Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-05-18

LONDON, May 1S.-The Hongkong
correspondent of The Standard says:
"It is expected, owing to the strict
blockade and the famine resulting from
it, that the city of Manila will soon be
compelled to capitulate to the Ameri-
can blockadlng squadron under Admiral
Dewey.
HoNGKoNG, May 18.-The steamer
Esmeralda, which has just arrived
from Manila with 400 refugees, chiefly
Chinese, reports that the United States
cruisers Concord and Boston are going
to Ipeilo, where they expect prompt ca
pitulation and to recapture the Ameri
can ship Saranak with cargo of coal.
The blockade of Manila is extremely
rigid and several foreign ships have
been refused admittance.
The rebels are useless as allies of Ad-
miral Dewey. They are utterly dis
united, quite half of them being in
favor of Spain. The Cavite arsenal was
found empty. Colonel MIGUEL of the
artillery committed suicide because he
discovered that the ammunition was
non existent.
Captain General Augusti is trying to
concihate the rebels and has authorized
the establishment of native councils.
NEW YORK, May 19.-A special dis
patch from Hongkong says that Consul
Wildman has returned there from
Knowloon bay, where he took the in
surgent leader, General Aguinaldo, and
his cabinet on the McCulloch. An ar
rangement was made for the insurgents
to storm Manila.
The dispatch adds that it is absolutely
necessary that more American warships
and strong military force be sent to
Admiral Dewey at once.
WASHINGTON, May 18.-The war de-
partment processes to feel no apprehen-
sion that Admiral Dewey or his men
are in anywise endangered by their &C.
cupation of Manila harbor on the pres
emit basis, but this cannot be said of the
unfortunate inhabitants Of Manila if the
present situation is protracted unduly.
1t is no small matter to organize and
transport an expedition of $4,000 or 49,
900 soldiers 5000 miles across the sea at
short notice, and the indications are that
within a week some of the soldiers at
least will be on their way from San
Francisco, following the Charleston,
which is expected to leave at any mo-
ment with few supplies most urgently
needed by Admiral Dewey.
There are indications that the war de-
partment has been brought to see the
wisdom and fairness of the suggestions
thrown out by Major General Merritt
that his expedition should consist of not
less than Is, 900 men, and that at least
third of them should be seasoned troops
from the regular army, capable of meet
ing ON even terms the veteran Spanish
soldiers who garrison Manila.
To endeavor to overcome the Spanish
force with less than half their number
of troops would seem to be a senseless
proceeding in view of the fact that there
is no necessity for such course. Gen
eral Merritt took occasion to deny very
emphatically the accuracy of certain
newspaper interviews which placed
him in the position of refusing to obey
an order to proceed to the Philippines
because his force was insufficient. The
officials of the department upon seeing
these publications did not hesitate tc
express at once their belief that Gen
eral Merritt was too good soldier tc
refuse to obey a lawful order, although
they admitted that he might have, as
he did yesterday, through Inspector
General Hughes, member of his staff
suggest the propriety of an increase I'D
the number and betterment in the
quality of the soldiers to be furnished
his command.