The Topeka state journal., 1898-07-16
OTIS IS OFF.
Fourth Expedition to the Phil
ippine Islands
Sailed From San Francisco Amid
Great Enthusiasm.
TO STOP AT HONOLULU
TO STOP AT HONOLULU
And Participate in the Annexa-
tiOn Ceremonies.
Remaining Troops Ordered To
Follow as Soon as Possible.

San Francisco, July 16.-Shortly after
8 o'clock yesterday afternoon Major
General Otis from his flagship, the City
Of Puebla, signalled the transport Peru
to get under way. The signals were
understood by the anxious watchers
on shore and by those who had sur
rounded the two vessels in small boats
and were received with great cheer
ing. AS the two vessels got under
way the cheering increased in volume,
and to the accompaniment of hun
dreds of steam whistles and the firing
of bombs and cannon the two vessels
proceeded slowly down the bay, past
the water front and out to sea. The
vessels had some difficulty making
their way through the maze of small
boats which constantly interfered with
their progress until they attained such
speed that nothing but the powerful
tug boats loaded with friends and rel
atives of the several commands kept
pace with them.
The soldiers on the transports
crowded into the rigging and answered
the cheering of the civilians with
hearty good will and responded to the
dipping fiags of the merchant vessels
by waving their hats and handker-
chiefs.
As the two vessels and the small
fleet going with them passed the forts
the big guns from the batteries sent
forth their thunder in salute to which
the transports responded with their
steam sirens. Long before dusk the
last good-byes had been said to the de
parting vessels from the decks of tug
boats and the heavily laden transports
proceeded on their way to Honolulu.
where they will participate in the an
nexatiOn ceremonies, and take on fresh
provisions and refill their coal bunkers.
Major General Otis and staff have
their headquarters on the City Of
Peubla, which also carried the remain
ing companies of the Fourteenth
United States infantry, recruits of the
first and second battaliOns of the Eigh-
teenth and Twenty third regiments. en-
listed men of the First North Dakota,
First Wyoming and First Idaho, med
1caI officers and members Of the hos
p1tal corps, a total of S43 men.
The troops to go on the Peru consist
OF the squadron of the Fourth United
states cavalry, light batteries of the
Sixth United States artillery. a detach-
ment of the Third United States ar
tillery, detachment of the signal
corps under Captain Russell. a detach-
ment of volunteers, medical officers
and members of the hospital corps
about 920 men.
The last orders of General Otis be-
fore leaving were that the remaining
transports should sail as soon as pos
sible, irrespective of fleets or other ex-
pected vessels Each one. he said
should go by itself if necessary. Sur
prisingly quick work has been done on
the Pennsylvania and City of Rio de
JaneirO. They are both nearly ready.
and will probably be prepared to sail
by next Thursday. The loading of the
eommissary stores on these two vessels
began to-day.
Brigadier General H G. Otis has
finally been selected to command the
fifth expedition to Manila His fleet
will consists of the steamers Rio de
JaneirO, St. Paul and PENNSYLVANIA
The war department has instructed
General Otis to relieve the First Utah
cavalry from the expected duty in the
philippines and to transfer the trOOD
to the department of Major General
Merriam.