Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05
SHIPS FOR WATSON
Blockade Of Philippine Ports to Be
Strengthened.
RESULT OF ADMIRAL DEWEY'S ADVICE
Aggressive Steps by the Navy tc
End the War.
STARVING OUT INSURGENTS

AS a result of the conference between
the President and Admiral Dewey yester-
day orders were issued last night looking
to the immediate dispatch to the Philip
pines Of number of vessels of the navy,
including the cruiser Brooklyn and the
gunboats Marietta and Machias
The Navy Department was busily engaged
today in arranging to reinforce the fleet in
the Philippines suggested yesterday by
Admiral Dewey. 1t is no easy matter to
hastily select ships to be dispatched at
short notice more than half way around
the globe. and many factors enter into
such arrangements of which the general
public cannot be informed. Thus, in going
over the field of available ships, it was
found this morning that the plan conceived
last evening of sending the Marietta and
the Machlas with the Brooklyn to Manila
would have to be modified so as to drop
those two gunboats from the list.
The Brooklyn will certainly go: that
much was settled. She is wanted particularly
as a flagship for the squadron. to take the
place of the Baltimore. That vessel has
been acting flagship since the Olympia left
there. and while both she and the Oregon.
and even the Charleston may be availed
of in case of need for such purposes, no
one of them presents the advantages of
the Brooklyn or New York for the accom-
mediation of an admiral commanding
large fleet. The New York is said to be
needed at home.
Orders Sent to Warshfps.
By noon the department had completed
Its program, and was in position to send
the sailing orders to the ships chosen to go
to Manila. The New Orleans was tele-
graphed to proceed at once to the New
York navy yard to have some changes
made in the galley apparatus. small mat
ter, but of Importance as contrbutory to
the comfort of the ships company. This
change can be made in six days when the
ship will start on her voyage. The Brook
lyn will be turned back from Hampton
Roads as soon as she comes within signal
ing distance. and sent to New York, whence
she sailed this morning before the depart
ment could reach her with orders. She will
be ready to sail by the end of next week.
A cabegram was sent to the Nashville
a San Domingo to proceed at once to Ma
Mia, via SueZ, and she is expected to get
Off within tWenty-four hours. Orders were
also telegraphed to the Badger at Mare
Island to proceed TO the Philippines as soon
possible. The department is not yet
aware of the extent of the fitting out
quired by this ship. but it IS believed that
not more than weeks time will be re-
quired to make ready. No orders have as
yet been sent to the Bancroft at Boston.
1t was suggested a the Navy Department
that three of the four vessels now under
orders for Manila will pass through the
SueZ canal and will be available to di-
take a turn requiring the presence of
United States naval force.
The Brooklyn could start at once. ButCapt.
Jewell. her commander. in talking over the
projected cruise with Acting Secretary AL
len, pointed out that 1t would be expedient,
before she started, to make good many
changes in the ships personnel to avoid
having to send men home from the Asiatc
station in a short time, and 1t will require
about ten days time to make these changes
and get the Brooklyn ready for sea.
The Bancroft is at Boston, where she has
been extensively overhauled, after a long
cruise in the Mediterranean. 1t is under
stood that these repairs are nearly COM
plete, and that the little vessel can prob
ably get away inside of a month. She is
of $50 tons only and would probably be
obliged to take the southern route by way
of the Azores to make the passage out to
Manila.
The Badger is in San Francisco, and, un-
like the other vessels. would cross the Pa
cifc directly, probably arriving at Manila
before any of the others. She has been de-
voting the summer to drilling the Pacific
coast naval militia and was just about to
be put out OF commission for the winter.
She is a vessel of 4 1s4 tons and was for
merly of the Pacific liners. The New
Orleans is one of the finest cruisers pur
chased from the Armstrong; before the
war; she is of 3437 tons. The Nashville is
a gunboat of 81 tons.
The Brooklyn is an armored cruiser of
the first rating, carrying twenty main bat
terry guns ana naNlI.S 1Otdl OlspidCemeNt
of 9,215 tons. and is so well thought of by
Rear Admiral Schley that he asked that
she be assigned as his flagship in the new
South Atlantic squadron. The Brooklyn is
comma nded by Capt Theodore F. Jewell,
who has seen fourteen years of sea service
and much more than that On shore sta
tions
The Brookyn's formidable equipment will
make her of invaluable general service.
Why the Change Was Made.
1t was Admiral Deweys idea that vessels
Of larger type than were first thought of
should be sent to Manila He pointed out
that the smaller class of gunboats would
be exposed to good deal of unnecessary
danger If they were sent out. To carry out
the plans for cutting the insurgents of
from their supplies, these vessels must be
scattered around among the Islands often
without consortS. and thus exposed to sud-
den and overwhelming attacks from the
natives. But these larger vessels that are
row to be sent will not only be amply able
to take care of themselves in such cases,
but may serve as parent ships from which
may be operated a number of the small
launches that have been doing such good
service in the Philippines.
Yesterday's Conference.
The orders given are in line with the ex-
pressed determination of the President to
furnish the army and navy every resource
for stamping out the Philippine insured
ton at the earliest possible time At Ad-
miral Dewey's extended interview with the
President yesterday the former went into
the Philippine situation at great length
explaining carefully the existing condition
of affairs and his views of the outlook
concluding with an earnest recommended
ton that additional vessels be sent at once
to the Philippines. This reinforcement of
the present fleet of the Asiatio squadron
he urged as necessary, and said their dis
patch should be directed as early as pos
sible. The President Immediately communi-
Gated with the Navy Department and in
structed the Secretary of the Navy to is
sue an order carrying out the admiraPs
recommendation and to see that the yes.
sells be got in readiness at once