Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-07-05
ANXIOUS FOR NEWS.
Intense Interest in Washington in
Skaters Movement.
NO DECISIVE IMPORTATION As YET.
officials, However, Are Confident of
Success of American Arms-Gen.
Miles Thinks Fridays Flights
Preliminary SlSirmish.

Washington, July 2.-Just two
months after the battle of Manila and
on the first day of the month, like that
glorious engagement, began the first
set battle of the war in this he1ni-
sphere. What the result will be was
not known when the departments
closed. Never before since the declara-
ton of war has there been such feel
ing of intense interest and anxiety
manifested. The officials here are con-
fident that they have done everything
possible to strengthen Skaters hands
for the great conflict he is waging and
they have an unlimited confidence in
his discretion, his bravery and his en-
ergy. The attack Friday, several days
before the public mind expected the
battle, is a tribute to his energy as
well as to his judgment, according to
the present lights, for he undoubtedly
found it necessary to crush the foe In
detail, following Napoleon's favorite
maxim, instead of allowing them to
consolidate and outnumber him.
TOO Busy to Report.
AS the day wore along without bring
ing any news the anxiety increased
and the question was in everyone's
mouth: "Why did he not report!"
Adit. Gen. Corbin's response was brief
but pointed: Gle is fighting, not writ
ing" and this was accepted as likely
and sound explanation. On the whole
this very absence of official news was
regarded as rather favorable indi-
cation, the reasoning being that the
mornings engagement was but
heavy slSirmish and that our army was
feeling the enemy to discover and
strike at his weak spot. 1t was nearly
six o'clock when the signal Office re-
ceived the welcome news that the enc
my was retreating.
Only Heavy sIirmish.
Gen. Miles was of the opinion that
the action of Friday was in the nature
of heavy skirmish all along the
American front, particularly on the
right, and that it's main purpose was
to develop the strength of the enemy
and, If possible, learn the vulnerable
point along the Spanish front. This,
however, was based only on the lack
of definite Information, and Gen. Miles
felt that any hour might bring word of
a general engagement. Brig. Gen.
Stone was inclined to believe that after
maintaining their stand Friday, the
Spaniards would retire during the
night, leaving the city evacuated.
To Cut OFF Retreat.
The military authorities here are
fully considering the chances of such
- I,a ,;r.I,
Santiago and are endcavoring SO to
shape events that Gen Skaters force
will not only take Santiago, but will
| capture the $4,000 Spaniards before
| they get away northward to effect n
| junctnre with. Gen. Pando. Full in
formation as to the possible lines of
retreat has been placed at the disposal
| of the war department.
The Eastern Squadron.
So far as the navy department.
knows, the, Cadiz feet is still, at Port
Said unable to coal, but it is taking
| no chances on their course and is
steadily pressing the arrangements for
the dispatch to the Mediterranean of
the eastern squadron, under Commo-
| dore Watson. An evidence of this pur-
pose was made visible Friday in the
| packing and forwarding of boxes OF
| charts of all the waters likely to be
travcrsed by Watson's squadron di-
rectly to the ships off Santiago.
Germany Not UnfriendIy.
Assurance vas given at to-day's ses-
1 sion of the cabinet of the expectation
4 of the administration that Germany
would not interfere at Manila. There
1 was some discussion on this point, but
! both the president and Secretary Day
said they had received assurances that
there was no unfriendly action con
templated on the part of the German
empire. They expressed the belief thai
there was no real foundation for the
reports of the unfriendly attitude Of
| Germany and of radical steps contem
plated by that government, and indi
Gated their personal conviction thai
there need be no serious apprehension
on that score. Several members of the
cabinet apparently do not share thi.
confidence in the German attitude
The administration has much conf
dence in the judgment and tact 0:
both Admiral Dewey and Gen. Mer
rift.
The latest advices, it was reported
to the cabinet, were that Admira
Camara's Spanish feet would proceed
through the Suez CANAL on it's journe.
to the Philippine Islands. This, how
ever, lis discounted by previous ex
pectations and preparations, and Their
is confidence in the arrival of the Mon
terey, the Monadnock and the Charles
ton off Manila before Camara can pos
sibly reach there.
Respects Our Blockade.
Berlin, July 2. - The following dis
patch has been received from Hong
Kong:
According to trustworthy intelligence
from Manila the Spanish governor genera
3 had few days ago, at his own request
y meeting with Admiral Diedrchs (the com
ii mander of the German naval forces 4
), the far easD, in order to propose, in be
half of the Spanish government tina
{ Manila should be handed into the prov
sional charge Of neutral commando
The proposal was rejected by Admire
Diedrdchs, in view of the American block
t ade."
: The Manila News, via Hong
Il Kong, referring to the action of AZ
e miral Diedrichs, may be looked upo
! as being semi-official note, as it wa
h issued by the semi-official news agenc
here.
The Public Debt.
J. Washington, July 2.-The month";