The herald., 1898-04-27
Is EXPECTED TO OCCUR OFF
MANILA
DEWEY'S PLAN OF CAMPAIGN
Is to Capture the Spanish Fleet if It
Has Not Been Carefully
Concealed
sociated Press Special Wire


NEW YORK, April ga dispatch to
the World from Hong Kong says: The
guns Of Americas Asiatic squadron will
soon be laundering in the harbor Of Ma
nila, the capital Of the Philippine Islands.
Commodore Dewey has orders from
Washington to capture or destroy the
Spanish fleet. Unless Spain's warships
are in hiding, the fighting will begin at or
near the Philippines, and the time Is only
a matter of hours-perhaps before Sun-
day.
General Aguinaldo, the President Of the
Philippine insurgents, has sailed from
Singapore. where he has been in exile wit.
the members Of his cabinet. They char
tered their own steamship. They will
land at a convenient island and he will
again put himself at the head of an army
of 10000 well-equipped insurgents, now
gathered and waiting for him.
Gen. Aguinaldo will lead this large force
to attack Manila by land, while the
American warships lombard the city from
the sea. The movements of that army
interest Commodore Dewey and COM
mand his sympathy, but he has given the
insurgents no official aid or encourage
ment. Nevertheless. the two forces will
cooperate in fact, and should prove more
than q match for the Spaniards.
General Williams arrived on Monday
from Manila on the steamship Esmeralda.
A fast dispatch boat took him immedi-
ately to the flagship Olympia. The Consul
will accompany the fleet back to Manila.
He has full information. it is believed
regarding the Spanish Notifications at
Manila and elsewhere on the Philippines,
and also regarding the location Of mines
and torpedoes planted in the harbors. The
Spanish ships are awaiting attack in Ma
nila harbor, 1t is supposed under the pro-
lection Of the land Notifications.
A Battle Imminent
CHICAGO. April 2s.-A special to the
Times-Herald from Washington says:
Navy Department officials confidently
expect that within three days decisive
battle will have been fought between the
American and Spanish naval forces oper-
ating in the waters Of the Philippines.
1t is learned from most reliable source
that Commodore Dewey's squadron. which
left Hong Kong Sunday for Mirsbay, has
now left that place for the Philippines
under instructions sent several days ago
by Secretary Long. Steaming at the rate
of ten knots an hour, the fleet ought to
reach the destination by this afternoon,
and 1t is expected by Secretary Long and
other department officials that the ves-
sells will be in action Immediately after
their arrival unless the Spanish men OF
war should prefer to remain inside the
mined harbors.
OF primary Importance, the officials de-
clare, is the immediate capture or de-
struction of Spanish vessels. After this
has been accomplished 1t will not be a
difficult matter to secure the fall of Ma
nila or Luzon and Of other ports by simply
conducting blockade such as the North
Atlantic squadron is doing with reference
to Cuban ports. 1t is understood that
Commodore Dewey's plan of campaign
contemplates the capture or destruction OF
the Spanish fleet. There are SIX of these
craft, none Of which is to be compared to
the protected cruisers of the American
squadron.
AS Commodore Dewey has not large
squadron it is appreciated that he will
not have sufficient vessels to carry on a
blockade which will last any length Of
time. He will, however, be able to block
ade the principal ports in which the Span
ish troops are stationed and the insurgents
In the islands will probably give him as
sistance by contributing their land opera
tions. Altogether naval experts say that
Commodore Deweys task is the easiest of
those which have been assigned to any
flag officer.
Upon but one point are the officials un-
easy. This relates to the continuance of
cable communication between Commodore
Dewey and the United States There is a
Spanish cable line connecting Hong Kong
and the Philippines, and it may be found
necessary to cut the cable in or
der to prevent the Spanish forces
from cabling their government the
condition of affairs in the island 1t is ap-
preciated by the authorities that, as Spain
can send no reinforcements to the East
1t will do the Spaniards very little good
to know what is going on in the Far East,
but for prudential reasons it Is believed
that Commodore Dewey should hasten to
get the cable under his control as rapidly
as possible.
1t is supposed at the department that
he has made all necessary preparations to
cut the cable and to keep possession of the
end connecting him with Hong Kong, and
with an operator on board his ship he will
be able to communicate with the depart
ment as often as shall be necessary.
Insurgent Activity
HONG KONG, April 26.-Mail advices
which reached here today from Manila
dated Saturday last say the insurgents
were then gathering masses around Ma
nila and that the massacre of Spaniards
at that point was apprehended.
The United States squadron leaves Mrs
| bay tomorrow to watch the Philippine
ports.
The insurgent leader Aguinaldo is on
board the United States ship Olympia.
Found Some Conditions
NEW YORK, April 26.-A dispatch to
! the Herald from st. Thomas in the West
Indies, says: The Spanish steamer AL
| phonso XIII, which stopped at this port OH
April oath to find out the condition of af-
fairs before leaving for Havana and Porto
Rico and which proceeded on to her des-
tination on the same date, arrived at San
Juan, Porto Rico, safely.
The condition of affairs in Cuban waters
was such that she left her troops at San
Juan and this afternoon sailed for Cadiz.
She carried back fourteen sick soldiers
and the mails, together with a full pas
senger list. They were mostly Cubans
who had gone to Porto Rico, but learning
that they were not safe took steamer
for CadiZ.
This morning the French cruiser &C.
rouildi sailed for San Juan to protect