The record-union., 1898-06-07
While the American Fleet Is Lying
in Enforced ldleness.
Awaiting the Arrival Of the United States
TrOops-The Arsenal at Cavite
Prepared for Occupation
BY Our Soldiers.


Of conflicting rumors of naval engage
ments, the landing of troops and such
matters at the Navy Department, there
came at the close of the day one i'm
portant bit of news embodied in a re-
port from Admiral Dewey on impor-
tant successes achieved by the insur-
gents at Manila. Admiral Dewey re-
ports that the insurgents have been
actively engaged within the province of
Cavite during the past week. They
have won several victories, taken pris-
oners about 1,SOO men and so officers
of the Spanish troops. not native. The
arsenal at Cavite has been prepared for
occupation by the United States troops
upon the arrival of the transports.
The officials have been more anx-
ious than they cared to betray as to
Admiral Dewey's condition. They were
not seriously apprehensivs of personal
danger to the fleet, but an impression
was gaining ground that the Admiral
had not maintained the. same meas
ures Of success in his operations in
Manila Bay that rewarded his first eff
to show that his plans areNerking out
admirably; that he has succeeded in
placing upon the insurgents the bur-
den of conducting military operations
against the Spaniards. while he himself
is lying in enforced idleness awaiting
the arrival of troops, and that he has
succeeded in preventing the corruption
of the insurgent leaders by the Span
iards. which appeared at one time to
be threatening.
There is some speculation here by
anxious minds as to how the insurgents
will treat the prisoners they have
taken, who are more numerous, it is
said, than all the captures made by the
Cuban insurgents since their war be-
gan. 1t was reported by cable, soon
after he had secured the cooperation
of the insurgent chief Aguinaldo, that
Dewey would see to it that the
insurgents observed the rules Of civil
lied warfare. This caution was made
necessary by the terrible tales that had
been circulated Of the barbarous treat
ment of prisoners captured by the in
surgents. 1t is sincerely hoped that
will see to it that this agree
ment is observed in the case of the
believed in official circles that the ma
tions Of the civilized world will hold the
United States morally responsible for
any great excesses that may be COM
mitted in the Philippines as result of
our action there. The Navy Depart
ment officials declare that Dewey is
not responsible for the safe-keeping and
Of these prisoners. which
is most fortunate, considering the linn
tied resources of the Admiral in the
matter Of provisions.
The Navy Department gave orders to-
day that the double-turreted monitor
now at Mare Island, should
be made ready to sail for Manila within
ten days, and the necessary orders were
hurriedly telegraphed. The Monterey
will not wait for the company of the
but should be off in the
course of a few hours under the convoy
Of the Brutus. The Navy Department
will Immediately procure another mer-
chant ship to accompany the Monad-
mock on her 6OOO miles voyage.
The Monadnock is a most powerful!
monitor. With twin
screws and 5000 horse power engines
she is easily able to make 121@ knots
an hour. Built on the general lines Of
the Amphitrite, she has better engines
and more power than that monitor.
She carries four 1O-inch guns in two
turrets, besides two 4-inch rapid fire
guns in a easement and a numerous
secondary battery. Her coal capacity
s $50 tons in bunkers, and almost as
On the decks Consequently, the Mo-
ladnock has the ability to make long,
sr cruise than the Monterey without
her coal supply, yet her
capacity is still too small to permit her
10 make the passage from Honolulu to
The Philippines unafded.
With these two monitors Admiral
Dewey will be fully able to take care of
iimself, even should the much-talked-
II Cadiz fleet undertake to attack him
n Manila harbor. The monitors at