The herald., 1898-12-10
TnE. SUfZ CANAL ROUTE
TO BE TAKEN BY NEXT MANILA
EXPEDITION
SIGNING OF THE PEACE TREATY
Makes It Desirable That United States
Troops Shall Be Early on
the Ground
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK, Dec. "a dispatch to the
Tribune from Washington says:
The next regiments to start for Manila
will embark at New York about the end ol
this month and will go through the Sue2
Canal. The expedition will consist of three
regiments of regular infantry, distributed
between two of the largest converted trans
ports owned by the government, with per
haps a convoy of two warships. Arrange
ments are now being made for this expedi-
tion by Adiutant- General Corbin as rapidly
as possible, in view of its great importance
especially as it involves cooperation by the
State and Navy Department authorities,
rs well as those of the War Department.
The decision to use New York as the point
of embarkation, nsted of San Francisco,
whence all the earlier forces started for the
Philippines was reached by General Corbn,
after careful review Of number of con-
siderations, chief among which was the ur-
gency for haste. The early completion Of
the treaty of peace with Spain renders in
dispensable prompt increase of the Ameri-
can forces, not only at Manila, but at the
in the archipelago which will fall under
American domination with its accompany
ing responsibility for the security of life and
property.
At the present time the government is
wholly without available transports in the
Pacific Ocean to meet the emergency. The
dispatch of two vessels from the Atlantic,
it is believed. will therefore be particularly
advantageous for tEe double puIpvsc of
bringing home from Manila such volunteers
as can be spared soon, and increasing the
transport fleet for the Pacific. The three
regiments of regulars have not been selected,
but as none but those now IN New YORK
State and other Atlantic garrisons can well
be spared, the conclusion was forced upon
the authorities that economy as well as
rapidty of action required them to be sent
by way of the Mediterranean instead OF
journeying across the continent, and then
undertaking the trying and monotonous
voyage on the Pacific with no haven of rest
after leaving Hawaii.
The garrison, under General OTIS at Ma
Mia now consists of one company OF the
regular engineer battalion, six troops OF the
Fourth Regular Cavalry, six batteries OF
the Third and Sixth Regular Artillery,
three regiments--the Fourteenth, Eigh-
teenth and h-third--regular infantry,
fifteen regiments OF volunteer infantry, and
six batteries of volunteer artillery, including
homeward orders. 1t will be the effort OF
the authorities to return all these volunteer
regiments and batteries to the | nited States
a. speedily as possible, bringing them home
as far as feasible in the order in which they
reached Manila, after Admiral Dewey's
victory, and it is believed that on the ar
rival there early in February, of the three
regiments of regulars from New York, at
least several commands may be re-
leased from the duty that has already grown
irksome to them.
The expedition from New York could
start in the course of the next week if it
were not for the exigency in Cuba which
demands the utilization of the entire ma
1ine transportation resources of the govern
ment on the Atlantic coast just at pres
ent for providing protection to all interests
in that island promptly on the departure of
the Spanish garrisons. Although the Ninth,
at Madison Barracks, the Thirteenth at
Forts Porter, Columbus and Niagara, the
Twenty-iirst at the Plattsburgh Barracks,
all in New York, as well as other regiments
of regular infantry at posts east of the
Rocky Mountains, are equipped ready to
start, practically on the tap of the drum,
a delay is essential for at least two weeks
to secure the necessary transports. The
vessels to take these three regiments from
New York to Manila will probably be the
Berlin, with capacity for 2000 men, and
the Chester, which can comfortably provide
for 1900 men. These ships are declared to
be in excellent condition and capable OF car
rying all the supplies and equipment essen
tial for the force, besides having the advan-
tage of roomy decks and plenty of elbow
room for three thousand men and the neces-
sary officers.
Some question arose upon the advantages
of the Mediterranean route before it's vir-
tual adoption, as to the possibility Of send
ing such an expedition through the Suez
Canal, without violating the neutrality reg
ulations of that waterway, but the State
Department, which is taking an active in
terest in the expedition, promptly swept
this away by citing the precedent of an armed
Spanish squadron under Camara securing
a right Of way to pass to the Fed Sea from
the Mediterranean at the height of hostili-
ties notwithstanding the cautious represen-
tations of this government. After that in
cidcnt it is considered impossible that such |
an international canal could ever be closed
in time of war, not to mention such times
OF peace as at present, except by the eXer-
else OF force.
The navy may send one or two cruisers
with the expedition as far as Gibraltar,
where the Helena has just arrived and
where she may act as a convoy, and Admiral |
Dewey may send one of his vessels as far as
Singapore. to meet the fleet. Stops will |
probably be made on the voyage at Gibra- |
pore, where coal will be ready and fresh
food will be obtained. 1t will depend on
the reports of officers who may accompany |
this expedition, whether the transports, |
after reaching Manila, shall return to the |
United States by way of the Atlantic or the
Pacific, although it may be considered
advisable, in view of the fact that most Of
the earlier regiments which reached Manila |
were from the Pacific Coast, that the trans
ports will proceed to San Francisco in order
to land the returning troops near their
homes.
Actual steaming distance for full powered
vessels from New York to Manila via Suez
is given by naval photographic officers as
ll,GO5 nautical miles, while that from San
Francisco to Manila via Honolulu is given
as 1850 knots. To Manila from New York
by way of the Cape of Good Hope is 49,
5So miles. and by way of the Straits of Ma
gellan and Samoa it is 10000 miles
The Daughters Hall
NORFOLK, Va, Dec. 9-At the state
convention of the Daughters of the Ameri.
-1.-IF