Gilpin observer., 1899-10-19
WASHINGTON NEWS.


A statement in detail just issued
shows that the military and naval
force which will be in the Philippines
by December will aggregate more than
10000, and 40 men-Of-war.
President Mckinley will, it Is expect
ed, devote considerable attention in his
Forthcoming annual message to an
other executive branch of the govern
ment, with n Cabinet minister at Its
head to have charge of interstate and
foreign commerce. 1t seems to be pref
ty well settled that a recommendation
will be made for new department of
commerce. but its full scope is still a
matter for discussion.
The annual report of Major. General
Wesley Merritt. commanding the De-
partment of the East, headquarters
Governors Island, New York, has
been made public. The report Is a
strong arraignment of the whole stu
alton in the artillery branch Of the SER
vice. being particularly directed
against the ordnance bureau, and, in
cidentally, the Quartermaster's De-
partment, the latter for failure to fur
nish what General Merritt considers
proper quarters at artillery posts.
Admiral Dewey is making fight for
double bounty for the men behind the
guns who won for him the battle of
Manila. He has filed a claim for 500
each for his men, instead of 500. They
are entitled to the double allowance If
the American force was inferior to the
Spanish force in the Manila bay fight.
Admiral Dewey in n report to the Navy
Department claims that the Spanish
fnran innlr lao oh hpt
was superior to the American fleet If
Admiral Dewey's views are sustained
the aggregate bounty will be about
100000 Unsteady of $1SO.OOO.
Surgeon General Sternberg states that
ample provision had been made by the
War Department for supply troops in
the Philippines with medical attend
ants. In addition to those now on their
way to Manila, General Sternberg said
ten commissioned medical officers and
twenty-five contract surgeons are un-
der orders to report to General Otis.
There are to-day in the Philippines
seventy female nurses. and orders We're
given to-day to thirty more to sail
from New York for Manila. There are
1,2S9 privates of the hospital corps now
in the Philippines and 200 are under
orders.
The retirement of General Shafter
at San Francisco will not affect that
officers rank in the volunteer estab-
lishment, or cause any change in his
present command As the case stands.
General Shafter is a brlgadier in the
regular establishment and major gen.
eral Of volunteers. He retires by law
October 10Th, but the War Department
does not deem it expedient to relieve
him of his command mt the Preside,
and to place in charge there some other
officer whose grasp Of the many de-
tails connected with the return Of the
volunteers from the Philippines and
the forwarding of the new regiments
would be less complete than that of
General Shafter.
The monthly statement of the ex-
ports and imports of merchandise of
the United States during the month of
September, 1899, together with the in
crease or decrease rs compared with
September. 1898, is rs follows: Duti-
able merchandise imported. 500, 49,
521: increase about $10,6O0.O00. Do
mestic merchandise exported. $109.-
123,64I: increase. S19,SOO,OO0. Gold i'm
ports, S2,512 OPS; decrease, $4,000. 600.
Gold exports. $1.O56,749; decrease
about S2.OOO.OOO. Silver imports ST.
A0.914: increase, $4,000. Silver ex-
ports, S3.622, ,141: decrease. S1,5OO,O0O.
The exports of merchandise during the
last nine months are shown to have ex-
ceeded the imports by $7G,GO6,IS7.
The President has ordered to promo
ton to grade of brgadier general in
the regular army of the following col
onels: Colonel a. c. NJ. Pennington.
Second artillery: Colonel Royal T.
Frank, First artillery: Colonel Louis
II. Carpenter, Fifth cavalry: Colonel
Samuel Overshine. Twcnty-third in
fantry: Colonel Daniel w. Burke, Sew
enteenth infantry. These officers are
to be placed on the retired list at in
tervals of one day each. The War De-
partment was able to make these
changes owing to the retirement of
General Shafter from the regular
army. After they shall all have been
appointed and retired i'm order. one va
cancy will be left in the grade of brig
adler general in the regular army. and
1t is the common impression that this
place will be given to either General
Lawton or General Macarthur.
Plans are being secretly formed in
Washington for sending large Amer
lean expedition to the Trnnsvaal. The
chief promoter of the scheme Is re-
tired army officer. Back OF the pro
ject are n number of men of extend
ed military experience. mining experts
ana capitalists. whose purpose Is To
form company and ultimately secure
control OF Il portion of the vast gold
fields of the South African republic.
Agents of the promoters are now work
| ing In the West md tn soinp oytpnt I'm
the East. with view of securing re-
cruits and ship for the expedition II
Is proposed. as far as possible to have
each recruit TO equip himself. The
main body Of recruits will he com.
posed of hardened frontiersmen, In.
dian lighters. cowboys. miners and
daring adventures. not unlike the
Rough Riders of the Spanish war. II
| Is stated TINT tic nlnnS nrc so far com.