The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-04
WILL SEND TROOPS AND COAL.
Cabinet Decides to Temporarily Hold
the PM

WASHINGTON, May 3.-No troops will be
sent to the Philippines until Commodore
Dewey has made his report. Such was the
decision of the Cabinet meeting to-day. The
whole session was occupied in a general dis
cussion of past events. The administration
has practically decided to occupy the Philip
pines with a strong military force as soon
as possible after Dewey'S report has been
received. For this purpose state troops will
be used, and it is expected that at least
i've thousand will be en- route within the
next ten days. There does not seem to be
any doubt as to the governments purpose
to hold these islands pending a final settle
ment with Spain, when they will be used
as collateral to secure payment to the
United States of a war indemnity. High Of
icials are of the opinion that none of the
powers will seriously dispute our right to
make such final disposition of the islands
as suits our purpose in the enforcement of
war claims against Spain, and, in any
event, this government will be prepared to
contest any point which may be raised on
this source.
AS indicated in Secretary Longs request
to-day for an emergency appropriation, the
government will take steps at once to sup
ply Commodore Dewey's fleet with proyi-
sions and other supplies, including ammuni-
ton and coal. and to this end will dispatch
at the earliest possible moment a sufficient
number OF ships to supply amply all posi-
bic needs of the ASiatic squadron. These
supplies will be forwarded at once without
waiting a decision of the question as to
whether or not the troops snail be sent out
TO relieve the commodore of the necessity
of policing Manila with men from his fleet.
One ship which has been secured already
as a collier is said to be much tieeter than
those usually so employed, but it will take
three weeks to reach Manila, and she may
stop en- route at Honolulu to replenish her
own coal supply from the large accumula-
ton held there by Admiral Miller in order
that the ship shall arrive in the Philippines
with q full cargo.
1t may be that the department, in case of
further need, will try TO secure more coal
for the American Philippine fleet from a
nearer and cheaper source than California,
1t is believed that there is nothing in the
neutrality laws of most nations that pre-
vents a merchant from shipping coal to a.
belligerent power, though a war ship of such
coal in the neutral port. OF course. the mer-
chant would make the shipment at his own
risk, for the coal probably would be held
to be contraband by the Spaniards. But
as matters stand after Dewey's victory
there is no Spanish naval force left in East
ern waters to seize such a ship, so that it
would be easy to compensate coal merchants
for the small risk incurred by shipping coal
to the American fleet at the Philippines. 1t
is said at the Navy Department that plenty
of superior coal can be secured in this man
ner in the Asiatic ports at an average price
of $40 per ton, while a very high grade coal
can be had in large quantities from New
South Wales at low figures. However, the
Navy Department will not rely on any out
side sources of supply for the first ship
mentt but will start one steamer at once
from San francisco as soon as she can be
loaded.
Although without confirmation from any
official source, the naval officials are dis
posed to attach some credit to the statement
coming from Paris that at the last accounts
upon Corregidor island. This island lies in
the outer entrance 10 the harbor of Manila,
and Is about twenty-five miles below the
several modepn yuns Wbils not 1 a sar,ns,s
menace to the American flee., so long as
the latter lies far above in the vicinity of
the city, the existence Of the fort at a place
commanding his line of communication could
not be long tolerated by the commodore, for