The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-25
CHAFFEE AT NAGASAKI
ARRIVED AT THE JAPANESE PORT
TO-DAY ON BOARD THE GRANT.
Transport VIII Coal at Once and Pro-
ceed with the sixth Cavalry to
Taku-A Naval Base.

been received at the War Department from
Quartermaster Hyde, at Nagasaki, stating
that the transport Grant has been reported
in the Inland sea and is expected to ar
rive at Nagasaki tomorrow. She has on
board General Chaffee, commanding the
army in China. and the Sixth Cavalry, des-
tined for service in that country. Quar-
termaster Hyde has completed arrange
ments at Nagasak for the coaling of the
Grant Immediately upon her arrival there
II, as is expected, the Grant arrives at
Nagasaki tomorrow morning, the coaling
of the ship may be completed by evening.
She will start at once for Taku with Gen.
Chaffee and the Sixth Cavalry on board.
She is expected to reach there on the 18th
inst.
The Navy Department is preparing for
possible events arising out Of the situa-
ton in China. One of the great difficulties
which would confront the United States in
the event of naval warfare In Chinese
waters is the lack of a naval base close to
the scene of operations. Manila is 1000
miles from Taku, while some of the other
powers have bases within striking dis
lance. England has base at Wei-Hai-Wei
and a coaling station at Che-Foo; Russia
has a naval base at Port Arthur and Ger
many one at Kiao-Chou Beside, in the
case of a naval war, the ports of China,
which in ordinary times are open for the
purchase of all ordinary, supplies and
stores, would be closed feet of golfers
will have to be utilized to take out coal
for our ships and TO ply back and forth
between our squadrons and Manila. This
plan, however, has its obstacles, owing
to the fact that foreign countries have
gobbed up every thing afloat which could
be utilized for shipping coal and stores.
Germany and Japan have even impressed
steamers. The result is that at the present
time so per cent. of our government freight
for the Orient is now being carried in for
eign bottoms. Consequently prices have
materially advanced. Freight charges on
coal which the Navy Department was
able to ship to Manila for 81 a ton now
costs 50 and the price of coal itself has
| materially increased. The department,
therefore, practically would be compelled
to rely upon its own vessels. AS a pre-
| cautionary measure the Golfers purchased
during the Spanish war, which had gone
out of commission, are being fitted out
| for service. The water ship Arethusa,
| which also was purchased during that war.
| but which was procured too late for serv.
| ice, is being prepared at the League Island
yard. Owing to the lack of naval officers
| available. the GOLFERS on the Atlantic coast
under orders for China are being equipped
with merchant crews. Admiral Bradford,
chief of the Bureau of Equipment, to-day
recommended that the Leonidas and Pom
| peii, both at the League Island yard, be
| fitted out at once.
1 of oil hat cd
at Fort Meyer, have left for the far East,
with instructions to stop at Nagasaki for
| orders. They are Troops and G of the
Third Cavalry, which left for San Fran
| cisco to-day and Troops III and L of the
| Third which left here last evening. The
| four troops muster 400 men. and are COM
manded by Major Kingsbury. The de-
| tachment that left last night is proceeding
| via Atlanta, and will meet at Chat
/ tanooga the troops that went to-day. They
are expected to arrive at san francisco
| Sunday or Monday, and will leave on the
| transport Meade about Aug. 1. The de-
/ parture of these troops leaves Fort Meyer
| practically depopulated. The Fifth Cav
| airy under Colonel William A Rafferty,,
now stationed in the West Indies, has been
| ordered TO the fort, and Will arrive early
| next month
| posed the Fourteenth Infantry had ar
| rived at Taku. BY the end of this month
| the United States will have five thousand
/ troops in China He said the reports of
i yellow 1eNer among the sOlulcIS VI TIE
| First Infantry would not prevent the de-
| parture of that regiment from Cuba.
| The Nashville at Nagasaki.
| WASHINGTON, July 24.-The gunboat
| Nashville, in command of Captain Rodgers.
| which conveyed the battleship Oregon to
| the dock at Kure. Japan, has arrived at
| Nagasaki. The Oregon reached Kure about
week ago, but nothing has been heard
from Captain Wilde. her commander. since
/ he was authorized to patch her up in or
/ der to return to the Chinese coast. The
| Nashville will go into dry dock at Nagasa-
| HI. After she has been cleaned she will re-
| turn to Chinese waters either to Che-Foo
| or Shanghai. She is especially adapted to
| the navigation of the shallow rivers of
1 China.