Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-06-12
GENERAL MERRITT NOT YET Salts
FLED WITH HIS FORCE.
HAS 10000; DEMANDS 10000
HE EXPECTS TO LEAVE FOR MANILA
'1,- IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
Wants His Entire Force to Precede'
Him-second Expedition Expect
ed to Get Away Early This
Week-LiEht Artillery
to Go.

SAN FRANCISCO. June 1.-Major Cen
eSal Merritt wants more troops. He is
now in communication with Washington
on the subject, and hopes to receive word
within few hours that the additional
forces have been granted him and have
been. started on the way. That he wants
them in 4 hurry Is suggested by the fact
that it is known that he contemplates
leaving San Francisco for Manila about
ten days from next Wednesday. and is
desirous that his entire expeditionary force
shall precede him to the Philippines.
With the troops that arrived yesterday
and to-day he has force of about 5000.
From good sources it is learned that. dur
ing the past forty-eight hours he has been
in communication with the war depart
ment and has finally demanded that the
full quota Of 10000 specified by him be
filed. j.
The steamer Centennial. which was re-
jected by the government. will be REIN
spected. as her owners insist that she is
thoroughly seaworthy. despite statements
to the contrary. s.
The Zealandia, Colon and China are be-
ing loaded with supplies and are expected
to be ready for departure early next week,
but nothing definite Is known by the off,
GERS Of the respective ships. t
The Senator and Morgan City are being
fitted up for the troops and both these
vessels will be ready by the end of next
week. They were built for the Kondike
trade. and have large carrying capacity.
and few days work will put them in
shape as transports.
The third feet will probably comprise
the Senator. Morgan City, Ohio and the
Centennial. II the latter is accepted after
reinspection.
The work Of organizing the engineer and
signal corps for Manila is proceeding slow
ly, as not enough men can be found. So
far only twenty-seven have been enlisted
by Major Thompson. Fifty men are wanted
to each corps, and as California cannot
supply them. Major Thompson has tele-
graphed East and asked TOR volunteers.
This branch Of the services. is better paid
than any other.
Seven batteries of light artillery will go
to Manila if present plans are carried out.
Orders have been issued for Batteries B,
H. K and /. Of the Third artillery. now at
the Preside. to Join the command of Gem
eral Merritt for duty in the Philippines.
Light batteries D and G, from the Sixth
artillery, stationed at Washington bar
racks and Fort Myer, Va, will leave Tues
day for San Francisco. They will also re-
port to General Merritt. Besides the bat
teries now at the Preside. and those from
the Sixth; the expedition will have the
Utah artillery.
A battery Of mountain howitzers for use
in thesRl1ftppiness has arrived at the. Pre-
sidio.- It has been placed in charge Of Lieu
tenant Carson.
This was pay day for the Nebraskans,
and Major Whipple. assistant paymaster,
distributed about $4,000 to the regiment.
The treasure was escorted to the headquar-
ters by squad Of Utah cavalrymen, as
upon other pay days.
Major Kilbourne visited the North Da-
kota camp and paid the troops for two
months. There are ga men in the two
battalions. and about $25,0oo was paid out
to the officers and men.
Major ]. F. Bell engineer officer on Ma.
jor General Merritt's stan and chief of
the bureau of information Of the Philip
pine expedition. this morning received or
ders to leave for Manila on Tuesday. He
will depart on the first transport and with
be accompanied by large corps Of assist
ants.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE war de-
partment finally closed the charters to-
day for the steamships Victoria, Olympia
and Arizona, which are to be used in the
transportation of troops to Manila. The
chartering Of these ships has been delayed
for some time.