The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-05-01
DIFFICULTY OF
GETTING NEWS
May Be Several Days Before Fate
of Dewey'S Fleet Is Known.
CIRCUlTOUS CABLE ROUTE
The Spanish Fleet Will Likely Put Up Gallant
Fight, But 1t Is No Match for Our
Asiatic Squadron.
CIRCUITOUS CABLE ROUTE


Washington, April sO.-News travels slow
ly from the far east. Had a battle been
fought at any point off the Philippines to-
day 1t is probable% lat no word would be
received in Washington until Sunday Ca
BILE communication from the Philippines is
by way of Bolinao to Hong Kong, thence
through India and through the Mediter-
ranean to Bona, Marseilles and Brest,
France. In the event of American victory
it hardly is probable that the news would
be transmitted over the Spanish cable from
the PHILIPPINES to Hong Hong. 1t would be
necessary for a vessel of the American
fleet to go to that port with the tidings
Even then there would be delays over the
long line of transmission.
There is another line of telegraph and
cables from British India along the coast
of Persia up the Persian Gulf, through
Turkey, across Europe to the northern
European ports to England, Ireland, and
thence to Nova Scotia. But the one first
mentioned is the most probable route that
message would take. There is no cable
communication across the Pacific.
Spanish ships in Philippine waters will
uldhe d BdlldHl iSHl dbttliiob liz iASNt "
Commodore Dewey, for they have been led
to believe that we have few, IL any, vessels
capable of withstanding their squadron.
The effect of the departments policy in
keeping such ships as the old Monocacy III
Asiatic waters, where she has for years
been taken as a type of the American
navy. will now bear fruit. There is hardly
a question that our fleet will defeat the
ships of Spain. Not only are the United
States vessels more modern, but their
ordnance is better, and there is no COM
parison in the personnel which mans then.
The Spaniards feel that they will have the
upper hand and, therefore, will make no
attempt to avoid an engagement.
Spanish Admiral Dare Devil
RI Dc1sey's squadron probably will not meet
the Standards until the port OF Manila is
well al hand. While the Spanish adimrdl
has European reputation for daredeNl
bravery, he, nevertheless, is sufhclent OF q |
strategist not to leave good harDor OF
refuge too far behind him unnecessarily.
The Olympia Enthusiastically is match Tor |
any two of the Dons' ships, and while the |
Spanish fleet consists of four cruisers, four |
gunboats and one dispatch boat, ana Tie |
American fleet of six cruisers, our ships eX-
Gel them in speed, weight of metal and tor
pedoes.
More than one of our ships will feel the |
effects of the Spanish shot, but our gunners
will not be idle. With shot for shot eX-
changed, or even IL SPAN lIeS tWO oiiotS "
our one, the outcome will, 1t is expected, lie
in our favor. Modern warfare at sea is yet
an unknown quantity and the effect OIL tor
pedoes is problematical, but it is improoa"
bic that even under the most advantage
Gus circumstances, and with the largest
share of luck, the Spanards could compel
our fleet to withdraw. 1t is thought at the
navy department that the Spaniards will
receive a surprise when they discover our
vessels approaching them in line OF pat
tie.
1t is even likely that they will be 50 as |
tonshed at the difference between our |
splendid vessels and what they have been |
led to believe we possess that they Will |
seek shelter close under the guns of the |
Manila batteries, before drawing fire. What |
the American formation will be in the |
coming battle must of course be guess |
work. but it is likelyl that Dewey will at |
tempt to break the Spanish line in his on |
slaught He thus will gain the advantage |
of the use of both his broadsides to the |
enemy's one This is an old naval ma
noeuvre and was in vogue before the |
days of Nelson.
To Separate spain's Fleet
Owing to this form of attack the small |
British feet succeeded in routing the heavy |
ships of Spain and France off Cape st. Vim |
cent. If Commodore Dewey succeeds in |
cutting through the Spanish line his battle |
will be won, for the superior speed and |
ships will easily prevent the Spanish fleet |
from assembling again, once it has been |
separated.
officers here have no doubt whatever as |
to the outcome of the engagement. Their |
only feeling is one of conjecture as to what |
damage our ships will receive in annihilat-
ing the enemy. If the Spanish gunnery is |
no better than it was at Matanzas yester-
day, and there is no reason to believe that
thew will fire more accurately from move
able than from a fixed platform, our YES
sells will escape with little injury.
The fact that the engagement Will be at
closer quarters might at first be taken to
augur more serious damage, but 1t must be
remembered that the effect on the Span
ish seamen at short range will be demor-
alizng If we succeed in driving them into
the harbor of Manila they will become an
easy prey later on. With our vessels
that port it will be impossible
for them to escape They will, however,
prevent any communication as
to their defeat being flashed over the wires
to the world.
Probably they will cable reports of great
victory for their arms, which cannot be
refuted until dispatches have been sent
through the nearest neutral wire. AS Spain
retains possession of all the telegraph IA
cilities connecting Manila with the outside
world it is likely that the first reports of
the fight Will show complete Spanish
victory But it will only be a few days
before the true version of the affair will
show that our fleet has done what Is ex-
pected of it.