Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-15
NOT FIGHTING
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the transport Aztec, which carried them
to the battleship Oregon.
The gunboat Helena was dnc to arrive
at Kamiguin island. yesterday. The
Charleston was returning from five
weeks cruise along the eastern coast of
l.uzon. and Admiral Watson was begin
ming to be uneasy. He supposed, how
ever that she had joined Cen Wheaton'a
expedition.
In naval circles The accident is consid
cred quite unavoidable. The only wonder
is that there are not more such disasters
in Philippine waters, which are most in
differently chartcd The Charleston lies
practically on the open sea ana there is
no hope OF saving her or the valuable
paraphernalia and contests Of the cruiser.
Col Vessels of the Sd Cavalry. while
near San Niculas. north Of Tayug. cap
tured a Filipino bull tray loaded with rec
ords Of the insurgent war department ana
the presses and outfit of the newspaper
independence.
Washington, Nov. 1.-THE Charles
ton was the first vessel to come to the
reinforcement of Admiral Dewey af-
ter the battle of Manila bay. on her
way to Manila she touched at Guam
and took possession of the island in
the name of the United States. The
Charleston is one of the older vessels
Of the new navy She is included in
the group of vessels following the COM
pletion of the cruisers Chicago, BoS-
ton. Atlanta and Dolphin, built in 1882
and 1882 which were the pioneers Of
the present navy. The Charleston was
built by the Union Iron Works at San
Francisco, her keel being laid in the
year 1887. The contract price of her
hull and machinery was S1.0l7.500. She
was launched in July. 1883. and placed
in commission for the first time in Dec.
1889. The ordnance bureau of the navy
has been busy for some time past max
ing extensive alterations in the battery
OF the Charleston and had those been
completed the ship would have been
brought thoroughly up-to-date.
The photographic office. navy depart
ment. gives the following exact data
concerning the locality of the wreck:
The Guinapak rocks are located in
long 122 degrees. minutes east, lat.
IS degrees and $50 north They lie
seven miles due east of the large island
of Kaniguan. one of the Babuiab group
off the north coast of LuZon. The
Gunapak rocks are distinctly shown
on the naval chart which is supplied
to vessels in the Philippines, but the
coral reef on which the Charleston
struck. three miles \. \. ". of rocks
is not shown on the chart. The dan
gerOus condition of this coast has been
recently pointed out by Rear Admiral
Bradford. chief of the equipment
bureau, in his report to Secretary
Long. He said: The bureau is in re-
ceipt of a great number Of hydro
graphic reports from captains of ships
concerning the entire reliability of the
best existing charts of the late Span
ish possessions controlled by the
United States. In the Philippine is
lands the service of pilots is constantly
necessary for this reason ana they do
not always prove reliable
The old Spanish maps continue to be
used by our naval vessels, until the
navy department can make its own
charts. This work is very extensive
and necessarily slow. Only 100000 is
now available for the work in all of
the former Spanish possessions. The
bennington has been doing this work
in the Philippines ana has Il complete
photographic outfit on board but it
will be some time before the American
surveys and data will be available.
Washington. Nov 1.-THE foIlown.;
WAS received at the navy department
from Admiral Watson. today: Manila.
Nov. 1i-ESCap"d Spanish prisoners at
san Fabyan report seeing Gilmore, Nnv.
l. in Tarlac. with five men: al we'll He
crossed mountain from Ralcr in May with
II men. Location If other eight unknown
Have cablcd Hong Kong for salVagte for
Charleston. (Signcd) Watson"
The annual report Of Major General
Nelson A. Miles, commanding the army
was made public at the war department
today. 1t bears date oct. Il. 1880. and is
extremely brief ana formal in characte".
1t announces the transmission to the SCI
rotary Of war Of the reports Of the q"
rartment and staff commanders and
makes 4 brief statement of the strength
ana distribution of the army. including
the muster out OF tn" volunteer reg
mcnts. most of the details Of which have
already been published in the report. Of
the adiutant general
Accordins to thg annual r.n p. a,, q tn,
naInaSttr sengrtl,. i nm Si''ssi; III !,
active service in the n;:VN.Iast year. Fni
construction OF ships ana purchase :!
ready built ships S@.@it t76 was expended
while $6,75i.97I was absorbed IN repairs 1
ships.
The report concludes with the following
general statement: The demand. toi
troops for foreign service has been i'm
usual and SOmeW that severe upon them
especially those Of the regular army
Within the last IS months several rcgi
mentS have been required 10 leave then
stations in the extreme North. move Il
the islands Of the West Indies to engage
in campaign in summer, return t
Northern stations in the autumn and win
ter and again move t. the tropical islands
in the Pacific and engage in campaign!
under the most difficult circumstances
Rarely in any service have troops expert
enced such unusual changes in Climat'
as those above Indicated. Vet under al
circumstances and at all times. the nj
most loyalty, fortitude ana faithful per
Torrance of duty have been manifesto
on the part of the troops. In nearly al
engagements where the troops have beef
brought into contact with the enemy the,
have invariably acted on enc defensive
and in not a single instance have the,
suffered from the heat. The intelligence
discipline and fidelity of both officers an
men have been most Commendable.
owing to the additional and extra Or
binary expense placed upon officers Will
serving in the Philippine islands. cuba
Porto Rico and the Hawaiian islands, |
is recommended that they be allowed tn
same percentage of the increase of pa
that is now provided by law for the en-
listed men. 1t is also recommended tina
officers of the army with a creditable re"
ord. who served during the civil Wa:
shall be granted the same considerable
concerning rank and pay as has been at