The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-10-11
Preparing to Murder.
War Ships Ordered to the Philip
pine Islands.
Brookland and Other Boats Will be
Rushed Over on the Recommends
tion of Admiral Dewey.

uuuUSI VI fSSSC1S VI tAO do'y, III
cluding the cruiser Brookland and
the gunboats Marietta and Machias.
The action is the result of Admi-
raj Dewey's interview today, in which
he went over the Philippine situation
with the President.
The orders given are in line with
the expressed determination of the
President to furnish the army and
navy every resource for stamping out
the Philippine insurrection at the
earliest possible time.
At Admiral Dewey's extended in
terview with the President today the
former went into the Philippine sit
uation at great length, explaining
carefully the existing condition of
affairs and his views of the outlook,
concluding with an earnest recon-
mendation that the Brooklyn and
some other vessels be sent at once to
the Philippines. This reinforcement
of the present fleet of the Asiastic
he urged is necessasy and
said thei, dispatch should be directed
as early as possible. The President
Immediately communicated with the
navy department and instructed
Secretary Long to issue an order car
rying out the Admiral's recommen-
dation and to see that the vessels be
got in readiness at once. Besides
the Brooklyn, Marietta and Machias
the other vessels have not been Sc
lected. The Brookland is now with
the North Atlantic Squadron off
Thompkinsville. The Mechias and
the Marietta are at the navy yard in
this city on wait orders, having been
brought here to participate in this
weeks celebration in honor of Admi-
raj Dewey. These reinforcements
will add considerable strength to the
Asiastic Squadron and the Admins
tration believes their presence will
have material effect in expediting
the end of hostilities.
The Brooklyn is an armored cruiser
of the first rating, carrying 20 main
battery guns and having total dis
placement Of 9,215 tons, ,and is so
we'll thought of by Rear Admiral
Schley that he desired that she be
assigned as his flagship in the new
South Atlantic Squadron.
The Marietta is a composite gun
boat of 1000 tons displacement and
with a main battery equipment of six
guns, and the Machias with a displace-
ment of LIT tons, carries a battery
of eight guns. Their commanders
are all veterans of long experience in
the service. The Brookland is COM
manded by Captain Theodore F.
Jewell, who has seen fourteen years
of sea service; the machias by Lieu
tenant Commander Leavitte G. Lo-
gan, with fifteen years Of sea service,
and the Marietta by Lieutenant Com
mander Edward H. Gheen, whose
record shows seventeen years of sea
service, The Brookland's formidable
equipment will make her Of invalua-
bic general service, while the Mari
eta and the Machias are expected to
be of such usefulness in the numer-
GUS shallow waters about the archi-
pelago, where larger craft cannot go.
It is not known how soon these
vessels can be made ready, but they
will get away as early as posaible.
Later-In going over the field OF
available ships it was found that the
plan first conceived CT sending the
Marietta and Macbias with the
Brooklyn would have to be modified
so as to drop the two gunboats. 1n
addition to the Brooklyn the follow
ing ships will be added to Watson'S 5
feet: Nashville, New Orleans, Ban
croft and Badger. 1t was Admiral
Dewey's idea that the vessels OF a
larger type than were at first thought
of should be sent to Manila he
pointed out that the Smaller class Ct
gunboats would be exposed to great
deal of unnecessary danger if they
were sent out. To carry out the
plans of cutting the insurgents of
from their supplies, these vessels
must be scattered around among the
islands, often without consort, and
thus exposed to sudden attack. The
larger vessels will not only be able
to take care Of themselves in such
IL o