The Topeka state journal., 1899-01-07
DEWEY WANTS MORE.
Is Still Calling For GunbOats,
Soap and Plug Tobacco.

New York, Jan. IA special to the
Tribune from Washington says:
The navy department has received a
long cipher cable dispatch from Ad-
miral Dewey making acquisitions for
ships and supplies urgently needed on
the Asiatic station. The admiral re-
iterated the request he has made sew
eral times in the last few weeks, that
additional light draught gunboats
should be sent to him, notwithstanding
the fact that Secretary Long informed
him yesterday that the Castine was
starting Immediately by way of Suez,
and other vessels would follow when
they could be spared.
A reply was sent to the admiral today
that the Bennington, now on her way
from Honolulu to make surveys at
Guam, would be ordered to Manila in
the course of a few months, and the
Machias, now repairing at Portsmouth,
N. H.. would follow the Castine through
the Mediterranean in a few weeks on
her way to join his fleet.
CAN HAVE ANYTHING HE NEEDS.
Secretary Long added a request to
Admiral Dewey to designate specifically
any other gunboats he desired, in order
that the department might crafty him
if possible The authorities recognize
the advisable of sending all the gun
station on account of their adaptibility
to service in the archipelago, but in
addition to the Concord and Petrol.
which are now at 1loilo, the Helena is
at Port Said on her way to Manila, and
Admiral Dewey now has in commission
the Callao, the Manila, the Culgoa and
the Barcelo, which he captured from the
Spaniards, and in few weeks the Isla
de Luzon and the Isla de Cuba, which
he raised and sent to Hong Kong, will
be manned by the crews sent out on the
IlTnFF Fnt 10 al hnr Nlln 1AN,,-1 Il
boats I.eyte and Mindanao awaiting
crews, and when the Machias, the Cas-
tine and the Bennington join him he
will have thirty vessels under his COM
mand. not counting the Oregon and the
Iris, which will soon be at Honolulu,
awaiting orders to go to his support.
Such large fleet has never in times Of
peace been under the command of a
single American officer, but the depart
ment has such confidence in the ad-
miraPs Judgment that it will not hesi-
tate to send him any further reinforce
ments that he demands.
HAD 10000 BARS OF SOAP
In his dispatch Admiral Dewey calls
for large quantities of plug tobacco,
soap and American food. 1t will be re-
membered that soon after the destruc-
tion of Montejo's fleet the admiral
cabled for forty thousand bars of soap,
finding he could buy none in Asiatic
waters. This supply has either been ex-
hausted or the admiral is determined to
have a fresh supply on hand before it
gives out, in order that there shall be
no uncleanliness in his fleet. His de-
mand for more plug tobacco is explain
ed in letters which have recently reach
ed Washington from officers of the fleet,
telling how tired the men are of Philip
pine cigars, and how they miss their
sweetened navy plug and their clay
pipes. To carry these needed supplies
the department decided today to fit up
the auxiliary cruiser Yankee or her sis
ter ship, the Prairie. and load them full
of necessities, sending them to Manila
by way of the Suez canal. These ves-
sells are now at League island, but one
of them can be sent around to New
York and made ready to start in the
next two weeks.