New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-20
FOR AND ABOUT MANILA.
ADVANCE GUARD EXPECTED TO START
TO-DAY OR TOMORROW.
THE PLAN is TO SHOW SPAIN THE FU
TILITY OF ATTEMPTING TO REGAIN
THE PHILIPPINES.



Gan Francisco tomorrow night or early Satur-
dav morning the steamers City of Pe king and
city Of sydney. Official notice Of the readiness
OF those vessels was received at the War De-
nartInent to-day together with a telegraphic
report showing that 5000 men fully equipped
could embark on the transports to- morrow MORN
ing At the same time 1t was reported from
Seattle that the transport Centennial would be
loaded and coaled for the voyage by Saturday
ard that the two regiments from North and
South Dakota which will go out to Manila in her
had arrived AZ Seattle and could be embarked
on Sunday. From Seattle and Sar Francisco
the distance TO Manila is the same.
Under Secretary Ayers direction a promp:
response was made TO these dispatches urging
the officers in charge on the Pacific Coast TO
push forward their preparations and secure the
departure Of the ships at the earliest practicable
moment. little later a dispatch from General
Merriam announced the arrival at Seattle of
two companies OF Regulars A and G Of the 14th
Infantry. from Alaska. whence they had been
summoned TWO weeks ago for duty under Cen
eral Merrtt's command in the new Department
OF the Pacific Orders were quickly sent back
across the continent TO assign these men to the
Centennial, even should II be necessary TO leave
some Of the volunteers at home. Tho l4th In
fantry Is noted for its hardy soldiers. whose
tnOrOuSn training anu dpillNy ~ give SVoN DN
counts Of themselves under most circumstances
caused their selection for preserving order
among the lawless elements attracted in great
numbers to the rough territory by the gold
excitement
While II had been expected that General OTIS
would 60 out &c Manila in command or the
advance guard the City Of Peking. he may
decide to wait for another steamer.
SECOND DIVISION MAY Go NEXT WEEK.
The War Department officials are confident
that the second division Of the expedition VIII
be ready TO embark next week. although sufl-
cient transports have not yet been secured ior
the accommodation OF the men, General Merritt
IS expected here to consult with tn" President
tomorrow morning. and il is hoped that he VIII
secure his final instructions by Sunday and get
away In time to arrive at San Francisco next
Friday. His staff has been practically made up.
Under orders issued to-day Colonel Robert T.
Hughes will be his inspector general and chief
oe staff, and Lieutenant Colonel John y. Babcock
his adjutant- general Lieutenant Colonel David
l. Brainard chief commissary OF subsistence.
United States Volunteers will have charge or
the sustenance Of the expedition. Major Charles
H. Whipple will be chief paymaster. with Major
Charles f. Kilbourne assistant, and Captain
William A. Simpson, 9TH Artillery, will be the
staff ordnance officer. Major 5. \. Elcman, as
SiStant cOmmlsSary OF SUBSISTENCE, WIZ eo With
the advance guard this week. the remaining
staff officers accompanying General Merritt
Lieutenants Harry c. Hale goth Infantry. and
T. Bentley Mott. 1st Artillery now aids 10
General Merritt. will accompany him to Manila
in that capacity. Major Enoch r. |rowder has
been ordered to the staff Judge advocate, and
Major William H. Corbuser, of tho Surgeon
Generals Department, has been detailed as act
ing medical purveyor Of the expedition, with
Acting Assistant Surgeon George II. Richard
son as his assistant. Lieutenant-C Colonel Brain
ard is the Arctic hero. who. with Lieutenant
Lockwood, OF the Greey expedition. placed the
American flag "furthest north" Adjutant-Gen-
eral Babcock wears the medal Of honor for dis
tingushed gallantry in Indian fighting.
LACK OF TRANSPORTS.
Although the War Department is embarrassed
more b. the lack Of suitable transports for car
rying the expedition than for any other single
essential. it has determined 70 accept no foreign
vessels unless driven to IL a last resort The
entire fleet OF the Northern Pacific Company,
numbering four first-rate ships, has been ten
dered on the condition that they receive Ameri-
can registers, and for the present the offer has
had 20 be declined until Congress can take
necessary action. the President having no au-
,hority 10 register foreign ships. Up TO this
tine transportation for only 5000 OF he 1900
men constituting the expedition have been Sc
cured
TINS afternoon General Niles acceGed to the
urgcn, request Of General Merritt and issued
orders assigning 10 his command BTiGadier-
Generals Thomas VI. Anderson and Charles E
Compton. until recently coloneIs respectively Of
the 18th Infantry and the 4th Cavalry. 1t Is
possible that at the last moment one Of these
officers viii command the advance guard. lea'-
ing General OTIS in San Francisco another week
Tho first duiy OF the Philippine advance
guard will not be. as many have supposed. to
assist Admiral Dewey in subduing Manila, as
that operation would require a much greater
land force, even IL .here were any immediate
adv .ntage TO be gained by occupying the cl'y;
On he contrary 1t is known that AdmTal
Dewey will be as;Oni.hei TO learn that an army
Of 1900 men is coming to support him. for IN
his cabled reports he has never asked for more
than oae-tenth OF That lumber. HIS most ui-
gent ard immediate need set forth in his
dispatches to Washington, has been a force or
about twelve hundred men. many OF them
skilled artillcrists destined 70 garrison the bat
teries al the entrance OF Manila Bay especially
on CorregidCr Island. in order that his fleet
might so far as possible. be free 10 move about
and operate in other parts on the arcnipeiaBo'
TO HOLD THE FORTS AT MANILA.
Tlo first ships TO go out 10 him are therefore
well provided with men and material 10 equip
and hold the harbor forthcations They carry
large quantities Of explosives and modern mines.
with the necessary cables and other apparatus.
which In themselves VIII compel respect for the
blockade. But perhaps the most important re-
suit 10 be obtained is a demonstration TO Spain
Of the utter futilty Of attempting to send rein
foreements 10 Manila BY the time the CadiZ
neet caa by any possible chance convoy trans
ports through the Suez Canal and the lndian
ocean, especially under the tedious necessity OF
coaling from. colllers. the harbor OF Manila VIII
not be so accessible as Dewey found It, us en-,
trance channels Will be Thoroughly piiheu, anu
remind the big OF the SnOTc DdtttIItS VIII
be men who know how to shoot and who 90 NOT
80 to sleep when an enemy is to be watcheo
Ior as the Spaniards did at Cavte and Porto
hlco The Cadiz feet, appearing OF Mania
VIII ArAL Z l..,I.o u and