Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-05-24
HARD TO GET TRANSPORTS.
Not Enough American Ships ON the
Pacific to Carry Troops to
the Philippines.

WASHINGTON, May 23.-Much comment
and some criticism have been caused by the
delay In forwarding troops to the Philippine
islands to support Admiral Dewey. Both
the comment and the criticism had their
origin in the desire Of the people that the
fruits of Dewey's victory at Manila should
not be endangered by any lack of assist
ance from the navy or the war department.
1t is known now that troops would have
been sent to Manila before this had it been
possible for the war department to secure
transports on the Pacific coast The ut
most 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 Attain
tic. and a majority of the vessels engaged
in the trade are Of foreign register. OF
course, ships flying foreign flag cannot
be used as transports by the government.
as such use would constitute violation of
the neutrality laws Of the nation whose flag
the ship bore.
Tonight the war department is negotiat-
Ing by telegraph with the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company for the charter of two
of the companys vessels, the China and
the Colon. The Colon flies American coll
ors, but the China is under the Hawaiian
fiaE.
The difference between the war depart
ment and the steamship company 10 now
one of price. Whether satisfactory terms
will be agreed upon remains in doubt.
Tonight Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn
received telegraphic offer from the agent
of the Northern Pacific Steamship Com
pany at Seattle. placing at the disposal of
the government the company's entire fleet
of steamers. provided they be given Ameri-
can register. These ships are the Tacoma,
Arizona, Olympia, Columbia. Victoria and
Argyll. All are British built vessels and
fly the British flag. 3D.
Commenting upon the situation which
confronts the department. Secretary
Meiklejohn said:
IF we cannot get vessels at what we
consider fair prices. We shall be forced to
impress such as we may need into the
service and leave the prices to be adjusted
subsequently by a board appointed fol-
the purpose. We have made every pos
sible effort to secure vessels of American
register; indeed, We want nothing else. But
it is impossible to obtain them on the
Pacific coast. We shall simply have tc
ask congress to give American register te
vessels that we can obtain. There Is nc
Other way out of the difficulty"
The likelihood is that the war depart
ment will order such vessels Of the North
ern Pacific Steamship Company as may be
| needed to San Francisco and then ask
congress to give them an American reg
lister In order that they may promptly con-
| vey 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 go moi
| later than Wednesday, June l.
It is imperatively necessary that they be
| gotten to Manila as soon as possible, but
in order that they may go at all 1t will be
| quite as necessary that some foreign ships
be given American register by congress.