The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-12
City of PeI&ing and Possibly other
Steamers to Leave Saturday with
Regulars and Supplies.
GEN. MERRITT TO COMMAND
VOLUNTEER CONTINGENT TO BE
Conveyed BY THE PHILADELPHIA.
RumOr that the Spaniards Will Send a
Formidable Expedition to Drive
Dewey Out of Manila.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE rumor that
Spain intends to send formidable oxpedi-
ton to the Philippines for the purpose of
wiping out the American fleet in Manila
bay is given little credence here. The Navy
Department however, is taking no chances,
and will hurry supplies and reinforcements
to Admiral Dewey. The War Department
will also send troops as fast as steamers
can carry them. The following volunteer
troops will go to San Francisco and possi-
bly, to Manila: Wyoming, one battalion OF
infantry Colorado, one regiment OF IN
fantry; Kansas, one regiment or infantry
Montana, one regiment of infantry; Nepras-
ka, one regiment of infantry; Utah, two
light batteries and one troop of cavalry;
North Dakota, two battalions of infantry;
Idaho, two battalions of infantry.
The Governors of the States are informed
that these troops shall proceed to the coast
as soon as they are mustered, armed and
equipped. If they are not fully equipped,
but sufficiently so to travel, the War De-
partment officials suggest that, it is best
they go and complete their equipment at
San Francisco. The presumption is that
number of these men will be sent with the
expedition to the Philippines, although it
by no means follows that all will go, as
some will be retained to take the places of
such of the regular army men who, because
of their experience in actual military life,
will be sent across the ocean.
The Navy Department has decided to
have the cruiser Charleston start at once on
it's relief mission to Admiral Dewey's fleet.
The orders issued anticipate the departure
of the Charleston from San Francisco as
soon as it is possible to get the ammunition
-I,o 1,
out waiting to convoy the City of Pekin
and the other ships loaded with supplies.
The orders to the commandant of the navy
yard at Mare island are to put on board
the Charleston all the ammunition she will
carry, as long as her steaming capacity is
not retarded. 1t is the understanding here
that at least $50 tons of ammunition can
be put on board. BY extraordinary efforts
on the part of the authorities here all the
powder, shot and shell requisite for this re-
lief expedition have been assembled at San
Francisco already, though it was thought
at first it would take until after the 18th to
draw these supplies from various other
points. The ammunition includes 500 rounds
of big projectiles for the eight-inch guns of
the Olympia, about 1000 six-inch shells and
10O 900 five-inch shells, as all of the cruisers
of Admiral Dewey's fleet mount five-inch
and sX-inch guas There is also an ample
supply of the smaller sizes of shot and shell
for the machine and rapid-fire guns The
stock of powder will be in three lots, aggre-
eating over 10000 pounds
Owing to the hurried departure OF the
Charleston it is not expected that she will
wait for any considerable number of troops.
as these will follow later on the other relief
ships She has crew of about 300 men, and
this probably will be augmented by marine
guard of a few hundred men.
The Charleston is a protected cruiser of
1878 tons displacement, built of steel, and
mounts eight guns in her main battery. She
has twin screws and an indicated horse
power of 6,666. The authorities here hardly
expect her to make more than thirteen
knots, with her heavy stock of coal, ammu
milton and supplies Her coal bunkers are
rather limited, so that she probably will
have to stop at Honolulu to recoal. Her trip
to Manila will take about two weeks. The
City of Pekin, which will follow her. is
very fleet merchantmen, capable of being
pushed eighteen knots or more, so that even
with the handicap she has of starting sew
eral days after the Charleston there is a
prospect she may overhaul her in the race
across the Pacific and reach Manila first
2
City of Pekin can be made ready for start
Saturday is the earliest date mentioned
The Charleston is commanded by Captain
Henry Glass. Aside from carrying amtnu-
milton and supplies to Admiral Dewey the
Charleston will prove valuable adjunct to
his squadron She will come next to the
Olympia and Baltimore in point of size and
effectiveness. In determining upon this
speedy departure of the Charleston the au-
thorities here have had in mind not only the
need of giving early relief to Admiral
Dewey, but have also been somewhat ap-
prehensive of the Philippine insurgents. The
news reports reaching here from the Philip
pines indicating that the insurgent forces
might resort to massacre are received with
serious attention by officials, as they recog-
nize that our present position in controlling
Manila bay imposes a certain degree of re-
sponsibility in seeing that civilized methods
prevail and that the insurrectonists do not
resort to lawlessness and incendiary meas
ures.
The rush orders to the Charleston which
went out to-day will have the result pos
sibly of obliging the department to send an
other vessel, probably the Philadelphia
along with the troop transports, which are
expected to go out from San Francisco
about the end of the week, since it is very
unusual in time Of war to send such trans
ports without a war ship for convoy.
The War Department officials say the mill
itary expedition to the Philippines will be
started at the earliest practicable moment
Preparations therefor are going ahead at a
rapid rate. Most of the supplies In the
ouartermaster's line that are needed for this
expedition will have 10 be obtained at san
Francisco and. If not on hand at the quar-
termaster's depot there, and II the time is