The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-06

NEW YORK, Feb. 5.-The Herald s
Washington correspondent sends the
following: Serious consideration has
been given by the President to-day 10
the advisability of strongly reinforcing
the, land and naval forces at Manila.
By the final acquisition Of the islands
by the United States tomorrow as
result of the prospective ratification OF
the treaty of Paris, the authorities ap-
preciate it viii be incumbent upon this
Government to establish peace and or
der throughout the archipelago. The
war having been begun by the Fill
pinos, there is nothing TO do but prose-
cute the American campaign with the
utmost vigor, and to do this the Presi-
dent understands it will require addi-
tional troops and additional ships of
light draft to enable Dewey to blockade
the insurgent ports and navigate rivers
in support of the operations of General
Otis commands.
Besides this the authorities propose
to prevent, if possible, even sugges-
ton of the recognition of a Filipinos'
republic by European powers by the
concentration of a naval force in Phil
ippine waters which will deter them
from taking action which this Govern
ment nj. construe as unfriendly to
its interests.
The battleship Oregon, accompanied
by the collier Scandal and distiIling
ship Iris is about due at Honolulu, and
after coaling she will continue her
voyage to Manila. The battleship Iowa
and the collier Justin are at Magdalena
Bay on their way to the Mare Island
navyyard, where the machinery Of the
battleship Will be repaired as rapidly
as possible and she will then be sent
TO Honolulu as promptly as possible.
AT that point she will be available for
service on the Asiatic station, and will,
1t is now expected, be directed to Join
Rear Admiral Dewey's command Re
inforced by these two vessels, Dewey
Will have a squadron vastly superior to
that of Germany and but little below
in strength that of Great Britain.
cablegram has been received at the
Navy Department from Dewey an
nouncing that he has been informed
that the cruiser Isla de Cuba will not
be ready for service before July l; the
lsla de Luzon before August /, and Dor
Juan de Austria before November l
The completion of the ships may be ex.
pedited by rush orders" which VII
probably be given during the present
week.
In order that they might be available
for service in the far East; the depart.
ment recently ordered that repairs be-
fastened upon the Marblehead anc
Montgomery. The Machias. Nashville
and Marietta are the only gunboats il
commission on the North Atlantic Sta.
ton, and it is not expected that any o.
them will be ordered to the Philippine:
in view of the necessity of keeping E
few small vessels for service in Cuba
What are needed in Philippine water,
are very light draft vessels, and the
authorities are expected to take actor
which viii result in the purchase O.
several such ships and their assignment
to Dewey's command.
No orders have been given revokins
those directing the mastering out O.
eleven volunteer regiments, nor is 1t ex
pected that this will be done unless Otis
shows the necessity Of large reinforce
ments. The President and SecretarI
Alger decided this morning that i
would not be wise to take any actor
looking to the dispatch of additiona
troops to Manila until advices from
Otis had received careful considera
ton. 1t is said by the Quartermaster'.
Department there are plenty OF trans
ports available for the Transportation
Of troops should the Government deter
mine 10 order the dispatch of reinforce
ments to Otis II is not the intention O.
the department, so far as can be ascer
tained tonight. to send volunteers t.
Manila. Any regiments sent will b.
those of the regular army, and thu
Sixth Infantry, stationed at Fort San
Houston, has been spoken of as one o
the regiments likely to go should NOR,
troops be needed by Otis. There ar,
eight other regular infantry regiment,
In the United States available fo-
service ia the Philippines, the Seventh
which is divided among Forts Wayn,
and Smelling, Camp Thomas and Jeffer
son Barracks; the Ninth Infantry. sta,
toned at Madison Barracks, New York
the Twelfth Infantry, at jefferson, Mo.
and Fort Riley, Kas.; the Thirteenth
Infantry, at Forts Porter Niagara ane
Columbus, New York; the Sixteenth In
fantry. Huntsville, Ala, Fort Crook
Neb., and Jefferson Barracks; tn,
Twenty first Infantry, Plattsburg Bar
racks, New York; the Twenty-fourtI
Infantry, Fort Douglas, Utah, and D
a. Russell, Wyoming, and the Twenty
fifth Infantry. which is distributed a
posts in Arizona, New Mexico ant Colo
RADIO.