Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-19
MERRITTS DEMAND.
The General Desires More Regular
Troops for Occupying Manila.
CAMPAIGN PLANS TO Be KEPT SECRET
SECRETARY Long Annoyed by Newavauers
PFlnting About Projected Movements
s Of Our Flsets-The Expedition TO
the Philippine Islands,


the Philippine Islands,
New York, May l7.-Maj Gen. Yves
by Merritt may not go TO the Philip
pine islands In command OF the troop
20 BE- sent TO the assistance Of Rear Ad
miYal Dewey, and to take charge Of
the territory when in American pos
session as military governor. Ever
since his return from Washington,
whittier he was summoned last week
7 for conference, before the announce
ment was made that he was to COM
4 mand the the Manila expedition, Gen.
Merritt has been busily arranging for
his departure. In an interview last
night Gen. Merritt said:
i may not go to the Philippines at all 1t Is
proposed to give me 1900 men, only 1000 OF
them regulars and the rest volunteers and
those from the northwest who have had little
opportunity for training and discipline Ihave
asked the department for at least 1900 more
\ regular troops for believe that they will be
required There will be no opportunity TO
train the volunteer forces before the start or
AFTER they get TO Manila | want enough dis
ciplined troops so that the whole body will DO
~ effective as possible"
Are you going TO Washington TO see about
this matterY"
mo. but am sending an officer. | had O
conversation with Dr. Bourns, OF Atlanta, who
y familiar with the Philippines, and came on
70 zee me, and he and Col. Hughes will 70 TO
washington together The only way could
get more regular troops would be to take them
from the army now In Florida for the Cuban
Invasion. Butt feel that do not want to 20 on
this expedition ual,ss have an entirely ade-
Quate force aud at least five regiments OF regu-
lar troops The department promises to send
o. more men, but history and experience show
That in such expeditions, all depends upon the
first force sent"
How can tho Charleston start II there are
10 men readyyr
Gen Otis may be willing to 20 on without
four more regiments Of regular troops and take
only i0W trained men. with IA, 700 uudisciplned
0nes but am not do not propose to go
without force that Is suitable to my rank
shall stay right here II l do not 90 to the Phil
ippineS don't expect anything will be done
In the matter until II Is certain what | am 10
nave Tor the purpose Of the expedition
CAMPAIGN PLANS TO BE KEPT SECRET.
WASHINGTON, May l7-An order
posted yesterday morning and signed
BY Secretary Long relative to the pub
LEGATION Of news emanating from the
navy department had the effect yester.
day OF considerably curtailing the
supply Of information that heretofore
has been rather freely given out The
lecretarys order was directed to Capt.
Crowninshield, chief Of the naviga.
ton bureau, and he in turn gave it
eject BY making an order In bis own
name that no person connected with
Ms bureau In any capacity should
have any conversation whatever
upon subjects in any way per.
tanning to the navy with representa-
tives Of the press As IN offset, 1t was
ordered that bulletins Of such facts us
have actually occurred and are proper
Tor publication and are not connected
With existing or projected movements
shall be prepared and posted on the
bulletin board. The sum total Of
The information published by the
bulletin board yesterday under this
rule was notice Of the intention
% start the Philippine relief expedi-
tion and OF the permission given to
rome foreign neutral vessels to pass
The blockade at Havana In explana-
lion Of the issue of this order, the
naval authorities say that some Of the
leading American newspapers have
been 50 far lacking in patriotism as to
print plans Of campaign and projected
movements of naval ships, with the re-
Iult that the war board has been
obliged completely to revise its plans,
q the knowledge that the Spanish had
promptly taken notice Of the publica-
'ions and were prepared to profit by
hem Complaint was made to Secre.
'ary Long that the newspapers were
working injury to the government in
Iuch cases.
EXPEDITION TO THE PHILIPPINES.
WASHINGTON, May l7.-Secretary Of
War Alger, on leaving the white house
yesterday, said: 1.-THE City of Pekin
will leave San Francisco on Friday for
The Philippines She will carry as
many troops as can be put aboard her,
which will be at least 1900 men,"
Brig Gen. Otis is expected to 90 with
he first detachment of troops, to be
allowed later by Gen. Merritt, who is
o be the commander-in-chief of the
'xpedition and the military governor
y the islands. Gen. Miles has recon-
nended TO the president that two ad-
iitional brigadiers also be sent, but
heir names have not as yet been an
,ounced
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