Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-05-12

for Shipment to Devty.
Washington, May g. - A sensation
was caused throughout the city by the
news that came yesterday morning Of
the arrival of vessel supposed to be
the dispatch boat McCulloch at Mrs
bay,- forty miles from Hongkong, the
cable terminus. The officials immedi-
ateiy fell into an air Of expectancy,
waiting for some word from Admiral
Dewey that would not only confirm Of
ficially the stirring news of the battle
of Manila as reported ty the press. but
telling what had happened since the
cable was interrupted. Up to the close
Of office hours no word had come from
Hongkong,t and the officials who be-
lieve that the McCulloch was really in
Mrs bay were put to devising in
genious explanations OF the delay in
the receipt of cablegram. These
touched upon the twelve hours differ
ence in time, the distance from Mrs
bay to Hongkong, which had to be
| overcome by the messenger, and the
slowness of cable communication ow-
ing to the number Of relays on the
enormously long circuit from Hong
kong to New York.
Some Of the other naval officers,
however, who steadfastly contended
that Admiral Dewey would not have
sent away his dispatch boat until he
had completed his dispatch and re-
ceived the surrender of Manila, point
ed out that If they were right in their
assumption 1t would not lie possible for
the McCulloch to reach Hongkong be-
fore this evening. Great interest is
felt in the reported return Of the
| Spanish Cape Verde Fleet
to Cadiz, but. while admitting the pos
sibility of the last vessels Of the Span
ish flying squadron making the pass
age in five days that the vessels have
been out from st. Vincent, the naval
officers were disposed to regard with
great suspicion news of this kind cma-
mating from Portugal, because Of the
recognized sympathy Of the Portu-
guese with the Spanish side. 1t would
be worth a good deal to the Spanish
admiral commanding the flying squad
| AOAAS SupPOS1AS IO NCLC OA4 lllS way
across the Atlantic, to throw us Off our
guard by having us believe that he had
returned to Spain.
The navy department has now Sc
cured two vessels, the Australia and
the City Of Pelzin in San Francisco,
which will be loaded with coal and
supplies and rushed off to join Commo-
dore Dewey's feet. Whether or not
they will carry troops will be deter
mined positively when the commodore
is heard from upon this matter. The
navy department Is hurrying together
an exceptionally large stock of ammu-
milton to 60 forward by the City of
Pekin to recruit the ammunition Of
Commodore Dewey's fleet. The supply
of powder is not so readily obtained,
as powder has been distributed to the
several fleets and ships as fast as it
has come from the powder mills. But
owing to the emergency in the case Of
the Asiatic fleet powder Intended for
other uses will be forwarded to San
Francisco and sent to Commodore
Dewey. II
! Usefulness of Hawaii.
No new official news has come to
the islands have been rendered to the
| United States for war uses. 1t is said
that If the incoming mail brought the
proposition to San Francisco it would
scarcely be trusted to telegraph there
on account Of it's Importance but
would be forwarded by the railway
mails, which would bring it here in
about five days. Without exception
the naval officers would welcome the
possession of Hawaii just at this mo-
ment as affording a magnificent base
for naval operations in the Pacific, but,
it is said, President Dole's proposition
must be submitted to congress. so that
it will be for the legislative branch in
the end to pass upon this offer.
| The fine British cruiser Blake left
Gibraltar yesterday, bound straight for
| Rio, and it is supposed here that she
goes to observe any engagement that
might threaten between the Oregon
and the Spanish fleet. The monitor
Wyandotte has been ordered to Bath,
Me, where she will be manned by vol
| unteers.
The nomination Of a number of ma
jor generals is an indication of the
purpose of the president to avail him.
self of the full number Of troops called
for by his proclamation. and even to
follow the call by another very soon,
for it is evident THAI there are not
enough commands to go around prop
erly among the officers already NOM
mated Assistant Secretary Iloose-
welt, soon to be Lieut.. Col. Roosevelt,
has received several gratifying tele-
grams from the West announcing the
rapid organization by Col Woods OF
mounted riflemen.
pENlTEMTiARY ScnRcHEn