The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-05-12
ORDERS
Cruiser Charleston Will Not Wait
! for Transport and Other
:! Supply Ships,
But Will Hurry on With Am.
munition for the Use of
i Dewey's Fleet.
City of Peking Is Swift and
Will Likely Overtake the
Cruiser.
Work Of the Insurgents Partly
Responsible for the
Haste.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE cruiser
Charleston leaves San Francisco al
most immediately on its relief mission
to Admiral Dewey's feet at Manila
without waiting to convoy the City of
Picking and other ships loaded with
troops and supplies.
The orders to the commandant of the
navy yard at Mare Island are to put on
board the Charleston all the ammuni-
ton she will carry 50 long as her steam
ing capacity isnet retarded. 1t is the
understanding here that at least 100
tons of ammunition could be put on
board. By extraordinary efforts ON the
part.of the authorities here all the
powder, shot and shell requisite for this
relief expedition have been assembled at
San Fran cisco already, though it was
thought at firstit would take until after
the 10Th to draw these supplies from
various other points. The ammunition
includes 500 rounds of the big .projec-
tiles Tor the S-lnch guns Of the 'Olym-
pia, about 10000 6-inch shells and
l., 200 5.inch shells, as all of the cruis-
ers Of Admiral Dewey's fleet mount
B and s6-lnch guns. There Is also an
amp.e supply CT the smaller sizes OF
shot and shell for the machine and
rapid fire guns. The stock of powder
will be in three lots, aggregating over
TIC, 900 pounds.
Wall Not Carry Many Troops
Owing to the hurried departure of
the Charleston.it is not expected that
she will carry any considera BILE Number
OF troops, as these Will follow Later on
the other relief ships. She has crew
OF about 300 men, and this probably
will be augmented by marine guard
OF few hundred men.
The Charleston is protected cruiser
Fof $3.50 tons displacement, built of
steel, and mounts eight guns in her
main battery. She has twin screws
and an indicated horse power Oft, 666.
The authorities here hardly expect her
to make more than ID knots with her
heavy stock of coal, ammunition and
supplies. Her coal abunkers are rather
limited, so that she will probably have
to stop at Honolulu to recoal. Her trip
to Manila will take about two weeks.
City of Pe<ing Will Catch Uy.
The City of Picking which will follow
her is very feet merchantmen, capa-
BILE of being pushed to IL knots or more,
so even with the handicap she has of
starting several days after the Charles.
ton, there is prospect she may over
haul her in the race across the Pacific
and reach Manila first. This will de-
pend, however, on how soon the City
start. Saturday is the earliest day
mentioned. The Charleston is com.
mandsd by Captain Henry Glass. Aside
from carrying ammunition and supplies
to Admiral Dewey the Charleston will
prove a valuable adjunct to his squad
ron. She will come next to the Olym.
p a and Baltimore in point of size and
effectiveness.
Fear Acts of Insurgents.
In determining upon this speedy de-
parture OF the Charleston, the author
tiles hers have had in mind not only
the need Of giving early relief to Ad-
miral Dewey, but also have been some
what apprehensive OF the attitude Of
the Philippine insurgents. The news
reports reaching here from the Philip
pines, indicating that the insnrgent
forces might resort to massacre, are re-
ceived with serious attention by the
officials as they recognize that our pres
emit position III controlling Manila bay
imposes certain degree Of responsible
ity in seeing that civilized methods
prevail, and that the insurrectionists
do not resort to lawless and incendiary
measures.