The times., 1898-06-09
IMPRESSED INTO SERVICE
Extreme Measures Adopted TO
Secure Transports.
THE PHILIPPINE EXPEDITION
Statement Made That the War De-
pnrtment VIII Not Stop to HaggIe
Over Prices for Steamers to Carry
Troops, But VIII Settle That De-
tail Later.

The first instance of the actual impress
ment of vessel into the service of the
United States occurred yesterday, when
Assistant Secretary of War Meiklejohn
ordered the Government officials in the
West to seize the steamers Senator, the
Queen and the City of Pueblo for use as
transports for the Philippine expedition.
Mr.. Meiklejohn stated1Yesterday that
he regretted that he was compelled to
resort to the practice of seizing vessels,
but that the Government had to have
transports and was unable to secure many
OF them because of an inability to agree
upon terms of charter.
The actual impressment has not oc-
Cured yet, but orders for the same have
been wired TO Gen. Merritt at San Fran
cisco. The vessels will be seized and in
| spected by the naval experts in the West
! and if found satisfactory will be used.
| The adjudication of the contract price
will be settled in the Court of Claims if the
company's agents and the departmental
] officials do not come TO an agreement be-
| fore the differences are taken into court.
| Mr.. Meiklejohn stated yesterday that
the Government does not propose TO pay
more for transports than it thinks they
are worth. II steamship companies con-
tinue to demand unreasonable prices the
| Government will not allow itself to be
| embarrassed but will impress the vessels
and adjudicate all claims afterwards.
| The impressment of the three vessels
yesterday shows that the Government,
Notwithstanding the favorable reports
that have been received from Admiral
| Dewey in the Orient, does not intend TO
take any chances.
The original size of the force of men TO
be sent to pacify and invest the islands
will be Increased to 10000 troops. This is
! in accordance with the military ideas of
Maj. Gen. Merritt. and since the Govern
| ment has shown every disposition 10
| come over to his side, il is stated that
| Gen. Merritt is exceedingly pleased
Measures already have been adopted
| by the War Department to increase the
size Of all of the expeditions. and troops
are en- route from various camps TO the
| place of embarkation al San Francisco.
All the regiments recruited at their
minimum strength and battaiions now at
| San Francisco will be increased to the
| maximum strength. as required by the
| army reorganization bill. This plan viii
| add materially to the number of men
| originally intended for the Philippines.
! Other regiments will be ordered from the
various rendezvous for use by Gen.
! Merritt.
In order TO convoy all of this vast army
to the Orient, several additional trans
! ports viii have TO be obtained and a
| fourth expedition will be sent from San
Francisco The Government has in view
a number of very fine vessels now avail
| able on the Pacific coast or en- route for
| coast ports and il is stated that no diff
ficulty will be had in obtaining them. If
| the steamship companies object 10 part
| ing with their freighters at reasonable
! prices. the vessels will be seized and i'm
pressed into service, as is being done in
| the case of the Senator, the Queen and
the City of Pueblo.
The arrangements for the sailing of the
Colon. the China, the Zealandia and the
| Ohio We're all completed yesterday. and
the vessels should be al sea by this time
/ 1t is probable that some hitch may have
] prevented their departure yesterday but
| the department is manifesting no anxiety
on their account. for they certainly will
be gone by tonight if they did not sail
| yesterday, as expected. They carry about
| 1000 men. The intention is TO send 5000
men on the second expedition.
Contracts were closed yesterday by Mr.
| Meiklejohn for the steamers Indiana and
| Morgan City. Of the Empire Transporta-
| tion Company of San Francisco, and for
Steamship Company. The Indiana is now
at Seattle and has carrying capacity Of
| LOCO men. The Morgan City is at San
Francisco, and can accommodate 1000
men. The City of Para will be reftted
with hunks and berths so as to accommo-
date 1,5G0 troops.
Preliminary steps also were taken yes
terday TO acquire four large transports
belonging TO the Northern Pacific Steam
| ship Company. They are the Tacoma
| the Olympia, the Arizona, and the Vic
toria.
Later in the afternoon contracts were
| closed for the steamers Victoria, Olym-
| pia, and the Arizona. They will form the
| nucleus of the fourth expedition which
will sail about the last of July or sooner
| if possible. The Tacoma is due at Ia
| coma July 81. and the Columbia should
be there by August Z. 1t is not known
| whether they will be used at all, for the
reason that by the time they arrive the
! war may be over, at least the Philippine
| end of 1t.
The following complete list of vessels
already en- route or about to sail from
San Francisco, has already been fur
nished to The Times:
First Expedition.
City of Australia, 2,755 tons. cost s20,-
600; sailed for Manila May %.
Clty OF SyOHSS, osutu tUIS, Contract price,
| $4,000; sailed for Manila May 25
City of Pekin. 5000 tons contract price
| $4,000, sailed for Manila May 25.
Second Expedition.
China, 5000 tons, contract price $4,000,
expected to sail from San Francisco to-
day.
Colon, $500 tons. contract price SO 500.
expected to sail from San Francisco to-
day
Zealandia, $500 tons, contract price $780,
600, expected TO sail from San Francisco
today.
Ohio, 5000 tons, contract. price $4,000,
day.
Third Expedition.
Indiana, now at Seattle, contract price
5000.
Morgan City, now at San Francisco,
contract price $500 per day.
| City of Para, contract price 81, 900 per
day.
Senator, capacity 1000 men, to be i'm
pressed.
Queen, capacity 1000 men, to be i'm
pressed.
City of Pueblo. capacity 1,5OO men, to be
| impressed.
Fourth Expedition.
Tacoma, capacity 1000 men, now en-
route for Tacoma, will arrive July 81.
Columbia, capacity 1000 men, now en-
| route for Tacoma, expected to arrive Au-
gust Z.
| victoria, capacity 1000 men, now at