New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-09

TROOPS TO co FROM THIS CITY
THROUGH TIE SUEZ CANAL"
THE FORCE WILL BE THREE REGIMENTS
OF REGULAR INFANTRf-GENhhAh
CORBIN HURRYlNG PREP
ARATION5.
rny TELEGRAPH To TIE TRrpuNE.l

about the end Of this month anu ''''' ~
the suez Canal The expedition VIII consist -
three regiments Of regular infantry
between two Of the largest converted transports
owned by the Government. with perhaps
convoy Of two warshlps Arrangements are
now being made for this expedition 10y Au
tutant-General Corbin as rapidly as possible IN
view of Its great Importance especially as II
involves cooperation by the State ana Navy
Denartrnent authorities as we'll as those OF the
War Department
WHY NEW-YORK WAS CHOSEN
The decision to use New-York as the point OF
embarkation. instead Of san Francisco whence
all the earlier forces started for the Philippines
was reached by General Corbin after careluI
review Of number of considerations chlei
among which was the urgency for haste Inc
early completion of the treaty OF peace VII"
Spain renders Indispensable a prompt increase
of the American forces not only al Manila, but
10 provide additional garrisOns for other I'M
portant centres In the archipelago. whlch VIII
Immediately fall under American dominatioh'
with It's accompanying responsibility lor t"e
security of life and property.
At the present time the Government Is "hoiy
without available transports in the facinc
Ocean 10 meet the emergency. The dispatch OF
two vessels from the Atlantic IT, is believed
therefore particularly advantageous
for the double purpose Of bringing home from
Manila such volunteers as can soon be spared
and increasing the transport fleet in the Pacific
The three regiments Of Regulars have not yet
been selected but as none but those now in
New-York State and other Atlantic garrisons
can we'll be spared. the conclusion was forced
upon the authorities that economy as we'll as
rapidity Of action required them TO be sent by
ua,. - he pcfa -
across the Continent. and then undertaking the
trying and monotonous voyage on the Pacific
with no haven OF rest after leaving Hawaii
VOLUNTEERS TO RETURN HOME.
The garrison under General Otis at Manila
now consists OF company Of the Regular
Engineer Battalion. six troops OF the 4th Regu-
lar Cavalry. six batteries of the % and 9th
Regular ARTILLERY three reglments-the 14th
18th and 23d-Regular Infantry, fifteen regi-
ments of volunteer infantry and six batteries
OF volunteer artillery. including the Astor Light
Battery. which already has homeward orders
II will he the effort Of the authorities To return
all these volunteer regiments and batteries to
the United States as speedily possible bring
Ing them home far feasible In the order
in which they reached Manila after Admiral
Dewey's victory. and 1t is believed that on the
arrival there early in February Of the three
regiments OF Regulars from New York. az least
six " the volunteer commands may be released
from the duty that has already grown irksome
10 them.
The expedition from NewYork could start in
the course Of the next week II it not for
the exigancy In Cuba which demands the
utilization Of the entire marine transportation
resources OF the Government on tke Atlantic
Coast just at present for providing protection
70 IN, feia mt, ha
departure Of the Spanish garrisons Although
the 9th at Madison Barracks: the 18th. at Forts
Porter Columbus and Niagara; the DIST at
the Plattsburg Barracks, all in New-York. as
we'll as other regiments Of Regular Infantry at
posts east OF the Rocky Mountains. are equipped
ready 10 start practically the tap OF the
drum. a delay is essential for at least two
weeks to secure the necessary transports The
vessels 10 take these three regiments from New
York TO Manila will probably be the Berlin.
with a capacity fo- two thousand men. and the
Chester. which can comfortably provide for
fifteen hundred men. These ships declared
to be In excellent condition. and capable Of car
rying all the supplies and equipment essential
for the force. besides having the advantage OF
roomy decks and plenty Of elbow room for three
thousand men and the necessary officers.
STATE DEPARTMENTS COOPERATION.
Some question arose. when the advantages OF
the Mediterranean route led 20 its virtual adop-
ton to the possibility Of sending such an ex-
petition through the Suez Canal without vio-
lating the neutrality regulators of that water
way, but the State Department. which is taking
an active interest in the eXpeditiO and will
through its consular officers. undertake to make
the stay Of the soldiers pleasant In the foreign
ports visited OF the voyage, promptly swept this
away by citing the precedent Of an armed Span
ish squadron under Camara securing a right "
way 20 pass 10 the Rcd Sea from the Mediter-
ranean at the height Of hosti.ities, notwith-
standing the cautious Representations OF this
Government. After that incident it is considered
impossible that such an international canal
could ever be closed in time Of war. not TO men,
ton such times OF peace as the present EXCEPT
by the exercise Of force.
THE NAVAL CONVOY.
The Navy may send or two cruisers with
the expedition far Gibraltar where the
Helena has just arrived. and where she may act
a convoy. and Admiral Dewey may send one
Of his vessels as Far as Singapore 10 meet the
fleet Stops will probably he made the voy-
age at Gibraltar. Port said Aden Colombo and
Singapore whera coal VIII be ready and fresh
food Will be obtained II will depend on the re-
ports OF the officers who accompany this expedi-
lion whether the transports after reaching
Manila snail return to the Uni'ed States 10y way
of the Atlantic Of the Pa ariic. although IL may
be considered advisable. in view OF the fact that
most Of the earlier regiments which reached
Manila We're from the Pacific Coast. that the
transports will proceed TO San Francisco. in or
dor to land the returning troops nearer their
homes.
vessels from New-York to Manila via Suez Is
given Nv the Naval Hydrographic Office as
II eos nautical miles while that from San Fran
cisco To- Manila via Honolulu is given as 1850
knots To Manila from Nrw-York by way u
the Cape of Good Hope is l3.5s5 miles and by
way of the strait Of Magellan and Samoa it Is
lGyuO miles.