New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-15
OFF FOR MANILA TO-DAY
sJX THOUSAND MEN TO SAIL.
WESTERN OFFICIALS CAUSE DELAY.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO The TRlBuXEl


1-os,ington June 14-Six thousand troops
Ill be on the ocean bound for the Philippines.
18th the departure of the second military ex-
..a;rion which General Merritt reported to-
..v was ready and would leave San Francisco
,v tomorrow afternoon. The first expedition
.srr,ed two thousand six hundred officers and
,oen under convoy Of the cruiser Charleston.
ard when last reported out several days
,.o,, Honolulu. bound west The time OF its
.r,,val off Cavite Bay. wlere II will be received
,a escorted 10 the place selected for landing
hv ships OF Admiral Deweys fleet is fixed FOR
,une "a and II calm weather and smooth seas
.ra encountered the voyage may BE accom-
p.ished sooner
General Merritts third expedition will leave
&C soon as sufficient transports have been Sc
.ured and the ships prepared for the long voy
.gs The troops are hand and the equip
,,snt and quartermaster's departments have
,snorted their readiness 10 place supplies aboard
ana few hours notice but there is yet trouble
,n finding ships suitable for carrying soldiers
IN so long trip or merchant vessels OF any
kind that can be used transports. Ten yes
sells have already been secured. three Of which
are on the way and four preparing 10 start to-
morrow. leaving three TO form part Of the next
sxpedition. which will comprise at least half
nzen
and his staff will go.
Delay in getting away this second section o.
,,oons is said to be due to the Western
oscals than those in Washington. who allegc
that. II any fault is to be found. the blame
,bould he attached to the San Francisco military
authorities and not to those Immediately under
,be War Department Some pretty tart messages
have passed lately between the two, In which
toth sides have apparently endeavored 70 shoul-
6sr the blame on the other. General Merritt In
ssts that he must be provided with command
q, not less than 10000 troops. and they have
been promised TO him
The Generals request that additional voiun-
teer regiments from The East he forwarded to
eu I'D the required 1000 has met with refusal.
and instead Of additional troops through new
regiments those now at the Preside are 10 be
enlisted to their full strength under the three
battalion scheme which will give over 23,OOo
men or more than at first expected would
be necessary 10 occupy Manila. Volunteer regi-
roents which are short Of the number will be re-
oured to enroll men from their own States to
make Up the deficiency. so that when the third
expedition sails every regiment VIII comprise
1926 men. and vacancies in those gone ahead
Will be filed after their arrival at Manila by
troops which will be sent later.
The time when the first expedition Will be due
has been communicated by cable 10 Admiral
Dewey who will make the necessary arrange
ments for the prompt Decentralization Of troops
Immediately on their arrival. The forts at Ca
vite and on Corregidor Island. by which the
American fleet slipped in the darkness OF the
night probably will be fully garrisoned as vel!
as the other defences nearer the city. which were
dismanted and taken by the Admiral soon a1ter
his victory These in possession OF the troops.
The rtnainder Of the American soldiers are ex-
pected n be landed some point on the bay
selected by Admiral Dewey. free from attack by
the Spanish and under protection OF the war
ships.
Army officers are confident that OF all the
troops that will 20 abroad IN the war. the pres
ent expedition 10 Manila will have the fewest
trials Of warfare and the most comforts OF garri
son life. AT Cavite the Spanish barracks VIII
be occupied. no doubt. and the camps pitched on
ground suitable for the purpose. The batteries
o. artillery are 10 man part of the defenceless
fortihcations which are thought now 10 be al
ready occupied by marines from the feet. All
the efforts Of the authorities in the West are
bending 70 facilitate the early dispatch Of the
= entire number Of troops elected for Manila. but
the most sangLlne have little expectation that
the last will leave before the middle OF July and
believe that the whole body viii not be encamped
IN the Philippines until early in August.