The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-01-08
DEWEY IN NEED OF
SHIPS AND SUPPLIES
win coon Have the Largest Fleet Ever
In Command Of Naval Officer
in Times Of Peace.

NEW YORK, Jan. IA special to the
Tribune from Washington says:
The navy department received long
cipher cable dispatch today from Admiral
Dewey, making requisition for ships and
supplies urgently needed on the Aslatic
squadron.
The admiral reiterated the request he
has made several times IN the last few
weeks that additional light draught gun
boats should be sent on 70 him. notwith-
/ snding the faot that Secretary Long In
formed 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 10 the
admiral today that the Bennington. now
on her way from Honolulu 10 make sur
yeys az Guam would be ordered to Man
lain the course OF few months and the
/ Machias. now repairing ~ Portsmouth.
~ H.. Hould follow the castine through
t.,s Mediterranean In few weeks on her
way &c join his feet
Secretary Long added a request TO
Admiral Dewey 10 designate specifically
any other gun boats he desired. In order
that the department might crafty him
n possible. The authorities recognize
the advisadlity OF sending all the gun
boats that can be spared to tho Aslatic
station On account Of their adaptabIlity
to service In the archipelago. but In ad-
diiion to the Concord and Petrol. which
are now at 10 10. the Helena h AZ Port
Said, on her way to Manila. and
Admiral Dewey now has in commission
I 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 Isle de Cuba, which he
raised and sent TO Hong Kong. will be
manned by the crew sent out on the
Buffalo. He also has captured gunboats
Leyte and Mindanao. awaiting crews.
and when the Machias the Castine, and
the Bennington Join him he will have
thirty vessels under his command, not
counting the Oregon and the Iris which
will soon be al Honolulu awaiting or
ders 20 go to his support. Such larse
fleet has never in times OF peace been
under the command OF a single Ameri-
can officer. but the department has such
confidence in the admiral's judgment that
IL will not hesitate to send him any
further re-enforcements that he demands.
In his dispatch. Admiral Dewey calls
for large quantities Of plug tobacco. soap
and American food. II will be remem-
bered that soon after the destruction Of
Moatejo's fleet the admiral cabled for
forty thousand bars OF soap. finding he
could buy none in Asiatic waters.
This supply has either been exhausted
or the admiral Is determined TO have
fresh supply on hand before II gives
out, In order that there shall be no un-
cleanliness In his feet. His demand for
more plug tobacco is explained In letters
which have recently reached Washington
/ from officers OF the fleet. telling how
tired the men are OF Philippine cigars
and how they miss their sweetened navy
plug and clay pipes.
To carry these needed supplies the
department decided today to fit up the
auxiliary cruiser Yankee or her sister
ship the Prairie and load them full Of
necessities. sending them to Manilas by
way OF the SueZ canal. These vessels
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.