Evening star., 1898-06-29
as the representative of American publi-
cations, has arrived here
The Military Secretary.

as the representative of American publi-
cations, has arrived here
The Military Secretary.
ATLANTA, Ga, June 29.--Ma3or Geo. p
Scrfyen, signal officer of the department of
the gulf. who was recently appointed mill
tary secretary to Gen. Wesley Me -ritt, left
last night for San Francisco.
A Race to Manila,
The expeditions for the reinforcement of
Admiral Dewey at Manila have been has
tened by the information concerning the
movement OF the Spanish fleet under Ad-
miral Camara. The expedition which will
be accompanied by General Merritt will
start at once, and the department is entire
ly confident that should the Spanish fleet
be permitted to coal and pass through the
suez canal at once, our transports would
be able to reach Manila ahead of tnat fleet
Even II Camara succeeds in getting coal
and passing through the canal without fur
ther delay, the race between that fleet and
our transports will be extremely exciting,
and will be watched with eager interest
here. There is no apprehension that Ad-
miral Dewey will not be able to deal with
the Camara fleet, reinforced as he is or
very soon will be by the first expedition
conveyed by the Charleston and by the ar
rival of the Monterey, but it is important
that our transports Of troops should reach
their destination before the appearance of
the Spanish fleet in the vicinity of the
Philippines, SO that they may be free from
attack by Spanish vessels. Should the Ca
mara fleet get in ahead of our transports
Admiral Camara, without venturing an at
tack upon Dewey at Manila, might infiict
great damage by intercepting the trans
ports, which would be defenseless.
The First Expedition.
The officials here are confident that Ad-
miral Dewey has received the reinforce
ments under Gen. Anderson, which sailed
from San Francisco May %, consisting of
$500 men. with supplies for one year, on
the City Of Pekin. City of Sydney and Aus
tralia. The Charleston certainly has ar
rived, as she was leading the transports
come distance after leaving Honolulu. and
with the addition of her 400 sailors and ma
rfnes Dewey will feel much safer. The
Navy Department did not expect, it now
appears. to hear of the arrival of the troop
transports by the 23d of this month, the date
of the last report from Manila. They had
estimated that the troop transports might
be somewhat delayed by a consideration
for their coal consumption, desiring to
avoid reaching Manila with empty bunkers,
driven at full steam across the Pacific
Later on there will be plentiful supply at
Manila, as United States Consul Haywood
at Honolulu has succeeded in purchasing
about 1000 tons, some of which will be
forwarded Immediately to the Philippines
No Concern About Germans.
Whatever concern is felt here as to
Dewey's position relates rather to the atti-
tude of the natives than to that of Ger
many or any other European power. The
publication Of the semi-official note referred
to by an English newspaper this morning
has caused no disquiet here, nor has it
thrown any new light en- the situation. 1t
was stated here positively last week that
there have been no diplomatic exchanges
between the government of the United
States and Germany on the subject of the
landing Of German forces in Manila, and
the semi-official note above referred to
merely confirms that statement and shows
that the same state of affairs still exists.
The declaration in the note of the German
intention to land marines las soon as 1t
may become necessary for the protection
of Germans there is said to be nothing
more than repetition of the provisions of
international law that subject How
ever, Admiral Dewey would doubtless be
consulted as to the existence of such a
necessity If the requirements of neutrality
are to be observed by Germany, and of that
the State Department here entertains no
doubt.
Nevertheless, it is not disguised hare that
the administration will feel greatly relieved
when the American military forces have
all arrived and taken up the occupation of
Manila. There are now afioat Just 1000
United States soldiers destined for the Phil
ippines, and the last of these left San
Francisco day before yesterday. under COM
mand of Gen. Arthur Macarthur. Maj.
Gen. Merritt, who has been designated
military commandant of the Philippines,
was to sail today from San Francisco with
his staff, on the Newport. 1t Is thought to
be very probable that no serious question
of jurisdiction will arise at the Philippines
as between the American forces and the
insurgents pending Gen. Merritt's arriva!
and the announcement Of his purpose to
take military control of the islands.