The herald., 1898-06-27
ABOARD the SHIPS
THIRD EXPEDITION TO MANILA
READY TO SAIL
THE ASSIGNMENT OF TROOPS
Gen. Merritt and STAR and the Astor
Battery Sail on the Newport-The
Men Well Provided For
Associated Press Special Wire


SAN FRANCISCO. June 26-Four thou
sand men, comprising the third expedition
to the Philippines, embarked early this af
ternoon, 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 the five transports, bearing the bulk
of the expeditionary force, will probably
sail tomorrow afternoon, to be followed on
Wednesday by the steamer Newport, upon
which Gen. Merritt is expected to depart.
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 Philippines. All night long, the
camp cooks worked to prepare the last
breakfast in the camp for the departing
soldiers and to get ready the one days
cooked rations with which the order to
embark said the men must be supplied.
This work required the aid Of many pri-
Yates. and the noise caused by hurried
preparations made sleep almost impossible.
Thousands Say Goodbye
During the morning carloads upon car
loads of people were landed near the regi-
mental camps, and 1t is safe to say that at
least 5000 people visited the camp before
orders to march were given. Very few of
the visitors to the camps went out empty
handed. Many were the packages contain
ing little necessaries and delicacies, packed
up with the luggage Of the departing troops.
Many OF the men who had not received
comfort bags from the Red Cross ladies
or who had lost them. were supplied with
this nittle 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 dec
orations
Shortly after II o'clock the sounding of
bugles announced to the civilians and SOL
diers alike that the time for parting had
come and that the soldiers must form for
the march to the water front where the
transports awaited them
Force Back the Crowds
Along the entire extent of the five mile
march an escort squad OF. police was
obliged to force back the throngs Of peo-
pie to make narrow lane for the progress
of the departing companies. The soldiers
were cheered at every step, goodby and
good wishes were momentarily shouted,
hand flags were waved. flowers were
thrown, and almost as much enthusiasm
was visible as when the First California
regiment of San Francisco boys marched
away.
1t was 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 re-
quired 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 re-
spective transports, they were given tre-
mendous ovation by the thousands of citi-
zens who swarmed on and around the
wharves. It was an emotional as we'll as
physical relief when the embarkation was
an accomplished fact.
Assigned to Ships
The assignment of troops to the various
transports was as follows:
Morgan City-The First Idaho volunteers
and the First Nebraska recruits.
City of Para-The Thirteenth Minnesota.
Indiana-One battalion of the Eighteenth
United States infantry, one battalion Of
the Twenty-third United States infantry,
the signal corps and a detachment of en-
gineers.
Ohio-First Wyoming volunteers, bat
teries G and L, Third artillery and recruits
of the Thirteenth Minnesota.
The Valencia, which was taking on coal
today at the Union iron works. will be
ready tomorrow morning for the assign
ment of troops-the First North Dakota
volunteers.
The Newport on Wednesday will take on
Batteries H and X, Third artillery, the
Astor independent battery and Gen. Mer-
ritt and staff.
This steamer is at the Pacific Mail dock.
All of the transports of the third Manila
expedition except the Valencia are now In
readiness to sail at a moments notice,
having their troops and supplies on board.
Work on the Valencia is not yet completed
and she may delay the departure of the
other ships until Tuesday. That the ves-
sells will leave all together was made evil
dent tonight when the First North Dakota
regiment was ordered to break camp to-
morrow morning and march on board the
Valencia. The exact time of the sailing of
the fleet will not be known until after
conference tomorrow morning between
Generals Merritt and Macarthur. when they
expect to have positive orders from WASH
ington.