The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-07
Rear Admiral Dewey Says They Have Cap
tured 1900 Spanish Troops at Cavte.
Spanish 0utposts Have Been Driven in All Along the
Line and Fighting Was Continued For Seventy
AoursS Santiago Again Bombarded.

washington, June 1.-THE officials
have been more anxious than they cared
TO betray as to Admiral Dewey's con-
dItion. They were not seriously appre-
hensive OF danger to the feet. but an Inn
preston was gaining ground that the
admiral had not maintained the same
measure of success In his operations In
Manila bay that rewarded his first ef-
fort. A report received Monday goes to
show that his plans are working out
admirably; that he has placed upon the
insurgents the burden OF conducting
military operations against the Spanish.
and that he has prevented the corrup-
ton of the insurgent leaders which ap-
peared at one time TO be threatening.
Dewey's dispatch reads: THE insurg-
ents are acting energetically In the
province of Cavite During the past
week they have won several victories,
and have taken prisoners about 1900 men
and so officers Of the Spanish troops, not
natives. The arsenal of Cavite is being
prepared for the occupation by United
States troops. on the arrival Of the trans
ports"
There is some speculation as to how
the insurgents will treat the prisoners
who are more numerous, II Is said, than
all the captures made by the Cuban in
surgents since their war began. 1t was
reported soon after he had secured the
cooperation OF the insurgent chief.
Aguinaldo, that Admiral Dewey would
see to II that the insurgents observed
the rules OF civilized warfare. This eau
tion was made necessary by the terrible
tales circulated OF the barbarous treat
ment of prisoners captured by the in
surgents. 1t is hoped that Aguinaldo
will see that this agreement is observed
in the case of the 1900 prisoners he now
holds, for II Is believed In official circles
that the nations of the civilized world
will hold the United States morally re-
sponsible for any excesses that may be
committed in the Philippines as a result
of our action there. The navy depart
ment officials declare that Dewey is not
responsible for the safekeeping and
maintenance of these prisoners. which
Is most fortunate considering the limited
resources of the admiral in the matter OF
provisions.
The navy department gave orders that
the double turreted monitor Monadnock,
now at Mare island. Cal. should be made
ready to sail for Manila within 10 days
The Monterey will not wait for the
Monadnock. The navy department will
procure another merchant ship to ac-
company the Monadnock on her 6000-
mile voyage. The Monadnock is a most
powerful double turreted monitor With
twin screws and 5000 horse power en-
gines. she Is easily able to make 12is
knots an hour. Built on the general lines
OF the Amphitrite, she has better en-
gines and more power than that monitor
She carries four 10-inch guns In two
turrets. besides two four-inch rapid
fire guns In casemate and numerous
secondary battery. Her coal capacit.
Is $50 tons In bunkers. and almost as
much more storage room can be found on
the decks. Consequently the Monad-
mock has the ability TO make a longer
cruise than the Monterey without teJ
plenishing her coal supply. yet her ca
pacity is still too small to permit her to
make the passage from Honolulu TO the
Philippines unaided.
With these two monitors, Admiral
Dewey will be fully able TO take care OF
himself. even should the much talked OF
Cadiz fleet undertake to attack him in
Manila harbor. The monitors at their
maximum draw only 14i1 feet OF water.
or 10 feet less than the Pelayo. and there
fore would he able TO pick their position
in the shallow water where the Spanish
battleship could not possibly reach them,
and hammer away at the latter TO their
hearts content. presenting themselves
so small mark as to render IT very
difficult for the Spanish gunners to reply
effectively. No doubt Is entertained OF
the Monadnock's seaworthiness for be-
fore being reconstructed at the Mare
island navy yard she made the entire
voyage from the Delaware clear around
the Horn TO San Francisco. n voyage
longer really thah that made by the
Oregon.
The war department has under con-
sideration the selection OF a location in
The east for general point OF rendezvous
for the troops that were held In reserve
for coast defense and subject TO depart
ment tcommanders'or orders under the first
apportionment OF troops among the
states. Several places have been sug-
eested for the camp. viz: Shelter ISL
and. Gardeners bay and Montauk Point
Long Island. but Adjutant General Cor
bin said yesterday that no decision IN
the matter had been reached by the de-
partment. and probably none would be
Tor several days. Montauk Point has