The San Francisco call., 1898-02-09
SOLDIERS TO HURRY
 TO ALASKA Four Companies Get Orders to Sail
 NOrthward. Needed to Preserve the Peace at Dyea and
 Skaguay. Fourteenth Regiment May Be Permanently Located
 There. IN NEED OF A VESSEL. Steamship Australia May Be Pressed Into Service to Garry the
 Troops.
Fourteenth Regiment May Be Permanently Located
 There.
IN NEED OF A VESSEL
Steamship Australia May Be Pressed Into Service to Carry the
 Troops.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

PORTLAND, Or, Feb. S.-Four com panies of the Fourteenth Infantry have been ordered to start for Alaska at the earliest possible date, and two more will hold themselves in readiness tc follow at a moments notice. The or der was received at Vancouver Bar racks to-day by Colonel Thomas M Anderson. commanding the Four teenth, who instantly started the prep aration for the movement of the troops.
 The constantly increasing danger of disorder at Skaguay and Dyea has lead the War Department to insure peace by the presence of a force suff1- ciently large to hold any disturbance in check. Whether the Fourteenth will be permanently located In Alaska has not yet been determined, but it seems not unlikely, as only two com panies are left at the post.
 As soon as the order reached Van couver Barracks, General Merriam, commanding the Department of the Columbia, and Major Jacobs. hisAchief quartermaster, came to Portland to procure. if possible. passage for the troops on the steamship Oregon. The result of their interview with Agent Poston was not entirely satisfactory. The latter was not disposed to disap- point those to whom the accommoda- tions on the Oregon have been sold and would make no definite reply with out consulting the officials of the Pa cif1c Coast Steamship Company. He proposed, however, to bring the Aus tralia, 2200-ton steamship now fit ting for the Alaska trade in San Francisco, to Portland to carry the troops, a plan which was favorabIy re- ceived, and which from present indf- cations will probably be accepted. Everything on the Oregon except ten berths had been sold, so she could be of no service to the Government for she movement of troops. It Is well @understo0d that in case of urgent ne cessity the steamship could be seized but such course is hardly likely to be taken unless late reports should bring news of serious trouble in Skag- uay or Dyea.
 Colonel Anderson has not yet been fully apprised of his duties and au- thortty, but it is generally supposed that he will be placed in command of the Department of Alaska, which will be at least temporarily created, and be given full charge His headquarters will be at Dyea, and two companies will be stationed at Dyea- The two companies which are to follow will be quartered with the commander at Skaguay. Colonel Anderson will take with him Lieutenant Colonel Anderson and all but one or two of the officers connected with the post headquarters, together with the officers of the vari- ous companies. Major Rohe will take command of the post on the departure of his superior. The companies which are to go had not been fully decided upon this afternoon, but will probably be designated tomorrow.
 WASHINGTON, Feb. S-In accord ance with the Cabinet decision to take steps to protect life and property at the Alaskan seapOrts, the War Depart- ment this afternoon framed and for warded the following instructions to General Merriam at Vancouver Bar racks, Washington:
 Make all necessary arrangements to send the regfmental headquarters band and two companies of the Fourteenth In fantry to Dyea and two companies of inc same regiment to Skaguay, Alaska. pre- pared to stay at least through the com ing summer season, some suitable and
 
 the troops. Further instructions will be sent later and the troops will go as early as proper arrangements can be made . Report the time troops will be ready to start.
 OTTAWA, Ontario. Feb. S.-There appears to be a misunderstanding rela- tive to the United States troops accom- panying the Yukon relief expedition over the Canadian border. In reply to a query in the House of Commons on the subject Hon. Clifford Sifton, Minis ter of the Interior said:
 The question of the accompanying of this expedition by United States troops has been the subject of negotiations be- tween the two governments. United States troops under arms win not accom- pany the expedition over the Canadian territory. The question of whether United States troops shall be allowed to be sent over Canadian territory, not un- der arms, for the purpose of more ex- peditiously reaching American territory on the other side of the Hist meridian, is now under consideration,