The times., 1899-10-11
MORE VESSELS needed
Additions TO the Army Transport
Fleet Being Considered.
Unforeseen Difficulties Delay the
Movement of Troops for the Philip
pines as Rapidly as Was Expected
The Chartering of Four Vessels
Suggested to Secretary Root.

Secretary Root is not satisfied with the
transportation of the troops to Manila.
Unforeseen difficulties have arisen TO delay
the movement of the troops as rapidly as
was expected some weeks ago, and the
proposition to add four or FIVE more vessels
10 the transport feet was one Of the first
subjects considered by the Secretary on
his return TO Washington yesterday. In
his speech in Chicago he announced the
purpose of the War Department to have
49. 900 troops in the Philippines by Noven-
Der Is. and the entire IS, 900 there by the
end of December. To carry out this pro-
gramme 1t will probably be necessary to
increase the transportation facilities and
the Quartermaster General was yesterday
directed TO prepare a schedule showing the
transports on hand and their probable
dates Of departure.
This statement was submitted to the
Secretary Of War during the afternoon.
1t shows 2,91s men now at San Francisco
for transportation, consisting Of the
Twenty eighth and Thirty first, of the first
ten regiments, and 800 recruits. The
ships available for these men are the
Mananeuse which will be ready to sail
October Is; Olympia, October 20; Victoria,
October 20, and Hancock, October %, with
an aggregate carrying capacity of 12O
officers and 3,055 men. This will close the
first movement by October %. Before this
date however, the movement of the troops
of the twelve additional regiments Will
commence. II Will begin with the depart
ure Of the Pennsylvania on October Il, with
80 officers and 200 men. and the Newport
and City of Peubla on the same date, the
former with 500 men and the latter with
SEQ
On October % the Tartar is expected to
sail with / 100 men and 45 officers. This
vessel has not yet reached San Francisco,
but will probably arrive before the end OF
| the present week. The Senator is sched-
uled to leave November l. with 35 officers
/ and 200 men; City of Sydney November 10,
with % officers and ZOO men; Indiana No
yember 20. with 40 officers and 500 men.
On the same date the following viii prob
ably sail: Ohio, u officers and 700 men;
City OF Puebla, SO officers and $50 men;
Duke of Fife, 40 officers and 800 men; ST.
Paul November p, 40 officers and $50 men,
The Pathen. a new transport just author
lied, but not yet chartered by Major Long,
is scheduled TO arrive in San Francisco No
vember IS, but how soon she will be ready
70 sail is not known. She has a capacity of
25 officers and 7s0 men. This provides
transportation for 3s3 officers and 1920
men.
According to the intention of the de-
partment to send nine of the twelve regi
ments from San Fracnscio, it will be nee
essary to secure transportation for two
regiments, or 2,61S more men. There will
be available for this movement the War
ren, on December l. and the Sherman, on
December 10. Colonel Bird. of the trans
portation service, has suggested that
quicker transportation can be secured by
the chartering Of four more transports and
the following are recommended: Dalny
Yostock, capacity 500 men, now in Honolu-
IN, viii be in San Francisco November 20;
Admiral Aube. 500 men, will be in San
Francisco December 1; Flintshire and Mo-
yuma, capacity each 700 men, former will
be in port November 10 and latter Novem-
Der 20. On the Atlantic three transports
will be used: The Sherman, ready Novem
Der l, capacity 1880 men; Logan, Novem-
Der 90 1850 men, and Meade, November
20, 200 men.