The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-27
TROOPS ON TRANSPORTS
THIRD MANILA EXPEDITION READY
TO SAIL THIS AFTERNOON.
Soldiers Loaded Down with s|COmfOrt
Bags" by People of San Francisco
Merritt to Go Wednesday.


sand men. comprising the third expedition
to the Philippines, embarked early this
afternoon, and soldiers now swarm in the
holds and upon the decks of the steamers
Ohio, Indiana, City of Para and Morgan
City. Tomorrow the steamer Valencia will
receive her complement of the military and
these five transports, bearing the bulk of
the expeditionary force, will probably sail
tomorrow afternoon, to be followed on
Wednesday by the steamer Newport. on
which General Merritt is expected to de-
part.
Camp Merritt presented a busy scene this
morning The orders issued to the troops
which are to compose the third expedition
to the Philippines, last night, served to
keep many of the men awake, so excited
were they over the anticipation of an early
start for the far east. All night long the
camp cooks worked to prepare the last
breakfast in the camp for the departing
soldiers and to get the one days cooked
rations with which the order to embark said
the men must be supplied. This work re-
CURED the aid of many prvates and the
noise caused by hurried preparations made
sleep almost impossible.
During the morning hours carloads upon
carloads of people were landed near the
regimentaI camps and it is safe to say at
least five thousand people visited the camp
before orders to march were given. Very
few of the visitors to the camp went out
empty-handed.i Many were the packages
containing little necessaries and delicacies
packed up with the luggage of the depart
ing troops Many of them who had not re-
ceived comfort bags were supplied with
this little necessity to healthful soldier life
this morning and the absolutely necessary
abdominal bandage was furnished those of
the departing, men who had not received
them Bouquets of beautiful California
flowers were distributed among the men in
large quantities, and many rifle barrel was
made pleasantly heavier by floral decora-
tions.
Shortly after IL o'clock the sounding of
bugles announced to the civilians and sol
diers alike that time for parting had come
and the soldiers must form for the march
to the water front. where the transports
awaited them. Along the entire extent of
the five-mile march an escort squad of po-
lice was obliged to force back the throngs
of people to make a narrow lane for the
progress of the parting companies. The SOL
diers were cheered at every step, good-byes
and good wishes were momentarily shouted,
hand flags were waved, flowers were thrown
and everywhere emotion was visible as
when the First California Regiment of San
Francisco boys marched away.
1t was a long, hot tramp this morning
over the cobble stones, but willing hands
brought glasses of water for thirsty SOL
diers and each enlisted man would have
required an orderly to carry all the parcels
which were pressed upon his acceptance.
When the triumphal march ended and the
soldiers were taken on board their respec-
tice transports they were given tremen-
dous ovation by thousands of citizens who
swarmed on and around the wharves. 1t
was an emotional well as physical re-
lief when the embarkaton was an accom-
plished faet.I The assignment of troops to
the various transports was as follows:
Steamer Morgan City-The First Idaho
Volunteers and the First Nebraska recruits.
Steamer City of Para-The Thirteenth
Minnesota
Steamer Indiana-One battalion of the
Eighteenth United States Infantry, one bat
talon of the Twenty-third United States
Infantry, the signal corps and detach-
ment of engineers.
Steamer OhioAFirst Wyoming Volunteers,
Batteries G and L. Third Artillery and re-
cruits of the Thirteenth Minnesota
The steamer Valencia, which is taking on
coal to-day at the Union works. will be
ready tomorrow morning for its assign
ment of troops-the First North Dakota
Volunteers. The Newport on Wednesday
will take on Batteries H and K, Third Ar
tillery, the Astorf independent battery and
General Merritt and his staff. This steam
er is at the Pacific Mail dock.