The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-17

Government OfS
Washington, May 12.-The setback
received by the American Gblockading
squadron in the engagement in Car
denas harbor yesterday and the loss
OF five lives on board the torpedo boat
Winslow, had a SOLDERING effect on the
element Of the navy which Is crying
for rapid action and efforts at Destroy
ing batteries with unarmored ships.
There probably will be some sort of in
quiry instituted to ascertain the re-
sp~onsibility for sending such unpro-
fected shells Is the WinslOw against
fortified ports. 1t is miraculous, in the
opinion of the older officers at the de-
partment, that the damage and loss of
life were confined to the Winslow, for
the other with her were very lit
tie better off in the matter of protec-
ton and scarcely any of them could
resist the fire Of a small rifle. 1T is
likely that if uch work as was at
tempted at Cardenas is to be lone here
after the task will be assigned to more
formidable craft.
notwithstanding the multitude of
IuIHOIS uIldL CdIlle lIOIl dill pdILS OIL uLlo
West Indies as to the bombardment of
San Juan de Porto Rico, and other
sanguinary engagements between
Simpsons 'battleshipS and the Spanish
forces, the navy department was in Of
fetal ignorance OF any such event. AT
the close of office hours it was said
that nothing had been heard from Ad-
miral Sampson. 1t is believed that
there will be difficulty in the admiral's
communicating with the department
by cable from st. Thomas, and there
are suggestions that the dis
patch boats accompany SIMPSONS
fleet will be deprived of the use of the
cable also on the pretext that neutral
ity is thereby violated and st. Thomas
made a base of operations. In thisc case
lit wou be necessary for both the ad-
miral and the newspaper men to have
recours to the direct cable at Hayti
about $50 or 300 miles distant from San
Juan, involving "a delay of a day and a
a or two days in communicating in
formation to the United States.
DOUBTS AS TO LOCATION OF
SPANISH SQUADRON.
Just where the Spanish flying squad
ron is still remains in doubt and no
word of official confirmation has come
to the avy department Of the Cadiz
report of day before yesterday that the
squadron is there. Still there are
enough American vessels covering the
approaches to the West India
to spot any approachable Spanish ship
in short order.
The people on the New England coast
have had their apprehenSionS aroused
again lest the Spanish appear in force
off their coast and proceed to destroy
the summer resorts and small cratt
there. Mr.. Allen, the newly indicted
o,c;sfan r Saprata Wv of the navy. a
Massachusetts man, had to bear the
brunt of a score of applications of pro-
lection tina came to the department
from all points on the coast from
Maine to Connecticut. The depart
ment has done what it regards as ne
cessary in assigning the monitors and
and some vessels of the mosquito fleet
to the patrol of this coast and in hold
ing Commodore Schley's magnificent
squadron at Hampton Roads ready to
fly at twenty knots speed to amy point
on the coast they may be threatened.
NEWS FROM DEWEY.
"A dispatch came today to the navy
department from Admira Dewey at
Manila. 1t was dated Hong Kong to-
day, was evidently a few days old and
does not show that Dewey has possess
ed himself at Manila. Probably he re-
guards his original orders as not broad
enough to justify that action without
further directions and as his dispatch
was sent last Monday he could not have
received the last orders or the depart
ment. The nature of these orders is
indicated by the assignment or w
such officers as Major Generals Mer-
rift and Otis to command the troops
that are to be hurried to the philippines
when the quartermaster has prOvlS-
toned the ships at San Francisco. Gen.
eral Merritt is the senior major general
in the United States service after Cen
eral HileS, and in ordinary cases is en-
titled to the most important COM
mands, so his dispatch for this work
may be taken as an evidence OF the
presidents estimate Of the Importance
of this expedition.
NO ACTIVITY by CONTINENTAL
POWERS.
In all official quarters-state depart
ment and diplomatic-the reports COM
ing from London to the effect that some
of the continental powers, particularly
and France, have made pro-
tests against American occupation OF
the Philippines, are met with nat de-
NAL. Their haeS been no recent con-
certed action among the continental
powers toward intervention, nor nave
the representatives of those powers IN
Washington exchanged any views late
ly touching on intervention. This
statement is made in the most SPECIFIC
manner by French and German 9TH
cials. They are beginning to feel con-
siderable annoyance at these Oft re-
peated reports and are included to at
.tach some significance to the fact that
all of them eminate from London In
at least one embassy of a continental
power this tendency at London has re-
ceived official attention and the notice
of the state department. has been
drawn to il during an official interview.
FOREIGN WARSHIPS IN THE
EAST.
There is no doubt that Germany
France and Great Rritian are sending