The Mena star., 1898-05-18
MERRITT MAY NOT GO
The General Desires More Regular
 Troops for Occupying Manila.
Not Willing to start with 1000 Trained Men and 14,OOO UndIsclpined Ones Dewey Again Heard from i'm
 an Agreeable Manner.

NEW YORK, May IT. Maj. Gen. Wes- 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, whither 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:
 T may not go to the Philippines at all. It is proposed to give me 15,000 men. only 1000 of them regulars and the rest volunteers, and those from the northwest. who have had little opportunity for training and discipline Ihave asked the department for at least 4,000 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 I want enough dis ciplined troops so that the whole body will be as effective as possible.
 How can the Charleston start If there are no men ready?''
 Gen. Otis may be willing to go on without four more regiments of regular troops and take
 
 ones. but am not do not propose to go without force that Is suitable to my rank I shall stay right here if do not go to the Phil ippines don't expect anything will be done in the matter until it is certain what I am to have for the purpose of the expedition"
 Dewey Is All Right.
 WASHINGTON, May 1.-The dis patches from Hong Kong brought well come news yesterday from Adm. Dewey to the president and particu- larly to Secretary Long and the naval officials, who are watching the admir- als movements with so much interest. While no apprehension existed as to his security. nevertheless reinsurance of safety is always pleasant The tele- grams indicate that Dewey has lost none of the prestige gained in his memorable fight of two weeks ago, and that while he refrains from taking the city of Manila, he has 1t practically at his mercy. The admiral expresses the belief that the rebels are hemming the city in by land, but the fact that he says explicitly that they have made no demonstrations seems to disprove thoroughly the pub lished reports that they have already entered Manila and begun career of b1oodshed and rapine.
 The dispatch as given out by Secre- tary Long is as follows:
 CAvITE. May 13, via Hong Kong, May 15. = Maintaining strict blockade. Reason to believe that the rebels are hemming in the city by land but have made no demonstration. Scarcity of provisions in Manila Probable that the Span ish governor will be obliged to surrender soon. Can take Manila at any moment Climate hot and moist On May l2 captured gunboat Callao attempting to run blockade Have plenty of coal One British, one French. two German, one Japanese vessel here observing. DEWEY.
 Augusti Thinks He Can Hold Out
 LONDON, May 17.-The Madrid corre- spondent of the Standard says:
 Very conflicting news has reached Madrid from official and private sources concerning the state of affairs in the Philippines Capt Gen. Augusti seems confident that he will be able to resist the American war vessels for some time His reports as to the disposition of the garrison and inhabitants are excellent The principal difficulties are the rise in prices, the scarcity of provisions and the unsettled state of the interior Of the country.