The San Francisco call., 1898-04-30
ON THE EYE OF 4 SEA BATTLE Washington Awaits N ews of a Clash in the
 Philippines. Confident Admiral Dewey'S Squadron Will Easily Triumph. Naval Conflict in Cuban Waters Also
 Believed to Be Not Far
 Distant
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,


 Washington, April 29.
 Before the setting of another sun the most experienced naval ,cers believe sea fight will have passed into his tory, compared with which the great battle of the Yalu will seem veritable tempest in a teapot Following his 1n- structions as to speed and steamlng at the most economical rate of coal con- sumption Admiral Dewey's Asiat1c squadron, barring accidents, will arrive off the harbor of Manila early Satur- day morni1c There it is expected he will be .et by the Spanish Philippine squadron-met but not r-atched, for the doughty American commander, who is rated as one of the pluckiest men i'll the service, will have at h S disposal a fleet that far outclasses his adversaries. Provided the Spanish ships reported to be in Asiatic waters can , concen- trated off the Philippines Dewey's force will be one and one-half times as great, estimated on the basis of the weight of metal his guns can throw. Considering rel-tive craftsmanship the American fleet ought not to leave a Spanish vessel afloat.
 The possibility of a bombardment of Manila depends to some extent upon the action of the Spanish fleet. Dewey's s orders are similar to those of Sampson in one important particular, namely that no risk of disabling one of his yes sells, is to be taken in bombarding any port in advance of a battle with the Spanish, squadron. Once this squadron is disposed of attention may be given to reducing and occupying the city of Ma nila.
 But while Dewey is busy Sampson Is not idle. The Navy Department has re- ceived advices through commercial sources of the highest reliability that Captain General Blanco has been as sured by the Spanish Government that he will be relieved by a powerful naval force before his condition is rendered desperate by the blockade of the Ameri- can fleet. The department does not doubt tfiat thi7 means that the Cape Verde squadron, which left St. Vincent to-day, will ultimately reach Cuban waters and seek to unite with tile Span ish vessels in and out of the harbor of Havana.
 Whether one or more vessels will be sent south to intercept the Oregon and Marietta is a mere conjecture at this writing It is considered unlikely for two reasons; first, because the largest possible fleet will be needed in Cuban waters if SampSon's squadron is to be challenged, and, second, because no two vessels in the Cape Verde fleet are a match for the Oregon, which is one of our most powerful attle-ships, to say nothing of the aid to be rendered by her gallant little consort, the Marietta.
 But while a naval battle in Cuban waters now seems imminent. the War Department is not abating it's activity in preparing for the invasion of the island. With a few exceptions regular troops only will go, and so far as pos sible immunes not liable to yellow fever will be chosen. General Shafter will lead them, and they will be landed at point not yet mentioned and which, for obvious reasons, will not be announced in advance of the sailing of the trans ports. The regulars will start within aweek unless something unforeseen oc- CUTS to modify the Navy Departments plans. From a base of supplies arms and ammunition will be furnished the insurgents, food distributed to the starving Cubans, and a line of commu- nication with the rebel army kept open.
 One by one the batteries on the north coast of the island will be demolished by Admiral Sampsons fleet, and the joint movement will gradually concen- trate upon Havana, the equalization of which is as certain as if the pride of the Pearl of the Antilles already lay in ruins