The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-07
.lMPRESSMENT IF REQUIRED
STEAMERS FOR CONVEYING
TROOPS TO MANILA.
So Far Secretary Long Has Only Ad-
-" yised Warships of the Neces-
!. : sity of Being Prepared
for Service.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, Feb. GA Washington
special to the Herald says: Secretary
Alger announced to-day that no action
would be taken looking to the dispatch
OF achievements to Manila until after
the Cabinet meeting tomorrow. Be
You'd advising different vessels of the
engagement with the insurgents and
of the necessity of being prepared in
lease they should be needed for service
in the Far East, Secretary Long did
nothing to-day which will result in the
assignment of additional vessels to
Rear Admiral Dewey's command.
.: It was said at the department that
Rear Admiral Dewey, before the out
w. break of the insurgents, cabled to Sec
rotary Long that in his opinion he
would have sufficient force when ali
vessels ordered to join him arrive to
.IsOpe with the insurgents. 1t is under
stood, however, that the department
has practically determined to direct
expedition in the reconstruction of the
former Spanish gunboats now at
.fiongkong, in order that they may at
least be ready for service in the Philip
pines by the latter part of spring.
. Major Bird, assistant Quartermaster
general, who has charge Of transporta-
ton, has been making arrangements
during the day for the impressment of
steamers into the service of the United
States in case the department requires
them for use of troops to be sent to
join General Otis. The Valencia,
which is returning from Manila, is due
on February 10th at San Francisco, and
will be Immediately put in condition to
return without delay. The Zealandia,
which sailed from Manila January 26,
is due at San Francisco in early March.
The steamer Conemaugh has been
loaded with freight and can discharge
her cargo and take a company of
troops. Besides these vessels the de-
partment has the Tartar and Roanoke
10 mind and will accept them in case
lit is determined to transport a large
. number of men to the Philippines.
The Navy Department has decided to
send a cargo of ammunition to Ad-
:>miral Dewey's squadron by the Celtic,
. which viii leave San Francisco shortly.
The Asiatic squadron" said Captain
. Chatles O'Neil, chief of the bureau of
: ordnance, has oceans of ammunition.
Every naval steamer that has gone out
TO Manila had on board a large guam
q. tity of powder and shells, and I really
. don't see what the admiral will do with
I al unless he puts it in the magazine
AT Cavite. About month ago he was
asked TO specify the kind of ammuni
lion. which his ships particularly need
ID, and the Solace, which left Hampton
Roads to-day, has a large supply on
board. he Buffalo took out quantity
and the Yosemite which viii sail in a
few weeks will also have a cargo. In
addition every transport ordered to the
: philippines has her magazines filed to
:; their utmost capacity with powder and
projectiles."
=. Major Charles Shaler, acting chief of
O.. the bureau OF ordnance of the War
e. Department, told me that Otis men
faye in the Leighborhood Of 100000
cartridges and plenty of ammunition
for their siege, field and machine guns.
IT is proposed to ship an additional
supply by steamer. Practically all of
the ammunition furnished the ships
and troops is Of smokeless character,
black powder having been sent only
before and during the war.