The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-03

Washington, ID. c., May 2.-It is IL
rectly interested of all the great powers
in the combat that took place ut MANILA
yesterday should be among the last Of
ficially to know of the result Up to the
close of office hours today absolutely the
only information that our Government
had received of the brilliant victory OF
Admiral Dewey at Manila on May Day
came to the Government through the
medium of the press dispatches.
Ii the report is true that Commodore
Dewey has begun bombardment and
blockade of the city of Manila it is un-
likely that he can spare vessel from
his fleet to carry the news to Hong
Kong. the nearest cable station, SO it Is
not known when official advices viii
come. There was some expectation that
through the surrender of the city the
Commodore might acquire control Of
the cable but even then there might
be practical difficulties in communicat-
ing through it.
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 burnt, blew up or sunk their ships.
they managed to infiict severe damage
upon Commodore Dewey's squadron. All
of the ships engaged were vulnerable in
one respect. namely. in their lack of pro-
lection TO life There was not an ar
mored ship in Commodore Dewey's fleet.
the nearest approach being the flagship
Olympia. She has some coal protection
around the sides and an arch steel deck
calculated to protect the vitals of the
ship. The other vessels of the fleet, save
those recently added to the navy, like
the McCulloch have lighter steel decks
of this character, but in all cases. with
the exception of some slight protection
in the shape of gun shields, the person
mel of the ships was exposed to the fire
of the enemy.
Commodore Dewey has lost Il
considerable portion of his men, it Is
feared, and he will be much embarrassed
in the work of maintaining possession
of Manila for lack of sufficient force.
There was some talk this afternoon of
sending troops out from San Francisco
to aid in this work, but this has not yet
taken shape as far as can be learned.
and it is likely that the department will
wait 70 hear from Commodore Dewey
himself before taking action. 1t may
be- and in fact it is expected, that by
combination with the insurgents he will
succeed i'll having his men relieved Of
the task of garisoning Manila.
As TO the future of the island, it is
likely that the Government will retain
possession of at least one good port
such as Manila, or coaling station and
base OF supplies during the remainder
of the war. 1t is believed the officials
have not decided what to do with the
islands at the end of the war, but in
their possession the United States will
enjoy perfect weapon in enforcing
terms of peace with Spain. Supposinc
Porto Rico shall next he seized it would
seem that Spain will have little TO en-
courage her i'm further resistance. par
ticularly as the fall of Porto Rico would
mean The loss to her Of her iron-claJ
feed should it cross the Atlantic
There is no talk yet of European in
tervention. but one Of the most benc-
tcial results Of Commodore Dewey's
victory yesterday is that deep impress
sion has been made unon the European
powers who can now no longer afford
to blind themselves to the fact that man
TO man the American Navy is equal 10
any in the world
Ihe impression produced is likely to
netef the European powers from hasty
intervention, and tho nreSpnt Indications
are that we shall be left to settle our
affairs with Spain at our own pleasure.
always providing we do not get involved
III the Eastern question through obtain
lng possession of the Philippines.
fouf tags were displayed today for
the first time in MANY months from The
Staffs of the State. War and Navv ~.
partment building. and on the east fro,+ =
hnge garrison flag hoated. all in bonor
Of tn" victory Of the American aeot at
Manila Yesterday.
The War Department is bend;na all
its energies to the mastering in of tbn
'olunteers aud the recruiting Of tho POO.
utar army to its full war strength of
e'.0UD men. These matters are we'll nm.
der way and the officials feel confdart
that within q reasonable time both tbn
volunteer and the regular armies will
he ready for practical military duty r,
few DAYS all the troops that have been
ordered TO Tampa are expecfed TO reach
H'af niace. and the eight large trans
ports which are to conduct the first OK
nedition TO Cuba have been ordered Il