Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-16
GENERAL WAR SITUATION.
Continued from page -
neutrality-suspicious.

continued from page l..
the former will not be dependent upon
the small number of marines which he
can lily spare from his ships but will
have the assistance Of soldiers in hold
ing his position and maintaining order.
1t is confidently hoped here that the
City of Pekin, chartered as a transpor,
vessel will be able to clear from San
Francisco in very short time to be
followed in rapid succession by the
other three ships engaged for a similar
service The Picking can carry 1908
men, which with the marines aboard
the Charleston just about to sail will
he Of considerable assistance to the
admiral, but far from the number
which he will need
The total number Of men to be sent
will aggregate probably 1000 as Major
Gen. Wesley Merritt, who is to com
mand the expedition and subsequently
be made military governor, regards
that as the least which can maintain
order in city like Manila. made w Of
many dscordant elements.
over ten regiments of infantry and
four batteries Of artillery from the
volunteers have been ordered 70 con
contrate at san Francisco and from
these ana the regulars now in the eX-
treme West viii be taken the men Tor
the Philippine expedition. II is ex-
pected here that practically all thu
volunteers viii 80.
Secretary Long was at the navy de-
partment several times during the day
and in addition to the dispatch from
the admiral he authorized the puhIica-
tion of the statement that the torpedo
boat Terror. belonging to the Spanish
fleet. was disabled at Port au France
Martinique. The dispatch is NJ
follows:
spanish torpedo boat Terror dis
abled al Port au France, Martinique. -
There was a disposition among some
OF those who saw this statement T. re-
gard it With suspicion suggesting that
the report of disability was intended
simply as blind, and that the Spanish
government had caused it to be sprea /
so that no complaint could be made u
France on account Of the stay of the
boat at neutral port. None of the
officials, however. would express them
selves on the subject.
Secretary Long also made public Z
message which had been received from
Key West telling Of the departure Of
the United States vessel Uncas in COM
mand Of Capt. Branard. she is bound
for some point in Cuba with a view to
securing the release of two American
prisoners under a flag of truce. in ex-
| change for Spanish prisoners held hy
This government. The statement given
out by The secretary on the subject was
as follows:
The United States steamer Uncas
| left Key West shortly before midnight,
last night, with instructions to send
nag Of truce, with regard to exchanss
Of prisoners"
/ At the state and war departments
the officials were on hand in many of
t the bureaus for the greater part Of tbs
day. Secretary Day and Assistant
( Secretaries Adee and Cridler were al
/ their desks. Secretary Day said that
/ he had no important news to communi-
/ cate II the press, nor had he any ecm-
! mcnt to make on the advices from
| Madrid telling Of the resignation Of the
| entire Spanish ministry.
/ In Adjutant Cen Corbins office, wal
! department, important action in the
assignment Of volunteer troops to tn,
various modifying points was taker
| daring the day. The order of assign.
ment shows that there has been some
/ change regarding the points to which
volunteers shall be sent, as q grea
portion Of them go to Chickamauga
while those who viii come to Washing
ton are less by 10000 than vas original
~ assigned to this city.