The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-09
SUPPLIES FOR DEWEY.
Ship Load of Good Things to Sail for
Manila.


partmsnt received long cipher cabls
despatch from Admiral Dewey yesterday.
making acquisitions for ships and sup
plies urgently needed on the Asiatio sta
| tion.
The admiral reiterated the request he
| has made several times In the las few
weeks, that additional light draft gum
boats shoud be ssnt to him, notwith-
standing the fact that Secretary Long in
formed him on Thursday that the Castine
was starting Immediately by way Of
Suez, and other vessels would follow
when they coulG be spared.
A reply was sent to tho admiral vest err.
day that the bennington. now on her way
from Honolulu to make surveys at Guam,
would be ordered to Manila In the
course of few months, and the Machias.
now repairing at Portsmouth. N. H.,
would follow the Castine through the
Mediterranean in few weeks, on her
way to join his fleet.
Secretary Long added q request to Ad
miral Dewey to designate specifically any
other gunboats he desired, in order that
the department might crafty him, IL
possible.
The authorities recognize the advisa-
bility Of sending all the gunboats that can
be spared to the Asiatic station, ON ao-
count of their adaptability to service in
the archipelago, but In addition to the
Iloilo. the Helena is at Port Said on her
way to Manila. and Admiral Dewey now
has in commission tho Callao and the
Manila. 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
Buffalo.
He also has the captured vessels Leyte
and Mindnnao awaiting crews, and
when the Machias, the Castine and the
Bennington join him, he will have thirty
vessels under his command, not cou nting
the Oregon and the Iris, which will soon
he at Honolulu, awaiting orders to go to
his support.
Such large feet has never, in times Of
peace, been under the command Of q
single American officer, but the depart
ment has such confidence in the admiral s
Judgment that it will not hesitate TO send
him any further achievements that he
demands.
In his despatch yesterday Admiral
Dewey calls for large quantities of ping
tobacco, soap and American food. 1t will
be remem bered that soon after the
destruction of Montojo's feet the admiral
cabled for 40, 900 bars of soap. finding he
could buy none in As;tio waters. This
supply has either been exhausted or the
admiral is determined to have fresh
supply on hand before 1t gives out, in
order that there shall be no uncleanlin ness
in his feet.
Bis demand for more plug tobacco Is
explained in letters which have recently
reached3 Washington from officers of he
feet, telling how tired the men are Of
Philippine cigars. and how they miss
their sweetened navy plug and their clay
pipes.
To carry these needed supplies, the de-
partment decided yesterday 10 fit the
auxiliary cruiser Yankee or her sister
ship, the Prairie, and load them fun of
necessities, sending them to Manila by
way of the Suez can al. These vessels are
now ct League island, but one of them
can be sent around to New York and
made ready to start in t he next two
weeks.
Secretary Long has ordered the Solace
to proceed to Manila as soon as she can
be made ready for the voyage. The yes
Sc, will be attached to Dewey's fleet, and
in all probability. if this voyage turns
out successfully, she will form one OF
regular line Of transpor is which will ply
between the United States aud the Phil
iIpines, for the special benefit OF the
navy.
The Solace is a large ship, about 5000
tons burden. and of comparatively light
draught. She was fitted up at the be-
ginning Of the war by the medical depart
ment as hospital ship and rendered
splendid service. Tbs vessel is now at
the New York navy yard and 10 expected
to sail for Manila via the Mediterranean
and Suez In about two weeks.
The department has given some consid
Grafton to the feasibility of employing In
Philippine service some OF the larger con.
verified yachts which rendered such effec-
tive service on the blockade. The diff
Guilty is that few of them suited for the
work from their light draught are large
enough to make the long run from Alden
across the Gulf of Arabia and the Bay
Of Bengal to Singapore. VI tn Q few con-
verified yachts that might meet this re-
quirement, the Gloucester, which partici-
pated in the battle of July 8, so brilliant
ly, has been most favorably considered,
though the navy department has not yet
concluded to make use of her
The war department. issued orders today
that the three transports now being pre-
pared for the Philippines shall be named
as follows: The Mohawk shall herea fter
be known as the Grant, in honor Of the
late Gen. U. S. Grant, the Mobile as tn Q
Sherman, in honor of General Sherman
and the Massachusetts, as this Sheridan,