Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-26
FOR DEWEY.
Trouble In Getting Transports Cause
Delay in the Manila Expedition.
SHIPS READY FOR INVADING CUBA.


WASHINGTON, May 24.-Much COM
ment and some criticism have been
caused by the delay in forwarding
troops to the Philippine islands to sup
port Admiral Dewey. Both the com.
ment and the criticism had their
origin in the desire Of the people that
the fruits Of Dewey's victory at Ma
Mia should not be endangered by any
lack Of assistance from the navy or
war department. 1t is known now
that troops would have been sent to
Manila before this had 1t been possi-
BILE for the war department to secure
transports on the Pacific coast. The
utmost difficulty Is being experienced
by the department in obtaining such
transports The coastwise trade on
the Pacific is not large as compared
with that on the Atlantic, and ma
jority of the vessels engaged in the
trade are Of foreign register. OF
course, ships flying foreign flag can.
not be used as transports BY the gov
eminent, as such use would constitute
u violation Of the neutrality laws of
the nation whose flag the ship bore.
Last night Assistant Secretary
Meikleiohn received telegraphic offer
from the agent Of the Northern Pacific
Steamship company at Seattle, placing
at the disposal Of the government the
company's entire fleet of steamers, pro-
vided they be given American register.
These ships are the Tacoma, Arizona,
Olympia, Columbia, Victoria and Ar
gyll. All are British built vessels and
fly the British flag. The likelihood is
that the war department will order
such vessels Of the Northern Pacific
Steamship company as may be needed
to San Francisco and then ask con.
gress to give them an American regis.
ter in order that they may promptly
convey the available troops to Manila.
1t is the desire Of the department that
the troops following those to be sent
to the Philippines on Saturday next
shall 60 not later than Wednesday,
June /. 1t Is imperatively necessary
that they be gotten to Manila as soon
as possible, but in order that they
may 90 at all it will be quite as neces.
sary that some foreign ships be given
American register by congress
The advices received by the assist
ant secretary from San Francisco yes
terday indicated that three Of the
transports, the City Of Sydney, the
City OF Picking and the Australia,
would start on their long journey to-
day. Notwithstanding the long delay
in getting these ships away, the off.
Gals here say 1t could not be avoided,
as there were many alterations which
had to be made in them necessary to
the comfort and health of the crew.
SHIPS READY FOR INVADING CUBA.
TAMPA, Fla, May 24-Everything
waits on news from the fleets When
the long.looked-for and long-hoped-for
meeting between Admirals Sampson
and Cervera takes place-and military
officers do not for moment question
the result-it is the general belief
that orders will be given to put the
army on board the transports at once.
Should the original plan be carried
out Of sending only regular troops on
the first expedition, the feet Of trans
ports at Port Tampa is amply sufficient
for that purpose With the arrival
yesterday Of the lroquois, Santiago
and Cherokee, 81 transports are now
at the port, every one fitted for EN-.
barkation. These ships will easily &C.
commodate between $1,000 and 5000
men, somewhat over the total number
Of regular troops in camp here. 1t is
thought SO hours after orders are Is.
sued to embark, every man, horse and
pound Of supplies can be placed on
board the vessels In waiting
MISS BARTON AT TAMPA.
TAMPA, Fla, May 24.-The Red
Cross ship, State Of Texas, with Miss
Clara Barton, representative Of the
National Red Cross society Of America,
and a corps of surgeons and trained
nurses, arrived at Port Tampa from
Key West yesterday and cast anchor
near the gunboat Helen. The vessel,
which is fully fitted up for hospital
purposes and carries supplies enough
for the equipment of several Red Cross
stations, will, it is said, follow the
feet of troops into Cuban waters In
speaking Of the Red Cross work in Gu
ba Miss Barton said that she had re-
ceived assurance from the highest
Spanish official sources that her hos
pital at Serro and her headquarters
were being carefully guarded, and that
the Red Cross supplies left there were
Al Il j