the transport moved slowly
forward, and not until the heavy swells
of the Pacific ocean were encountered,
did they turn back.
1t was shortly after o'clock when
the vessels entered the ocean, and the
sun, glinting over the city, gave the
departing soldiers a last beautiful view
of the country, to fight for the honor Of
which they were sailing over six thou
sand miles.
was steaming slowly to the southwest.
After the pilots were dropped, the yes
sells went ahead at full speed, and, in
six days, if all goes well, they will enter
Honolulu harbOr and join the Charles
ton. The strain of expectancy during
the past few days had been severe on
both soldiers and citizens, and after the
noisy demonstration of the afternoon,
the townspeople felt relieved that it was
all over
The three transports carried close
onto $500 men. The expedition, which
is under command of Brigadier General
Anderson, consists of four companies
under command Of Major Robe; the
First regiment California volunteers,
Col. Smith; the First regiment Oregon
volunteers, Col. Summers; a battalion
of SO heavy artillery, Maj. Geary; about
100 sailors and II naval officers. The
fleet is loaded with supplies to last a
year and carries a big cargo of ammu-
milton and naval stores for Admiral
Dewey's fleet at Manila.
It is not probable that any more
troops will be dispatched before another
week The Zealandia is being put in
shape to carry soldiers, but none of the
other transports is in port. The China
is not due until May %, and if the
steamships of the Northern Pacific
company are chartered and put under
an American register, it will take some
time before the fleet can be put in or
der.
1t is thought here that the fleet that
left here yesterday will not keep COM
pany with the Charleston after leaving
Honolulu. They all carry enough coal
to steam at full speed from Honolulu to
Manila while the Charleston, in order
to economic coal, will not go faster
than ten knots an hour. If the trans
ports do not wait for the cruiser, they
may be expected to arrive at Manila
Inn