The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-05-13

day III the state and navy departments
the doors were again closed in the
evening without word from Commo-
dore Dewey or any reliable source as
to what happened at Manila after the
cable broke. During the course of the
day there We're rumors that the cable
communication had been restored. but
these We're soon found to be baseless
and the excitement subsidized. One
comfort the officials take in the situa-
ton. although it is of a negative char
acter, is that the lack of communica-
ton is probable evidence that the
SpaniardS at least are not in control at
Manila else they would speedily COM
municate that fact to the rest of the
world through the cable. If the delay
means anything it is believed not to be
more serious than that Commodore
Dewey has been delayed in carrying
out fully his plans for the occupation
of Manila. In other words it may not
have been possible for the commodore
within the short space of two days
to effect the destruction of the Spanish
fleet. the
Silencing of the Forts
at Cayite, the seizure Of Corrigador is.
ly. the restoration of cable communica-
ton. If he has been delayed beyond
Tuesday or Wednesday in carrying out
this extensive programme it is not at
all surprising that he has not been
heard from through a dispatch boat.
The state department is in close touch
with Consul Wildman at Hongkong,
who is expected to supply the earliest
possible news from the Philippines.
The only message received from the
consul yesterday was one informing
the department that four families OF
refugees in the Philippines had petit
toned for admission to United States
citizenship, something manifestly i'm
possible for the consul to grant under
the naturalization laws. 1t is barely
possible that the first news to come
may be through British sources mas
much as all British cable subventions
contain a clause giving the British gov
crnment the precedence in the use OF
the cable in an emergency.
Mum About Sampson.
Respecting Admiral Simpsons move
ments the department is still mute. al
though it is apparent that interesting
news is expected on that subject within
the next three days. Therefore, it is
quite certain that the rumor which
originated in London to the effect that
Sampson has undertaken a campaign
in the Canaries is dismissed without
attracting attention at the hands of the
officials since it would be manifestly
impossible for the admiral to arrive at
the Canaries within SO short a space Of
& fh1nn he
tors in his fleet could not carry coal
enough to make the passage. More
over the naval strategy board it not
sending out notifications of contem-
plated strategic moves. A leading dip
lomatic official said there was no rea-
son why foreign nations should be
given information Of an attack on the
Canaries. Since the United States was
conducting war, it had the right, he
said, to choose it's own points Of at
tack without keeping other govern
ments advised Of its purposes.
No Talk CT Intervention.
The London report that the CONT
mental powers We're seeking to have
England join them in intervention also
was lacking in verifcation in diplomat
ic circles here. The state department
has received no suggestion of such in
tervention and does not believe it is
contemplated. The foreign representa-
tives here. including those of Great
Britain, France, Germany and Russia
meet these reports with specific denials
and declare that intervention is not dis
cussed in any way at the present time.
A leading member of, the British dip
lOmatic corps said:
''What could we intervene about? 1t
could not be because the feet had oc-
cupied the Philippines. because we do
not vet know that the Philippines are
occupied. 1t could not be because
Puerto Rico may be occupied. for we
have no official information yet that
any movement against that island is
contemplated. In fact, even if ccnti-
mental Europe desires to intervene it
has no facts before it thus far Oh
which to base intervention"