Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-05-21
NOTHING BUT VAIN REGRET
That Dewey Was Not Sent Sup
plies and Reinforcements
Two Weeks Ago.
THIS COUNTRY WILL BE FIRST
But IL VIII Leave Dewey but Little
Time TO Get Ready TO re-
ceive the Vessels OF the
Enemy.

Washington, May 23.-The race for
The Philippines is on. 1t will be the
most thrilling sea chase of modern
times. The United States will dispatch
its transports for the relief Of Dewey
from San Francisco across the placid
Pacific, 1850 miles. Spain will send it's
feet, which has for it's object the re-
conquering of the islands, from BARGE
Iona through the Mediterranean, the
Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea,
across the Arabian sea, along the south
ern extremity of the Bay of Bengal,
around the Malayan peninsula and up
the China sea to Manila, a total dis
lance of 5000 miles.
The difference In distance the rival
fleets have to go is but three or four
DAYS by sea travel. And again the adj
ministration realizes how unfortunate
that the relief to Dewey was not sent
two weeks ago.
The City Of Pekin and the City OF
Sydney were ordered by the navy de-
partment and the war department. to-
day TO crowd on all steam and make the
BEST possible time in reaching their
destination.
The United States has the advantage.
Transports taking troops TO Dewey
will maintain a greater rate OF speed
than the war vessels Spain is sending
from Barcelona. The consequences of
an accident, however, en- route might
he Of the most serious character
Should fortune favor the United States
and the transports reach Manila at the
earliest possible moment there will be
but little time i'm which to prepare for
the Spanish fleet. Dewey begged for
men and siege guns and ammunition
so that he might be master of Manila
harbor: so that he might take the
city; so that the Cavite arsenal m
other Notifications commanding the
entrance TO the bay might be reforti-
fled and effectively manned to prevent
Spanish rcinforccmcnts from entering
the harbor.
He will get troops and ammunition
and some guns, according to the infor-
nation given Mt the department, but
he will have precious little time in
which To mount them, take Manila and
make All ready for Il reception OF the
Spaniards.
General Merritt smiles grimly as he
contemplatcs the forces which he is to
command. lie believes he is going 10
have the finest fighting force ever SEM
out Of the country, and is accordingly
happy.
The department, is pushing with all
speed for additional transports and
has already chartered the Lealandcr, u
sister ship to the Australia. Six
months supplies are to go out with the
frstcxpcdition, and three months sup
plies are to 90 out with the second
expedition.
General Merritt was too busy with
his orders to talk TO the reporter, so he
detailed Captain Mott to talk to him,
1--WE cannot tell what is ahead of us
said Captain Mott, but we are going
TO get action when we get over there
All Europe is watching II campaign
in the Philippines with really more In.
tcrcst than the campaign in and
around Cuba, for their interests are
more nearly touched. Consequently
we must back up Admiral Dewey's
brilliant beginning to Il successful fin
ish. 1t will be impossible to map out
the campaign until we are on the
ground. 1t is all in our own hands.
Backed by the fleet we can protect and
hold u landing until we are ready to
move ahead. ! have no doubt we shall
get away some time tomorrow. ! have
every expectation that the second sec
ton oGthc expedition will follow with
in ten days of the first one. The size
of the expedition will be what has al
ready been announced, some $4,000
troops, and more if necessary.