The herald., 1898-08-03
CRUISERS CAPTURE
n0N0LULU'S WARM WELCOME
The Transports Given Royal Recep-
tion-Arrival of the Doric From
the Orient-Gen Otis Greeted


Associated Press Special Wire
SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 2.-The steamer
Doric from Hong Kong today brings the
following letter from the correspondent of
the Associated Press at Manila, under date
of July LIST:
Another link was added to the chain Of
territory which connects the United States
with its newly acquired foreign possess
sions in the Pacific ocean on June 21st, for
upon that date Captain Glass Of the United
States cruiser Charleston captured the
Ladrone Islands, took the governor gen.
eral his staff and the entire military force
prisoners and raised the Stars and Stripes
over the ruins of the Spanish fort of Santa
Cruz in the harbor of San Luis d Apra. 1t
was a bloodless victory, for the Spanish.
not having heard of the war between their
country and the United States, were taken
completely by surprise and surrendered
the islands, their arms and themselves
without offering the slightest resistance.
From strategic point of view however.
1t was very important one, for the harbor
of San Luis d'Apra on the west coast of
the main island. Guam. is an ideal coaling
station. and while the whole group will I'M
doubtedly prove of incalculable value to
the United States,it commends itself as the
most valuable of all the newly acquired
possessions on account of its situation 1t
lies 1900 miles west by south of Honolulu,
1850 miles southeast Of Yokohama and 1900
miles east of Luzon. the principal island of
the Philippine group, thus being the con-
Meeting link between the United States
and the orient.
It's habitants, who number about TO-
900, are a hospitable, peaceful, law-abid-
ing people, only too anxious to throw off
the Spanish yoke yet perfectly willing to
shoulder another less calling one. OF the
islands themselves volumes might be writ
ten and the half not told. Suffice 1t to say
that they are of volcanic origin, but pro-
life, comparatively healthy and only await
capital to develop their innumerable re-
sources.
For three days the Charleston's run from
Guam to Manila was without incident, but
on June 2Sth. shortly after Point Eagana,
the northeasterly cape of Luzon island, had
been sighted, strange steamer appeared
on the horizon. The Charleston was i'm
mediately cleared for action and after the
convoy had fallen into line in her wake,
preparations were made for giving her
warm reception should she prove to be hos
tile.
She turned out to be the United States
cruiser Baltimore, however, which had
been awaiting the fleet for ten days The
ships were hove to, while Captain Dyer re-
ported to Captain Glass, but Immediately
upon his return to the Baltimore the whole
fleet again got under way at increased
speed. AS it rounded the north end of the
island the first rough weather of the en-
tire trip in the shape of a southeasterly
monsoon was encountered. At p. m. on
June 3oth the Baltimore led the way into
Manila harbor, and three hours later the
fleet anchored under the wing of tho flag
ship Olympia, within a few nass2s the
wrecks of the Spanish fleet which had
been annihiliated by Rear Admiral Dewey
Just two months earlier. A large fleet of
foreign men-of-war lay at anchor just
above Manila, most of which were Ger
mans, and an addition was made to the
fleet by the arrival of the Kaiserin Angus
ia, which followed the transports into the
harbor from a small cove just outside.