The times., 1898-05-16
MANILA WILL SURRENDER
Admiral Dewey Believes Resist
ance Will Cease Soon.
CITY FACES STARVATION
Hero of the Battle Commends the
Him-Important Dispatches Re
ccived-The Great Battle in the
West Indies Soon to BE Fought.

the opinion of Admiral Dewey. The Navy
Department yesterday received dispatches
from Dewey, sCnt by him on the 18th, in
which this prophecy is made very posi-
lively, with a graphic description of the
condition of the Spaniards. 1t is even
very probable that today the American
flag is flying over Manila
Two dispatches received were given out
yesterday. 1t is not known if any were
withheld from publication.
The first is as follows:
"Cayite. May 10, via Hong Kong. May
15.-Maintaining strict blockade Reason
10 believe that the rebels are hemming in
the city by land, but have made no dem
onsIation. Scarcity of provisions at Ma
Mia. Probable that the Spanish governor
will be obliged to surrender soon- Can
take Manila at any moment. Climate is
hot and moist. On May Il captured gun
boat Callao attempting to run blockade.
Have plenty of coal. ONE British, one
French. two German and one Japanese
vessel here observing. DEWEY"
The second dispatch was not given TO
the press in It's exact wording. bulletin
prepared by Secretary Long soon after II
was received stated that Admiral Dewey
expressed his thanks 10 the President for
his promotion and commended the officers
under him for their work during the bat
tie at Manila.
The chief Importance of the dispatch is
| realized TO be that the need Of land force
of soldiers is acute. The threatening at
tisude of the insurgents, which may
break ont into ope nViOlence al any time
and the fact that the governor of Manila
may surrender at any time are both rea-
sons for the utmost haste in getting the
expedition across the Pacific as soon as
possible.
The Naval Situation.
The great sea fight in the West Indies
is stiH in the future, as far as the Navy
Department had been informed up to
late hour this morning. The squadrons
of the United States are drawing closer
together every hour, and somewhere
within their wide lines and the coasts of
the Gulf and the Caribbean Sea is the
formidable feet of Spain, apparently
avoiding battle, apparently seeking for
the weak spot in the United States line
of action. This great battle Is as ineyita-
bic as was the war two weeks before II
was declared. The question now is only
when il will be fought, and where. and II
the United States viii be quick enough
to have the best OF it's forces in the con-
hict.
Because this tremendous fight will be
the naval battle of the country, in its
effect on the naval problems Of the
future, and, more than this, in its deci-
sive influence on the fortunes of war it
self it is waited for by the naval experts.
and by the world in general no less, with
the keenest of interest.
The naval experts of the world have
been hoping that this war would solve
some of the questions OF the new naval
warfare and when il was at first said,
and truthfully. that the Spanish fleet was
on ha grri1r al
was awaited with the most acute expect
ancy. The disappointment was corre-
spondingly keen when rumor with
governmental sanction, said that the
| squadron was at Cadiz after all. Then
| the actual appearance OF the fleet put all
| doubt out of the question.
There are scores OF newspaper men
| with the fleets and al points all around
| the Gulf waiting to give the world quick
! and accurate descriptions of the great
| struggle. They are among the best men
| in the business in the country. The day
after the battle the entire world will have
a vivid description of it.
| The only factors in the battle in Spain's
| favor are that it may not now be avoided
! by the Spanish feet: that Spain must
| realize and the Spanish sailors must know
! that defeat will mean the last hope gone
to Spain. The United States has in the
| southern waters. that may be in the en-
| gagement. ships of six times the actual
| strength of the Spaniards not to men
| tion the superiority of the strategical
| skill and the gunnery of the Americans.
Spain win fight with the courage and
| skill of desperation. She will fight not
with much hope of winning. probably,
| but with the thought that if she can be
only temporarily the victor il will save
! her greatly in the eyes of the world.
Three Routes Open.
| The experts have decided, from the
course already steered by the fleet, that
there are only three probable courses
| during the next few hours or days The
| fleet, when last heard from. was at Cura-
Gao, off Venezuela, sailing west. When
| il turns north it may sail for the Wind
! ward Passage between Cuba and Haiti
| with the intention of taking the most
| direct route to Havana: or. il may take
| tHe southern route and round the western
end of Cuba. or. more probably. it may
| sail directly northwest to the southern
coast of Cuba for Santiago de Cuba or
| Cienfuegos. 1t is possible also that be-
| fore any of these routes is taken the
| Oregon may be encountered.
The naval war board was in session all
| day yesterday behind tightly-closed doors
considering these four possibilities. Since
| Capt Mahan became a member of the
| board there has been q change in the
i conduct of the naval campaign. The
| board now indicates the moves to be
made in the game a great deal more
closely than the old board cared to do.
| or felt capable of doing perhaps. Less
/ discretion is given to the commanders on
| the scene.
There is much discussion as to the wis
| dom of this policy. Many strategists are
against it, and many even say that bad
| blunders have been made already. Capt
| Mahan is considered one of the foremost
naval strategsts in the world. The out
| come of this battle may or may not de-
eide the question if naval battle should
| be fought entirely from a central point
away from the scene of action, almost
wholly destroying the individuality of
| the commanders.
The plan of the board is somewhat to
| be decided by circumstances. and by the
news of the Spanish fleet, but in its gen
eral scheme at present. Admiral Samp-
son is to sail directly to the Windward
! passage and there wait for orders Com
rlodore Dewey is to sail to Key West for
| further orders, and Commodore Watson
| IS to hold himself in readiness at his
present station to sail east or west along
! The coast of Cuba. Sampson may be or
dered to leave a scout at the Windward
passage and continue west along the
north coast of Cuba; or he may be in
structed to go South through the Wind
| ward passage if Il is found probable that
| the Spaniards are intending TO go to Glen
| fuegos or Santiago de Cuba. Schley will
| be instructed almost surely to join Wat
/ son.
Probable Battle Ground.
The board is of the opinion that the
| Cienfuegos plan is the one most likely to