The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-05-20
MERRITT'S DEMAND.
The General Desires More Regular
Troops for Occupying Manila.
CAMPAIGN PLANS TO Be KEPT SECRET
Secretary Long Annoyed by Newspapers
Printing About Projected Movements
of Our Fleets-The Expedition to
the Philippine Islands.


New YORK, May II. Maj. Gen. Yves
ley Merritt may not go to the Philip
pine islands in command of the troops
to be sent to the assistance of Rear Ad-
miral 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
for conference, before the announce
ment was made that he was to com
mand the the Manila expedition, Gen.
Merritt has been busily arranging for
his departure. In an interview last
night Gen. Merritt said:
Il may not go to the Philippines at all. II is
proposed to give me $1,000 men. only 1000 Of
them regulars and the rest volunteers, and
those from the northwest who have had little
opportunity for training and discipline. 1have
asked the department for at least 1000 more
regular troops for l 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 l want enough dis
ciplined troops so that the whole body viii be
as effective as possible
Are you going to Washington to see about
this matterY"
mo, but l am sending an officer / had a
| conversation with DR. Bourns OF Atlanta, who
| is familiar with the Philippines, and came on
to see me, and M and Col Hughes will 20 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. But feel that do not want TO 80 on
this expedition unless | have an entirely ade-
| Quate force and ut least five regiments of regu-
lar troops. The department promises to send
on more men, but history and experience show
| that in such expeditions, all depends upon the
first force sent"
How can the Charleston start II there are
no men readyW
Gen. Otis may be willing to 90 on without
four more regiments of regular troops and take
only 900 trained men. with H. O0O undsciplined
ones, but l am not do not propose TO 70
without force that is suitable to my rank
shall stay right here il do not go to the Phil
ippines don't expect anything will be done
in the matter until IL is certain what am 10
| have for the purpose Of the expedition"
CAMPAIGN PLANS TO BE KEPT SECRET.
WASHINGTON, May 17.-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
secretary's order was directed TO Capt.
Crowninshield, chief of the naviga
ton bureau, and he in turn gave il
effect by making an order in his own
name that no person connected with
his 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 an offset, it was
ordered that bulletins of such facts as
have actually occurred and are proper
for publication and are not connected
with existing or projected movements
shall be prepared and posted on the
bulletin board. The sum total o
the information published by the
bulletin board yesterday under thi
rule was a notice of the intention
to start the Philippine relief eXpedi
ton and of the permission given t,
some foreign neutral vessels to pas
the blockade at Havana. In eXplana
ton of the issue of this order, tn,
naval authorities say that some of tn,
leading American newspapers hav,
been SO far lacking in patriotism as t,
print plans of campaign and projecte,
movements of naval ships, with the re
suit that the war board has beef
obliged completely to revise its plans
in the knowledge that the Spanish hat
promptly taken notice of the publica
tions and were prepared to profit b,
them. Complaint was made to Secre
tary Long that the newspapers wer
, working injury to the government il
such cases.
, EXPEDITION TO THE PHILIPPINES.
WASHINGTON, May 17.-Secretary o
War Alger, on leaving the white hous
yesterday, said: 1.-The City of Peki
will leave San Francisco on Friday TO
the Philippines. She will carry a
many troops as can be put aboard heI
which will be at least 1900 men,
Brig. Gen. Otis is expected to go wit
, the first detachment of troops, to b
, followed later by Gen. Merritt, who
; to be the commander-in-chief of tn
r expedition and the military governo
9 of the islands. Gen. Miles has recon
: mended to the president that two az
ditional brigadiers also be sent, bu
their names have not as yet been NJ
nounced.
=