The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-01-13
TO DEWEY
G~unbOats Yorktown. Princeton and
Bennington Ordered to the Philip.

Especial to Baltimore Sum-
Washington, January s.-The threat
ening condition of affairs in the Phil
ipinpes has been receiving the serious
consideration of both the navy and the
war departments, and while the latter
is hurrying troops to reinforce General
Otis from both San Francisco and New
York, the former will add greatly to
the present strength of Admiral Dew
ey's command by dispatching light
draft gunboats as 500 as they can be
got ready for the trip.
Admiral Dewey anticipates an abund-
ance of work for the navy in patroling
the innumerable islands of the archi-
pelago and in suppressing any upris-
ing against American authority. To
enable him to better control affairs, he
requires a large feet of small warships
capable of lorg steaming radius and
able to enter waters into which the
larger ships cannot go. His squadron is
now nearly as formidable as that on the
home station a year ago, and with the
i u IL llIL1O uhaOA oluOi0
to join him will soon reach unusual
proportions for an American fleet on
a foreign station.
Yesterday, in addition to orders given
during the week for the departure of
the Castine for Manila, instructions
were issued to get ready at once the
Princeton, Yorktown, Bennington and
the Solace for duty with the admiral,
and all of these ships are to be SOC
On their way TO the Philippines. The
Castine is now near Porto Rico, from
which point she will proceed to Gil
braltar, where, after changing COM
manders, the voyage will be continued
through the Suez with all dispatch.
The Helena is now we'll on her way
to the east and the Bennington going
west across the Pacific. The Solace is
at the New York navy yard, and will
load with stores, which are required for
the fleet, and leave direct for Manila.
The Yorktown is at San Francisco and
the Princeton at New York.
In answer recently to a query wheth-
er he required the services of the Ben
nington, Admiral Dewey replied yes
terday that he did. The ship is now on
her way from Honolulu to Guam, and
it is expected that the admiral can COM
municate with her there ore readily
than~the department, and instruct the
ship to join him.
In addition to these ships 1t Is not i'm
probable the auxiliary yacht Glouces-
ter may also be ordered to the Philip
pines. This vessel Is in ordinary at the
naval academy, but can be made ready,
it is stated, within a few days. A teie-
gram has been sent to Annapolis ask
ing how long before the ship could be
prepared for sea.
In vie wof the necessity of maintain
ing a large q eet at Manila, the authori-
ties have abandoned their intention OF
ordering t,ne Buffalo back to this coun-
try after.- she reaches the islands with
her relief crews and supplies for the
admit. al. Owing TO the disGuieting adj
vice s, it has been thought best to re-
ia IN the vessel there where she would
oe particularly valuable for transport
ing to any part of the islands marines
or troops that might be required to
move promptly. The Buffalo sailed
from Port Said for Manila last week,
after covering the distance from Nee
York in sixteen days, the fastest nm,
between the two points eve mad.e by
United States war vessel.