Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-05-11
HE WANTS MANILA.
Dewey Advises Department to De-
mand Evacuation of the
Capital.

New York, May GA dispatch to the
World from Hong Kong says: Dispatches
signed by Commodore Dewey have just
been sent to Washington recommending
that the surrender Of Manila be demand
ed and that Il provisional government for
the Philippines be established pending
the settlement of the war with Spain.
His proposal is for commission to take
control Of the government. He suggests
that he be named as one of the commits
sioners. The government would be con-
tinued upon much the same lines as exist
now.
He asks that sufficient troops be sent
him, in the event that his plan is adopted,
to maintain order If his suggestion is
favorably received by the President and
the cabinet it is probable that our two
consuls Williams of Manila, and Wild
man of Hong Kong, will be asked to
serve on the commission.
Some such solution it appear, must be
found Immediately. Food supplies in
Manila have run short already. 1t is es-
timated that the town has only enough to
last two weeks. No more can be brought
in.
Inhabitants Starving.
Commodore Dewey's fleet has complete
~ invested the city by water and the in
Surgents control all the land approaches.
1t is impossible for the inhabitants to add
to the present supply of food without con-
sent of the American commodore. He is
in absolute control.
The forts at Manila are not strong
enough to cope with his guns. The fleet
would have no trouble in razing the city's
defenseS and in utterly destroying the
residence and business quarters. Not only
the governor general but the people as we'll
realize that if Dewey demands a surren-
der he can back up his demands with shot
and shell sufficient to wipe out the city.
If the demand is made and the governor
refuses, the people will rise and demand
that he surrender There would also be
revolt on the part of many of the soldiers
before they would bring down on the prac-
ticaly defenseess city the fire of the pow
erful American fleet.
Under interna tional law a city cannot be
bombarded until a days notice has been
given, but the action of the Manila forts
in firing on the American fleet would be
sufficient grounds to break this rule.
Commodore Dewey has said that he will
give the people time to leave the city if
he is compelled by a refusal to surrender
to lombard Manila. The Spanish inhabi
tants would gain little by flight. for the
insurgents hold the hills and could easily
defeat them in combat.
Commodore Dewey has held no COM
munications with the insurgents. Relia
BILE reports are that $4,000 are on the
hills that surround Manila. These men
will be armed with American repeating
rifles recently landed in the Philippines by
filibustering expeditions.
The insurgents have but q semblance of
military training. If they make an at
tack on the city it will degenerate into
lawless looting. The insurgents will be
nothing better than mob out for plumber.
Strong Government Needed.
There is a grave necessity for a strong
government at Manila. Commodore Dew
ey could have taken the city last Sunday,
but he feared violence.
He can land 1000 armed men, but these
would not be sufficient to prevent muir
der, rapine and pillage. If we take |
Manila the French and British warships
here will land forces to protect their
own people in Manila and their own in
terests. Not less than 5000 troops are
really needed to occupy the principal
cities in the Philippines. Dewey has al |
assurances that they will be sent as
quickly as ships can be had ready to
transport them.
The McCulloch has been made the dis
patch boat of the fleet until cable com
munication can be restored.
The people of Hong Kong make no
concealment of their JOY at our victory |
Sentiment here is unanimous that the !
Philippines will pass into the British |
control when the war ends. becoming |
o
The Englshmen here all agree that |
this would have the effect of greatly in
creasing the Importance of British inter-
ests in China.
McCulloch Goes Back.
New York, May GA dispatch to the |
World from Hong Kong says: New in |
structiOns have come from Washington |
for Commodore Dewey and the revenue |
cutter Hugh McCulloch will soon leave |
for Manila.
The dispatches are from President Nc
kinley and are in answer to categorical |
message sent with reference to future |
opera tons at Manila and the results
1t is said they contain full and final |
instructions as to the fate of the subiu-
gated territory, but as they are sealed |
and will be opened only by Commodore
Dewey, the intentions of the chief eXecu-
tive will not be generally known to US
until they are carried into effect
Connection with the feet by cable is to
be re-esta blished as soon as we reach |
Manila. A cable code operator is now on |
board the revenue cutter with all of the !
instruments, wires and other necessary !
appliances with which to set up a cable !
station
The broken cable which is already Sc
cured, is to be hauled aboard the trans |
port ZafrO and there the operator and |
the station are to be located. Then there
will be constant communication between |
the fleet and the United States.
CALIFORNIA; Troops Ready.
San Francisco, Cal, May 9-Within
this week, 5000 men will be quartered at
the Preside in this city awaiting trans
portation to Manila. Every day troops
from Oregon, Washington, Utah and Ida
no will be pouring in and the work of |
mastering in the militia will continue
The state and federal authorities here
are working night and day to have all |
in readiness when the transports lay
alongside the Wharves for their freight
Gen. j.. G. Merriam is expected hour
" from Vancouver. Word came from
Washington late last night that all
branches of the service would be reported |
in the first shipment of troops to the Phil
lppine islands and that California had
earned the warm commentator of the
secretary of war by the admira BILE celer-
lty IN mastering its quota and for the
character Of those that composed it.
No effort is being spared to get into the
ranks of the army and navy every com
pany in California. Adjt.-Gen. Barrett
has sent to Gen. Greedy, chief of the
SICr NJ cLI e