Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-05-07

,e lore retiring from the city the Span
sb troops wifi smash the delicate and
electrical apparatus Tor the
and dis patch ol niessages- and ~,
Il is very uncertain whether there isass4A.
enough technical sSilt in the Afnericaf.
feet to repair su ! damage.
The mere cutting Of the cable, as 10 a-'
ported by the Spaniards, is not re-
rardcd as particularly serious, since
the cut would not be far off shore ana
that could be easily repaired.
The greatest anxiety is felt as to the
casualties sustained by the American
fleet. From the stubborn defense made
by the Spaniards it is feared that before
they burned. blew up or sunk their
ships they managed to intiict severe
damage upon Commodore peweys
squadron.
Bombardment OF Manila.
The late reports that Manila was be-
ing bombarded caused much unedSi
ness at the foreign headquarters. III
was said that if the town itself was un-
der bombardment serious complica-
tions mirht arise, as non-combatanti
and the foreign colonies, 1t Is hcld,
should have been entitled to at least
twentv-four hours notice OF an attack
on the town proper. If, however, Com-
modore Dewey is confinng his bonn
bardment to Cav tc and other forts, no
such question can arise
The Spanish reverse at Manila seri-
ously depletcs the Spanish navy at
time when it is in most need OF SHIPS
With the burning of the two cruisers,
Reina Christina and the Castillo, SPAN
has lost two of her best second-rate
cruisers.
The Christina was a single-scrcw,
baroue-riggcd ship, $50 feet long with
a displacement of 5000 tons. She had
total Of twcnty-one guns, ranging
} from the siX-nch brecch-loadin@
Honoria down to the small machine
runs. and several torpedo tubes. she
carried $40 men.
The cruiser Castillo WAS slightly
larger than the Reina Christina, having
3.34O tons displacement. She has four
l teen large guns, all breech-loading
Krupps. and two torpedo tubes.
The Don Juan de Austria, which was
I, blown up, was another good craft OF the
: runboat type. She was "lo feet long,
1151 tons displacement, had nine guns
:, and carried l75 men.
-" Aside from the Gripping OF the
Is Spanish strength, tue burning up and
l. the blowing up of the ships specihcd
20 entails an actual loss running into the
millions
Future of the Philippines.
Astot the future of the island, it is
~ likely that the government will retain
Ill possession of it, at least one good port
I'd such as Manila, for u coaling station
r and base of supplies during the re-
maindcr of the war. There was under
l.. stood to be a considerable Spanish force
; in the Philippines and large number
of natives are said to be loyal. BE-
I'll tween these and the insurgents 1t Is
lis probable the civil war may rage on the
nd islands for some time outside of Manila
ms nroper 1t is believed the officials have
: not decided what to do with the islands
at the end of the war, but in their
'' nossession the United States will enjoy
n novcrful weapon in enforcing terms
of peace with Spain,
de- Supposing Porto Rico shall next DC
tho seized. il would seem that spain will
,ho have little to encourage her IN turthe'
resistance, particularly as the fall o
Porto Rico would mean the loss OF he
the ironclad fleet should it cross the AT
ties lantic.
ON There is no talk yet of European in
teryention. but one of the most beneh
cial results of Dewey's victory yester
day is that deep impression has bee
-. made upon the European powers wh
can now no longer afford to blind then
selves to the fact that man to man. III
o,o- American navy is equal to any in tn
- world. There was no exhibition, sue
,,;ro as was sneeringly predicted in VI
h,,, European press. of weakness IN u
American fleet caused by the fact th
L., il was of heterogeneous compositlo
,o,,s The impression produced Is likely
f.,, deter the European powers from mas
,.;.s intervention. and the present lndic
:, tions are that we shall be left to sett
nr our affairs with Spain at our own pie'
con. ure, always providing we do not get
,ood yolved in the Eastern question throu
- attaining possession of the philippin
Nav Make Him Admiral.
''i'0, It is entirely possible that Conn
dore Dewey may secure his promot
'"','e to the rank Of admiral through
W the W w, i,;h;,an af nlpcls discret
~" VI and sailor qualities he made in yes'
'.o'i dav's engagement. The naval |;
''' ''"' however, does not permit of promot
=. except by seniority, SO that 1t prooa
10 ""' would be requisite for congress to
special resolution, such as was q
in the case OF Commodore Melville
les ut afford him his well-earned promot
Four flags were displayed today,
urlous the first time in many months rom
inter- staFs of the state, war and navy
IN the partment building, and on the
la yes front huge garrison flag iioated' a
lst ON honor of the victory OF the Amer
to the fleet in Manila yesterday
oluteiy Although the British colonial o
govern had been fully advised OF the Amer
mt We success at Manila, the British autl
he WIN ties in London did not commuul
IN May with the British embassy here, no,
through the foreign offices at Paris beril
other capitals notify their rcprieS'
,,odore tiyes here. This is taken to ma
that the foreign offices VIII not
en-. anu municate events Of a strictly NIL
la, it's character, and also that America
vessel cupation of the Philippines has nc
to Hong assumed a political aspect at 10
co Il ;s centers. Sir Charles Mitchell, wh
~ ~ ~, advised the British colonial ofii'
ces wni hessitua.ion ~ Manila, Is well X
ectat'on "a the British officials here iis Y
the city, ernor- general Of the Straits sc.slsi
,ntrpl Of his home being at Singapore, wn'c
night be cable commun'ea''o1 "