Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1898-05-14
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department to utihzestnlkE1 vast re-
sources of the nation to calrx-out these
plans with eneroN and -rani1Gty

Chicago, May "a specEllil to the
Times Herald from Washington says:
The representatives of the foreign gov
in the conflict between the United States
and Spain. They are specially concerned
at present over the fate of the Philip
pines and discussing the possibility of
intervention by the powers.
The concensus of opinion seems to be
hat if the United States should conclude
to retain possession of the conquered
islands in the Pacific the European pow
ers will have no cause to interfere. Atten-
Non is also called to the fact that with
he capture of the Philippines the United
States can also claim the Marianne, Pala
wan and Caroline islands.
\ foreign diplomat. whose opinion is
entitled to consideration, in discussing
the situation, says:
European statesmen are much graft
fled 10 note that the United States ap-
pears determined to handle the Philip
pine question ably and strongly. When
the newspapers first asserted that only
force Admiral Dewey and make perma-
nent the fruits of his victory, consid-
erable rneasiness was felt.
1T would be physical impossibilitv
to police the 100000 or 100000 inhab
itants of Swiu's Oceanic colonies with
that number of men. Under Il good mil
itary government it would require 10000
for administrative purposes alone. The
proposition to transport 10000 soldiers to
this conquest is more like business
proposition.
1T may surprise some Americans to
know that Dewey's victory carries with
it spoils of war probably larger than was
ever decided by the issue of one battle.
The future value and influence of this
conquest is almost incalculable. Study
ing the situation as it exists we must
assume that with the fall of the Phillip
pines the United States will claim as
their due all the natural results of such
4 capture. BY this one victory the Unit
ed States acquired at least the right of
disposal of the destiny of more than o.
100000 people.
Together with the Philippines go the
Marianne and the Palawans and Caro-
lines. The Philippines have an area of
ll4.360 square miles: the Marianne or
Ladrone islands have 440 square miles
and the Palawans and Carolines 1850.
eastward from the Philippines
these groups extend about IS degrees of
latitude A little further to the north
and east are the Hawaiians. Should the
United States then build either of the
Isthmian canals she will not only control
the ocean water passage, but in the most
strategic portion of the Pacific ocean, she
can. as it We're. cross that vast eNpanse
of the ocean upon her own stepping
stones
Thanks to Dewey.
Washington. May 9.-The president
today sent the following message to con-
oress:
TO the Congress of the United States:
On the 24th of April | directed the
secretary of the navy to telegraph orders
to Commodore George Dewey, United
States navy, commanding the Asatc
squadron, then lying in the port of Hong
Kong, to proceed forthwith to the Phil
ippne islands and there commence opera
tions and engage the Spanish fleet.
Promptly obeying the order, the United
States squadron consisting of the flag
ship Olympia, Baltimore, Raleigh, Bos-
ton and Petrol, accompanied by the rev
enue cutter Hugh McCulioch as an aux
iliary dispatch boat, entered the harbor
of Manila at daybreak on the lst day of
May and Immediately engaged the entire
Spanish fleet, eleven ships, which were
under the protection of the fire of land
forces. After stubborn fight, in which
the enemy suffered great loss, those YES
sells were destroyed or completely dis
abled and the water battery at Cavlte
was silenced OF our brave officers and
men, not one was lost and only eight
injured, and those but slightly. All our
ships escaped serious damage. BY the
ith of May Commodore Dewey had taken
possession of the naval station at Cavite,
the Notifications there and at
the entrance of the bay and paroling
their garrisons. The waters of the bay
ire under his complete control. He has
a hospital within the Amer
can lines where $50 Spanish sick and
Wounded are assisted and protected.
The magnitude of this victory can
hardly be measured by the ordinary
standards of naval warfare. Outweigh
ng any material advantage is the moral
fleet of this initial success. AT this un-
achievement the great heart of
,ur nation throbs, not with boasting or
With greed of conquest, but with deep
gratitude that this triumph has come in
Just cause and that. by the grace of
iod, an effective step has thus been taken
oward the attainment of Wished-for
)eace.
To those whose skill, courage and de-
-oton have won the fight, to the gallant
commander and brave officers and men
Who aided him. our country owes an in
alculable debt. Feeling as our people
eel. and speaking i'll their name, | at once
ent a message to Commodore Dewey
banking him and his officers and men
or the splendid achievement and over
'helmlnS victory ana informing nm la
ad appointed him acting admiral
| now recommend, following our ma
ional precedents and expressing the fer
ent gratitude of every patriotic heart,
hat the thanks of Congress be given to
Acting Rear Admiral George Dewey Of
he United States navy for his highly dis
inguished conduct in conflict with the
nemy, and to his officers and men under
is command for oalIantry in the destruc
ion of the enemy's fortfications in the
ay of Manila.
Signed, WILLIAM MKINLEY.
Executive Mansion.
The annual conference of the independ-
Mt labor party at Birmingham, England,
,eek before last. was largely attended
nd was marked by much enthusiasm.
he question of federating all socialist
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