New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-12
MERRITT TO AID DEWEY.
TO LEAD FIFTEEN THOUSAND TROOPS
TO THE PHTLIPPINES-CHARL
TON TO SAIL AT ONCE.
fpr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

Washington May 11-Major- General Wesley
Merritt has been selected to command the exped-
ton 70 Manila and TO become the Military Gov
ernor Of the Philippine Islands He is expected
here tomorrow morning TO consult with the Pres
icent. and II he accepts the appointment as he Is
confidently expected 10 do. he Will start for San
Francisco tomorrow night BY virtue Of Cen
! eral Merritt's rank which s second only 10 that
OF General Miles. his troops will constitute the
First Army Corps. which. in addition TO the
Regulars already on the Pacific Coast and the
volunteer forces Of California. Oregon. Wash
ington, Idaho and Utah now under instructions
10 rendezvous az San Francisco. will include.
under orders issued to-day all the volunteers
called into service by the President from Colo
rado. Kansas Missouri. Nebraska. North Da
kota and South Dakota.
THE TROOPS SELECTED.
The aggregate force OF volunteers in this
corps Will be made up OF fifteen regiments OF
infantry. i've batteries Of artillery and one
troop Of cavalry. amounting to about 10000
men. II may not be possible to start more than
a division. consisting OF one-;hird OF this corps.
for the Philippines early next week, OF account
Of the lack OF transports. only three Of which
have been secured up to the present time. al
though efforts are being made to obtain others.
The city Of Peking and the City of sydney be-
longing to the Pacific Mail steamship Company,
have lust reached san Francisco and
promptly chartered at the rate OF 81 600 day.
They will carry 1000 soldiers each and 1900
tons Of freight. The Oceanic Companys steam
er Australia, now at San Francisco. has also
been chartered at the rate Of $4,000 month
and will carry the artillery. numbering nearly
a thousand men. with their batteries and horses.
I'm addition to = 900 tons OF freight.
II Is expected that another steamer 10 be
used as collier for the squadron. will he char
tered tonight and as rapidly as possible this
fleet will be coaed and provsioned for its 1000
mile voyage. While no effort will be spared to
expedite the departure Of the expedition. Army
officers agree that IL cannot leave San Francisco
before May y. and in that event it will hardly
reach Manila before the second week in June.
HURRY ORDERS TO THE CHARLESTON
In the mean time the Navy Department will
not delay the departure of the cruiser Charles
ton but has issued urgent orders have her
started from san Francisco as soon az 100 tons
Of extra ammunition for Admiral Dewey's fleet
can be put aboard This consists Of $1,000
plosive shells about twenty-five tons Of powdet
and n large amount OF fixed ammunition for the
secondary ba .teries. The Charleston will stop
two days at Honolulu for coaling and then take
a course directly for Manila. The cruiser has
lust been put in thorough order and will prove
a valuable acquisition to Deweys squadron.
especially her complement consists OF 500
men, The Charleston is commanded by Captain
Glass She Is a protected cruiser of 800 tons
disbursement. is built OF steel and carries eight
guns IN her main battery.