New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-01
OFF MANILA AND IN CUBA.
THE TWO POINTS OF ATTACK.
NO FEAR IN WASHINGTON THAT COMMo-
DORE DEWEY WILL FAIL.
THE CUBAN LANDING PLACE NOT DEFINITELY
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TO BEAR THE BRUNr
OF THE CAMPAIGN - PASSAGE OF 4,
THE WAR REVENUE BILL By -
THE SENATE REGARD II

ED AS ASSURED.
lDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

tDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1
Washington. April 30-Interest in naval ana
military circles here still c. ntres in the progress
Of Commodore Dcwey's operations off the Phil
ippines- The American fleet Is supposed to
have reached the entrance to Manila Harbof
by this time and either to have engaged the
Spanish squadron or to have driven 1t for pro-
lection under the guns of the land forts. As
the only cable line from the Philippines to
Hong Kong is under the control and censor.
ship Of the Spanish colonial authorities, there
is little expectation that q true version Of the
American naval campaign against Manila will
reach the outside world until communications
can be opened through some Asiatic port with
Commodore Dewey's feet. But news conveyed
in such a chance and roundabout way may not
be received either in Europe or America for
another week. OF the entire success Of the
operations planned against the Philippines no
one here however, has now the slightest doubt
Some further cannonading has been reported
to-day off the Cuban coast. This time the tire
Of Admiral Simpsons flagship has been d.
rected at a land battery 10 the west Of Havana,
but the engagement appears 10 have been an ex.
ceedingly trivial one
PREPARING TO LAND IN CUBA.
Preparations for the landing expedition 10 be
sent next week 10 Cuba are now we'll forward,
and ii only remains to concentrate the troops to
be transported at Tampa and Key West and TO
choose the point on the north coast east Of
Havana at which the Judgement is to be made.
Matanzas has been generally selected as the
town to be seized and occupied as a temporary
base in Cuba but there are certain indications
that a harbor further east and less Effectively
defended will be ultimately preferred. II the
military authorities decide to maintain perma-
nently the base selected as a means Of COM
muncating with the insurgents and Initiating
land campaign against Havana. the landing
garrison will be reinforced from the ranks
of the so-called yellow fever immunes, to be
raised under special authority granted by Con-
gress.
The Military Affairs Committee Of the House
has just reported an act amending the Army
Reorganization bill which directs the President
TO enlist as part of the regular military estab-
lshment. 10000 additional men supposed 10 bs
immune from yellow fever These troops are
TO be recruited chiefly In the Southern States
and, like the three cowboy regiments already
authorized. are 70 b. credited to the Regular
and not TO the volunteer army Whether i'm
| munes can be obtained or not. the new regl-
ments will be filed 20 their required strength.
! and the regular forces Will thus be increased
shortly 70 II 900 instead Of 1000 And on the
1000 Regulars. rather than on the 10000
volunteers now called into service. the real bur-
dens and responsibilities of campaigning In
Cuba are pretty certain TO fall.
WAR REVENUE BILL IN THE SENATE.
The failure of the Democratic Senatorial cau-
Gus held last night TO agree on any concerted
plan of opposition to the bond-Issue section of
he War Revenue bill confirms the general i'm
preston here that NJ vely serious fight will he
made by the free-cOinage and nlationst forces
In the dellberativ" branch against the bond pro-
visions Of the Hous, measure. II is understood
that Senator CONAN. the retiring chairman Of
the Democratic caucus. will support the bond.
issue section. and that several other conserva-
tive Eastern Democrats will follow his
example.
The death OF Senator Walthall has left tho
Finance Committee of the Ser ate a tie polit-
cally even If Senator Jores. Cf Nevada. should
cooperate with the Democratic members In
seeking TO strike the bond-issue section from
the House bill But whatever may happen In
the committee. in the Senate itself the Rcpub-
lican leaders are sure to muster n majority in
favor Of retaining the bond-issue clause and
there is every prospect that the House measure
will pass. practically without amendment, by
the end Of next week.