The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-08
EXPEDITION TO
PHILIPPINES
Details are Being Rapidly
Developed.
5000 SOLDIERS TO GO
WILL BE COMPOSED OF REGU-
LARS AND VOLUNTEERS.
5000 SOLDIERS TO GO
WILL LEAVE FROM SAN FRANC SEQ
The Make up Will Consist Of ;avIlry, lnfanirj
and ArtlIery-.The Commander has
not Yet been Chosen.

Washington. ID. c.. May THE de
tails for the proposed expedition 10 III.
Philippines under the direction OF the
War Department have been advanced
materially as result of conferences hello
to-day between Secretary Alger, Gener-
i'll Miles and other officers of the Army
The expedition. which will carry in all
about 5000 men, will start from SM,
Francisco as soon as arrangements cal
he perfected 1t is not yet finally deter
mined whether all the troops will go al
once although this is not thought to be
likely. nor has the exact composition
been fully decided upon. The statement
was made this afternoon that in addition
10 the regular soldiers the quotas of the
National Guard from the States of Cali
fornia. Idaho. Oregon and Washington
will i'm all probability be detailed TO 20
and an order for their rendezvous al
San Francisco is expected very soon.
Senator Shoups company of riflemen,
which was TO join one of the three spe-
cially authorized regiments ofsmounted
men. is mentioned as likely to be sent
As for the regular army troops there are
two regiments of cavalry, four compan-
les of the Fourteenth Infantry and a
regiment of artillery readily accessible
to San Francisco. The -four companies
of Infantry were stationed at Vancouver
barracks. but it is said have recently
been ordered to San Francisco. so ten
companies of the Third Artillery are scat
tered along the coast but the greater
number are in California; the Fourth
Cavalry is distributed among the posts
and forts in Washington, California.
Wyoming and Idaho and the Eighth
Cavalry is in North and South Dakota.
General Miles believes it would be adj
visable to have cavalry troops accom-
pany the infantry and artillery for the
reason that they would be extremely val
liable for patrol duty. Their number,
however. necessarily would be limited be-
cause of the great amount of room re.
quired for the transportation of horses.
The matter of arms and equipments for
the militia together with any ordnance
supplies that may be necessary viii he
met by the War Department from the
Beneca Arsenal, in California. For
transformation purposes the War De
partment officials say there is no lack
of available vessels on the coast. 1t is
said at the department that Il comman-
der for the troops to go to the Philip
pines has not yet been decided upon.
Brigadier General Merriam is in COM
mand of the departments of California
and the Columbia, and he may be
selected. though there are other officers
available for the command, which is ca
gery sought A reticence in making
public the plans of the expedition is no.
ticeable among the officials; and the
heads of several of the bureaus who will
be called upon to assist in furnishing sup
plies have not vet even been advised of
the departments purpose.
TO LEAVE NEXT SATURDAY.
San Francisco, Cal, May lit is be-
lieyed here that the expedition to relieve
Commodore Dewey, will leave this city
next Saturday. The department has
been ordered to prepare both the Austria
liza and the City of Pekin to receive
troops, and as the two ships can only
carry about 1900 men, other vessels will
be chartered. The cruiser Charleston
has crew of 2S7 men, and could accom-
modate the marines and regulars that
the government intends sending to the
front.