The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-05-16
BLOCKADE IS MAINTAINED
THERE IS 4 SCARCITY OF PROVIS-
 IONS IN THE CITY.

Rear Admiral Also Says He Has Reason
 to Believe That the Rebels Are Hem-
 ming in the City by Land but Have
 Made no Demonstration-Span
 Gunboat CalIao Captured-Fleet Has
 Plenty of Coal-Warships in the Bay
 Observing.
 Washington, May 15.-The dispatches from Hong Kong brought welcome news to-day from Admiral Dewey to the president and particularly to Sec retary Long and the naval authorities. While no apprehension existed as to his security, nevertheless reassurance of safety is always pleasant. The tele- grame indicate that Dewey has lost none of the prestige gained in his me- morable fight of two weeks ago, and that while he refrains from taking the city of Manila he has it practically at his mercy. The admiral expresses the belief that the rebels are hemming in the city by land, but the fact that he says explicitly that they have made no demonstration seems to disprove thor oughly the published reports that they had already entered Manila and had begun a career of bloodshed and ra- pine.
 The best evidence of the effectiveness of the blockade maintained by the American admiral and also of the work of the insurgents in surrounding the city is shown in the statements in the dispatches that provisions are scarce in the city of Manila, which seem to indicate to Admiral Dewey an easy surrender by the Spanish authorities. Another published report seems also to be refuted by the admral's advices and that is that the rebels had raided Cavite, where the Spanish naval station was located and where presumably large supplies of arms and ammunition was kept. If the rebels have been supplying themselves with arms it must have been with the admiraPs con- sent, as his dispatch is originally dated from Cavite, indicating that he is still in possession. The greatest satisfac- ton prevails here over, the great work done and the effectiveness of the block ade being maintained by him. The dis patch as given out by Secretary Long is as follows:
 Cavite, May 13; Hong Kong, May 15.- Maintain strict blockade. Reason to be- lieve that the rebels are hemming in the city by land, but have made no demonstra> tion. Scarcity of provisions in Manila. Probable that the Spanish governor will be obliged to surrender soon. Can take Man. On On May i2 captured gunboat Caiao attempt ing to run blockade. Have plenty coal. One British, one French. two German and one Japanese. vessels here observfn".
 (Signed) Dewey.
 The officials are making all possible haste to rush troops to Admiral Dewey. It is confidently hoped here that the City of Picking, chartered as a transport vessel will be able to clear from San Francoisco in a very short time, to be followed in rapid succession by the other three ships engaged for a similar purpose. The Peking can carry 1000 men, which with the marines aboard the Charleston, just about to sail, will be of considerable assistance to the admiral, but far from the num- Der he will need. The total number of men to be sent will aggregate probably 12,000 as Major General Wesley Mer- ritt, who Is to command the expedition and subsequently, be made military governor, regards that as the least which can maintain order in city like Manila, made up of many discordant elements. Over ten regiments of in- fantry and four batteries of artillery from the volunteers have been ordered TN- from these and the regulars now in the extreme west will be taken the men for the Philippine expedition. It is expect ed here that practically all the volun- teers will go.