The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-13
ARMY OF 10000
TO BE ORGANIZED AT ONCE FOR
DUTY in THE PHILIPPINES.
Gen. wesley Merritt to Be Military
Governor of the Islands and Gen.
Otis to BE second in Command.
CABLEGRAM FROM DEWEY
STATING THAT HE is MAINTAINING A
BLOCKADE AT MANILA,
And Transferring the Steel Breech-
Loading Rifles from the Enemy's
Sunken Ships to Transports.
SPANIARDS STILL DEFIANT
AND INSURGENTS SAID TO BE RAW
AGING THE COUNTRY DISTRICTS.
Another Spanish War Vessel Reported
to Have Been Hunted Down and
Destroyed by the Concord.
And Transferring the Steel Breech-
Loading Rifles from the Enemy's
Sunken Ships to Transports.
SPANlARDS STILL DEFIANT
AND INSURGENTS SAID TO BE RAW
AGING THE COUNTRY DISTRICTS.
Another Spanish War Vessel Reported
Destroyed by the Concord.

WASHINGTON, May IA dispatch
came to the Navy Department from Ad-
miral Dewey at Manila. 1t was dated
Hong-Kong to-day, and is evidently few
days old. 1t does not show that Dewey has
possessed himself of Manila. Probably he
regards his original orders as not broad
enough to justify that action without fur
ther directions, and as his dispatch was
sent last Monday he could not have re-
ceived the last orders of the department.
The nature of these orders is indicated by
the assignment Of two such officers as Major
Generals Merritt and Otis to command the
troops that are to be hurried to the Philip
pines as rapidly as steam will take them
when the quartermaster has provisioned the
ships at San Francisco. Merritt is the senior
major general in the United States service
after General Miles, and in ordinary cases
is entitled to the most important commands
so his designation for this work may be
taken as an evidence of the Presidents es-
innate of the Importance Of this expedition
The dispatch received by Secretary Long
from Admiral Dewey follows:
There is little change in the situation
since my last telegram. l am transferring Y
to transports the steel breech-loading rlfles
from the sunken Spanish men-of-War. All
the stores at the arsenal are in my pos
session. L am MAINTAINING a SITlCI DiOCh-
ade. Add Argos to list of destroyed vessels
El Correo probably Eel Cano. DEWEY.
The United States will establish a military
government over the Philippine islands. Or
st4e4ss have been.issueG for Major General
Wesley Merritt, now commanding the De-
partment of the East at New York, to pro-
ceed to Manila with the least possible delay
for the purpose of assuming the office of
military governor of the Philippines. Sim
liar orders to proceed to the philippines
were sent to Major General E. 8. Otis, COM
manding the Department of the Colorado
at Denver, who has just recently been re-
leased from duty as president of the court
martial which tried Captain o. M. Carter,
of the engineer corps. The orders to Gen.
Otis direct him to report to General Merritt
for duty under his direction in the Philip
pine islands. General Otis will be second
in command and will act as military gov
ernor of the islands in case of the absence
or disability of General Merritt
Orders were also issued for the organiza-
tion of an army corps of about 1900 men
for immediate duty in the Philippine islands
This corps will be made up of regulars and
volunteer organizations stationed on the
Pacific coast and in the far Western States.
General Merritt was at the War Depart
ment to-day in consultation with the secre-
tary of war, General Niles and the bureau
chiefs with regard to the organization Of the
expedition. Prompt action will be had in
the matter, with a view to having the troops
make an early start on their long voyage
across the Pacific. General Merritt left here
this afternoon for New York to arrange his
official and private affairs preparatory to
departure for San Francisco He said that
it was his purpose to sail from San Fran
cisco as soon as possible. The troops for
the expedition probably will depart before
General Merritt reaches the Golden Gate
and the probability is that General Otis will
command them at the Philippines until the
arrival of General Merritt. Complete ar
rangements have been made for the equip
ment, transportation and subsistence of the
troops, and they will be able to start for
Manila shortly after their arrival at San
Francisco.