The record-union., 1898-06-05
THE NEXT
EXPEDITION
To MANILA,
The Fleet to Consist Of
Five Vessels,
Which Will Carry 5000
Troops to the Islands.
Report at Camp Merritt That the
Ships Will Sail Wednesday.
Company +, Sixth Regiment Captain Lucey,
Ordered to Proceed ia Santa Cruz
Without Delay Battery Cto
Start for Fort Candy
Tomorrow.
Report at Camp Merritt That the
Ships Will Sail Wednesday.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 4-The char
tering of the steamer Centennial to
carry troops and supplies to the Phil
1ppines has created somewhat of Il sem
sation in business circles, and much ad-
verse comment is heard. The Centen-
NAL was built thirty-nine years ago
and an afternoon paper says tina. she
has been condemned by the Japanese
Government and was sold to q Puget
Sound syndicate for $4,000 and that
syndicate has chartered her to the
United States Government for $500 a
day. The vessel is not rated by Lloyds
and is not named in marine records.
The transport steamers now being
prepared for the trip to Manila have
not received any stores from Mare ISL
and yet. and but for this fact the ves-
sells could be made ready to sail by
Wednesday at the latest. But the re-
port is circulated at Camp Merritt that
the vessels viii get away on that day.
How this is possible is a mystery The
men who are to go on the vessels are
almost ready to embark, only a few
lacking the necessary equipment.
The Monterey is still in the bay
awaiting the arrival of the collier Bru-
tus from Mare Island The Monadnock
arrived from Post Angeles to-day, and
will be made ready for service at once.
A large force of men was put to work
on her and she will probably be ready
for sea Within two weeks.
The Governor has not yet received
any instructions from the War Depart
ment as to the second call for troops.
Captain Darlington the mastering off,
Ger. is likewise in ignorance of the !
Governments intentions as to when the
men allotted to California will be given
the privilege of being sworn in. In
the meantime the army officers are
mastering men in for the regular infan-
try and artillery
The North and South Dakota and the
The men from the Dakotas We're Woe
fully lacking in equipment, but the
Utah volunteers are full equipped and
ready for service.
No little excitement was aroused in
Camp Merritt late this evening by ehe
announcement that five instead of three
transports will compose the next expe-
dition to Manila. and that 5000 instead
of 2,JOO troops, Will be sent The
transports will be ready to be boarded
by the end of next week. an inspection
by a board of survey from Major-Gen-
g hao ar+Sa, n i,i, hi
fact to-day
1t seems to be definitely decided that
the First Nebraska Seventh California.
Utah Cavalry, Thirteenth Minnesota
and Twentieth Kansas will be among
the troops to leave San Francisco next
week The only doubtful proposition
on this military slate is the Utath troop,
General Merritt being undecided as to
the advisability of attempting to trans
port the horses to the Philippines. It
has been suggested that the Utah
troops be sent to Manila as infantry, it
being understood that the United States
Government will be unable to secure
horses at Manila. The Tenth PennsylA
vania will probably be included in the
expedition to sail next week, partial ar
rangements having been made for the
accommodation of this regiment on the
Zealandia.
Four heavy batteries of the regular
army, two of the volunteer service ard
two Utah light batteries now at Camp
Merritt, will on Monday. make their
headquarters at the Presidio, on the
ground formerly occupied by the First
California Regiment The purpose IS
to concentrate all of the artillery or
ganizations in the field, in order that
their condition for active service may
be better determined.
Battery G. of the volunteers Will start
for Fort Candy on Monday, and three
troops of the Fourth United States
Cavalry are expected to arrive at the
Presidio Tomorrow from their former
posts at Wala Walla, Boise Barracks
and Vancouver, Wash. Their arrival
will make nine-troop organization at
the Presidio
Company A, Sixth Regiment. Cali
fornia Infantry, will tomorrow be
transferred to. Alcatraz Island, in San
Francisco Bay, to take up its station
and guard that post and the military
prison there.