The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-05-27
The Philippines.

Mare Island navy yard, California.
The reports from Madrid that the
Spanish reserve fleet would be sent to
the Philippines to crush Dewey and
retake Cavite and Manila harbor re-
suited in definite decision to dis
patch the Monterey, the only armor.
ed vessel available for the service.
1t is thought, too, that the sending
of the Monterey is strong indica-
ton that the policy Of the United
States is to hold the Philippines.
Some slight changes will be made
before the monitor starts on her long
voyage, but it is said at the navy de-
partment that she will probably get
away at the end of this week. No
monitor has ever taken such voyage,
and naturally the greatest interest is
felt in naval circles over the trip. II
is the question of coal which makes
the prospective voyage of the mouitor
so full of interest. She was designed
for coast defense, and it was not in
tended that she should make journeys
across the ocean. She can carry
only 200 tons of coal in her bunkers.
On the unprecedented voyage to
Manila the Monterey will be accom-
panied by collier and also, it is I'M
derstood, by the ocean. going tug
lroquois, formerly the Daunless of
the spreckels company. The Iroquois
will go along to give tow or other
assistance to the monitor in case OF
emergency.
From San Francisco to Manila, by
way of Honolulu and Hong Kong,
the distance is 1918 miles 1t will be
necessary for the monitor to coal fire.
quently on this voyage Coaling at
sea is a tedious aud sometimes danger
GUS performance, and much time will
be lost in conveying coal from the
collier to the bunkers and deck of the
Monterey. The best speed of which
she is capable is IA knots an hour,
but with the necessity of economizing
coal she will not make more than
eight knots. her journey will there
fore take about so days, allowing for
coaiing at sea and at Honolulu and
Hong Kong. The longest run will
be from Honolulu to Hong Kong,
1861 nautical miles -Four coalings
at sea will be required on this stage
of the voyage. 1t is likely that dur
ing the last 800 miles of the trip from
San Francisco to Honolulu the Mont
Grey will be towed by the Iroquois to
save the necessity Of taking on coal
at sea. At Honolulu her consorts,
as we'll as the monitor, will fill the
bunkers, and this will be repeated al
Hong Kong II is believed that nc
objection will be made by either the
Hawaiian or British government to
allowing coal to be shipped at Homo.
lulu and Hong Hong, as neutrality
proclamations permit this to be done
to enable ship of nation at war to
proceed to the nearest port Of that
nation, and Manila is de facte
American port, with Dewey holding
the harbor and in position to take
the city whenever be wants to.
In the Monterey Admiral Dewey
will have a formidable addition o bis
squadron and the only armorclad
The cruisers and gunboats which par.
ticpated in the notable battle of Ma
Mia bay are only protected. The
Olympia alone has turrets. Whel
the Monterey arrives at Manila AID
miral Dewey will have eight fighting
ships under his command, including
the Charleston and not including th,
revenue cutter McCulloch, which il
being used as a dispatch boat. Late
on his force will be augmented by til,
cruiser Philadelphia, making on
monitor, six cruisers, two protected
gunboats, one armed revenue cutter
and the unprotected steel gunboa
Callao, captured after the engagement
of May l. If Spain sends the bat
tleship Pelayo and three or four othe
armored craft to Manila, Admira
Dewey would have very FORMIDABLE
squadron, but the administration ha
no fear of the result, relying on th
superior craftsmanship of the Amer
lean gunners and the fact that Ad
miral Dewey holds all the fortified
tons protecting the entrance to th
hsrbor. When the Spanish Cap
Verde squadron is defeated som
more armored ships can be sent t
Admiral Dewey's assistance.
The war department announce
yesterday that the City Of Pekin
would sail from San Francisco With
"a hours with 1900 soldiers on boar
for Manila, and ought to reach ,her
by June 10. The Centennial,
; crack steamer of the Northern Pacifi
. line, has been ordered from Seattl
: to San Francisco, where she will tax
on troops and provisions for Mapil;
1t is expected that by August ther
will ho K Ol0 trnnnc of Aanil.,