The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-10
DEwEY's REQUEST FOR TROOPS.
The Admiral Wants to Establish a
Provisional Government.

Provisional Government.
NEW YORK, May "a dispatch to the
World from Hong Kong says: Dispatches
signed by Commodore Dewey have just
been sent to Washington recommending
that the surrender of Manila be demanded
and that a provisional government for the
Philippines be established pending the set
tlement of the war with Spain. His pro-
posal is for commission to take control of
the government He suggests that he be
named as one of the commissioners. The
government would be continued upon much
the same lines as exist now. He asks that
sufficient troops be sent him, in the event
that his plan is adopted, to maintain order.
If his suggestion is favorably received by
the President and the Cabinet, it. is prob
able that our two consuls-Williams, of
Manila, and Wildman, of Hong Kong-will
be asked to serve on the commission. Some
such solution, it appears must be found i'm
mediately. Food supplies in Manila have
run shortsalready tbs estimated that the
town has only enough to last two weeks.
No more can be brought in.
Commodore Dewey's fleet has completely
invested the city by water and the insur-
gents control all land approaches. 1t is
impossible for the inhabitants to add to the
present supply of food without consent of
the American commodore. He is in abso-
lutte control. The forts at Manila are not
strong enough to cope with his guns. The
fleet would have no trouble in razing the
citys defenses and in utterly destroying
the residence and business quarters. Not
only the governor general but the people
as well, realize that if Dewey demands a
surrender he can back up his demands with
shot and shell sufficient to wipe out the
city. If the demand is made and the gov
ernor refuses, the people will rise and de-
mand that he surrender There would also
be a revolt on the part of many of the SOL
diers before they would bring down on the
practically defenseless city the fire of the
powerful American fleet.
Under international law a city cannot be
bombarded until a days notice has been
given, but the action of the Manila forts in
firing on the American fleet would be suffi-
cient grounds to break this rule Commo-
dore Dewey has said that he will give the
people time to leave the city if he is COM
PEELED by refusal to surrender to bonn
bard Manila. The Spanish inhabitants
would gain little by fight, for the insur-
gents hold the hills and could easily defeat
them in combat.
Commodore Dewey has held no communi-
cation with the insurgents. Reliable reports
are that $4,000 men are on the hills that
surround Manila These men will be armed
with American repeating rifles recently
landed in the Philippines by filibustering
expeditions. The insurgents have not a
semblance of military training. If they
make an attack on the city it will degen-
crate into lawless looting. The insurgents
will be nothing better than mob out for
plunder.
There is a grave necessity for a strong
government at Manila. Commodore Dewey
could have taken the city last Sunday, but
he feared violence He can land 1000 armed
men, but these would not be sufficient to
prevent murder. rapine and pillage. If we
attack Manila the French and British war
ships here will land forces to protect their
own people in Manila and their own in
terests.
Not less than 5000 troops are really
needed to occupy the principal cities in the
Philippines Dewey has already asked for
them, and has received assurances that
they will be sent as quickly as ships can
be had ready to transport them.
The Hugh McCulloch has been made the
dispatch boat of the fleet until cable COM
munication can be restored.
The people of Hong-Kong make no con-
cealment of their JOY at our victory. SEN
tment here is unanimous that the Philip
pines will pass into British control when
the war ends, becoming part of the colony
of Hong Kong. The Englishmen here all
agree that this would have the effect Of
greatly increasing the Importance of Brit
ish interests in China.