The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-09
MoRE TRANSPORTS CHARTERED.

great enthusiasm"
MORE TRANSPORTS CHARTERED.
Enough Vessels Secured to Carry 49,
600 Troops to the Philippines.
WASHINGTON, June S.-Assistant Secre-
tary Meiklejohn. of the War Department,
announced with considerable satisfaction to-
day that the problem of securing an ade-
quate number of transports for troops to the
Philippines appeared to have been solved.
lie made this statement after having char
tered six ships, in addition to those hereto
fore named and taken the preliminary steps
for obtaining five more under certain cond-
tions. If the latter are secured the War
Department will have at its disposal alto
gether eighteen ships for the Philippine ex-
pedition. enough to accommodate in round
numbers many thousand men, should they
be put TO that use exclusively. AS some of
them, however, will carry cavalry and some
artillery the actual number of men the ships
will take may be reduced somewhat and
some of the vessels. in all probability. will
make a second voyage before their charters
Rre Cancelled AS result Of the acquisition Of
the additional vessels there will be extraor-
binary activity In fitting them out for the
work intended, and no time will be lost in
of reinforcements for Admiral Dewey. Fol-
lowing are the names of the vessels just
chartered:
Indiana. now at Seattle. capacity 1000
men.
Morgan City, now at San Francisco. ca
pacity 1000 men.
City of Para, which will carry approx
mately 1900 men,
Victoria. which is at Tacoma, Wash.
Olympia. which will be at Tacoma on the
18th inst
Arizona. which will be at Tacoma on the
10th of July.
These latter vessels belong to the North
ern Pacific Steamship Company, and their
charter depends on the granting to them by
Congress of an American register. Assistant
Secretary Meiklejohn made an original
proposition for these ships over week ago,
bit the company held out for some time for
higher figures than the government proposed
TO give. The terms of the charter are en-
airely satisfactory to the department.
The department has also the privilege of
taking the Tacoma and Columbia of the
Northern Pacific line If they are needed. The
former vessel will arrive at Tacoma on July
81 and the latter at Portland on Aug. z. The
department may not need to avail itself of
the service of these vessels because of the
possible return of some of those which have
already started or are about to start for the
Philippines in which case the two last men,
toned will not be taken. A distinct point in
the Northern Pacific vessels is the privilege
given by the company to the government to
re-deliver them at Hong Kong. This will re-
suit In a material saving to the government
as the vessels may not be needed after max
1t is with considerable regret that the
government officials have been compelled
10 take the initiatory steps for impressing
vessels into the service of the United States
governments This. however. thew have fOnn0
necessary in the case of the three vessels
of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company
which are desired by the department and
which they have been unable to secure be-
cause of an inability to agree on the terms
of the charter. The vessels referred to,
namely, The Senator, the Queen and the
Pueblo, have not yet been actually i'm
pressed into the government service, but
will be IL after another examination by
satisfactory condition for transport pur-
poses If the rate of compensation for the
use OF the vessels cannot be agreed on by
pany, it will be adjudicated hereafter either
through the Court of Claims or through
some other method that may be devised
stance in which steps for the impressment
Of vessels for the use of the government
has been taken during the present war, but
1t Is understood that the intention of the
War Department hereafter is to adopt such
measures wherever there is disposition on
Sn6 part Of agents or owners of steamship
lines to embarrass the government by hold
ing out for fancy figures for the charters
or ships. This will apply either to the At
lantic or the Pacific coast as the necessity
may arise. Officials characterize the action
or the companies as showing a lack of
patriotism and consideration for the inter-
ests of the government during the present
emergency, and say they are not disposed
hereafter to have this interfere with the
active and prompt procurement of needed
vessels.
Following is a list of the vessels obtained
py the War Department and those in pros
pect-all for use on the Pacific coast: Aus
Iralia, City of Sydney, City of Picking.
CHINA, Colon, Zerlandia, Ohio Indiana Nor
gan City, City of Para, Tacoma Columbia
olympia, Arizona, Victoria, Senator, Queen
and City of Pueblo.
Inc Navy Department is also busy in ar
ranging details for the Manila expeditions
having Undertaken to make ready the trans
ports which will carry the soldiers from San
FRANCISCO TO Manila Work on these is be-
ing hurried under Geographic orders and
DyAthe end of the week there will be suf-
hcient military force afioat to enable Admit
raj Dewey. when it reaches him, to do pref
~ much as he pleases al Manila. This Is an
object very much at heart just now for fully
recognizing the good military qualities dis
played by the insurgents, according to the
newspaper reports, in the combats around
Cavite, the officials are loath to RELY entire
~ upon them for any length of time fear
ing relapse on their part into savagery
that might startle the civilized world