The age-herald., 1898-08-20
ORDERS HAVE BEEN ISSUED
To Raise the Number of Vessels in That
 Vicinity to Seventy.
WAITING FOR MERRIlT'S REPORT
War and Navy Departments Are Inter- ested in Knowing the Exact Terms on Which Manila Was Surren-
 dered to the Americans.

Washington, Aug. 19.-One of the largest fleets of warshiDs ever assembled in an American port will be brought together in the next few days at Fort Monroe. Already nfty-seven warships are under orders to rendezvous there, and the orders still to be issued will raise the total to the neigh borhood of seventy. Naval officials say it is difficult to realize the extent of such a large aggregation in one narbor. The orders be- gan issuing last Monday, when five war ships were ordered to Fort Monroe. On the 18th another ship was added. On the 17th e.ght more were sent, and on the 18th seventeen ships were added. Today's or ders include eighteen more ships. Before the orders began issuing there were eight warships at Fort Monroe, so that the total up to today is fifty-seven. Those included in today's orders ale the Newport, Rodgers, Lebanon, Wampatuck, Morris, Grim, Lan- caster, Machias, Osceola, Peoria, Massasoit, Sioux, Cheyenne, Wabam, Chickasaw, Hell ena, Detroit and Yankton.
 Cruis, rs and Gunboats
 These are the ships previously ordered and are mainly small craft, although there are a number of large cruisers and gunboats, Including the San Francisco, Helena, De- troit, Topeka, Marietta and Castine. The movement of these ships northward is due to the close of hostilities, and more partic- uarly to the desire to get the ships away from points of possible fever infection. They will now be put in thorough repair and their crews will be gradually changed from naval militiamen to sailors of the regular army.
 The navy department has not yet deter mined what ships will go to Havana, San Juan and other points of Cuba and Porto Rico. There is felt to be no hurry about this urtil the authority of the United States is frlly. established throughout the islands. IT the meantime, the matter of policing the shore points is being considered, and in due time number of light draft auxiliary craft and some of the single-turreted mon itors will be used for this coast patrol It is found, however, that only four of the old monitors of the civil war are fit for this service in southern waters.
 As many naval vessels will be centered about the West Indies from this time for ward, the navy department will send the floating dock recently bought in New York bown the coast to Pensacola, Fla, where 1t will be kept for docking the warships. At that point also there are good naval work ships to be used in connection with the floating dock. The dock Is now being cop pered and will be lowed to Pensacola as soon as the September gales are over. There were few developments of import ance in the postwar situation today. Waiting for Report
 The authorities are still waiting for Gen. eral Merritts report of the list of casual ties and the state, war and navy depart ments are interested in knowing the ex- dered-whether the city alone, or if all the Philippines were included. It was stated by officials that nothing additional on this point had been received up to the close of office hours today. The efforts to restore the Manila cable continue, but they have not proved successful thus far. sThe claims made in Madrid that the pro- tocol and not the equalization controls the status of affairs in the Philippines. will not be discussed by state department off, cials. The Madrid discussion is looked upon as rather academic, 1t being taken for granted that terms will be made on both sides and that the Paris tribunal will be the final arbitrator of the case.
 Neither the state department nor the French embassy has yet received word that Spain has chosen her military com missions for Cuba and Porto Rico and some doubt is expressed as to the &C., .curacy of the names given in London press advices. The names given in these reports are those of Spanish generals and admirals stationed in Cuba and Porto Rico. so that if the names are correct no time will be lost in bringing the commissioners to- gether. The understanding here is that the sessions will begin at Havana and San Juan about the first week in September