The record-union., 1898-05-03
INTEREST AT LONDON.
Everywhere the Sole Topic is the
Battle at Manila

LONDON, May 2.-In the House of
Parliament, at the hotels, which are
beginning to be full of American tour
lists; at the Government offices, and
particularly at the Admiralty, the
brilliant defeat of the Spanish fleet by
the Asiatfc fleet of the United States
at the battle of Manila was the one
subject talked of throughout the day.
The United States Embassy was the
center of interest in London There
was a continuous line Of callers re-
questing information, the majority be-
ing Americans. The United States EN-
bassador Colonel John Hay, is over
jOyed at this demonstration of the
prowess of the American navy, remark
ing concerning Commodore Dewey, who
is a personal friend of the EmbasSa-
dor: 1T is hard to imagine so quiet and
amiable a gentleman controlling fierce
naval battle. 1t is these quiet, gentle
manly Americans, however, who may
be depended upon to surprise the world
when the opportunity for making his
tory comes in the line of duty"
Lieutenant Colonel Colwell, the Unit
ed States attache, declared the result
was merely what was expected.
with enthusiastic Americans, many of
them displaying miniature flags in their
buttonholes.
Many British naval officers have ex-
pressed the warmest admiration for the
work of the American fleet. In fact, a
preponderance of sentiment in the Brit
ish navy seems to be with the Amer
leans throughout, the officers giving
g Iaoi,r
tiality International courtesy, how
ever, debarred the high officials from
commenting upon the result.
All the information obtainable con-
cerning the Spanish force of auxiliary
cruisers in regard to which vague re-
ports have emanated from Madrid,
tends to show that it has been over
estimated The best two ships, the
Columbia and the Normannia, formerly
of the Hamburg American Line, are yet
unarmed and it is believed they will be
unable to secure armament. The chief
factor of the remainder of the Spanish
force of auxiliary cruisers consists of the
six steamers belonging to the Barcelona
Trans Atlantic Steamship Company.
They are fairly we'll armed, but they
have been scattered. Two of them are
with the Cape Verde squadron as trans
ports, one is conveying the torpedo flo
tilla, another it is said is at Santiago
de Cuba, and two are at CadiZ
The afternoon newspapers to-day
comment at length upon the victory of
the United States at Manila Bay.
The st James Gazette" says "The
earlier Spanish stories left no shade of
doubt that the Spanish fleet had been,
to put it roundly, thrashed and
smashed. and the later information in
the afternoon places it even beyond the
possibility of a Spanish denial"
The newspapers all discuss the ulti-
mate fate of the Philippine Islands as
a. question in which the European Pow
ers are vitality interested, and they
agree in saying that another element of
discord has been introduced in the Far
Eastern scramble.
The Evening Standard" comment
ing on the American victory, says:
Every one will hope this will be de-
cisive blow to the Spanish forces, and
will lead to an early termination of
hostilities, a hope which has been en-
couraged by the remarkable language
of Senior Silvela in the Cortes, when he
declared the Cuban problem is reduced
to question Of honor for Spanish
arms"