Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-05-05
WAR MAY SOON END.
Spanish Government Likely to See
Nothing but Disaster in Fighting.
HOW JARED AMERICAS SQUADRON.
The Dispatches DO Not Mention Whether
Any OF Adm. Dewey'S Ships Were DAM
aged-spAnish Hints at Yielding
When Honor Is Satisfied.

WASHINGTON, May Am opinion
freely expressed last night by naval
officers is that the very decisive victory
of Adm. Dewey's feet will mean proba-
bly, an early end TO the war, without
further naval battles of Importance.
The American fleet it is suggested, is
now supreme in the waters OF SPANS
Pacific possessions, and indications
were strongly toward the slipping OF
the Philippines from her control. 1t
was said that, only by quickly yield
ing to our demands in Cuba, could
this loss possibly be averted.
Spain, it is argued, was con-
fronted with situation which prom
ised naught save disaster in case she
elected to force more fighting. The
superiority of the American fleet has
been demonstrated in the Pacific and
the same it is commended, would be in
~evitable in the Atlantic in case the
clash comes. From whatever point Of
view considered, the policy of more
fighting on the part of Spain promises
nothing but more Spanish misfortune.
Navy officers think this view must pre-
vail with the Spanish government and
believe an end of the war, upon the
basis of Cuban independence, is to fol-
low soon and that, too, without further
notable opportunity for the American
navy to prove its power and distinguish
itself.
HOW JARED AMERICAS SQUADRON
LONDON, May 2.-While it is quite
clear that the Spanish squadron has
suffered crushing defeat, the dis
patches leave unclear the intensely in
teresting question whether the Ameri-
can squadron has suffered material
damage. All news thus far comes
from Spanish sources; but it seems
evident that Commodore Dewey
has not captured Manila. I'm
less he is able to make an
.other attack and capture the town
he will be in an awkward posi-
ton, having no base upon which
to retire and to reft. Probably, there
fore, the United States squadron will
be obliged to make for San Francisco,
as the entrance to Manila bay was
heavily mined with torpedoes. Com
modore Dewey displayed great pluck
and daring in making for the inner
harbor Reliable details cannot be
had until Commodore Dewey's SQUAD
ron is able to communicate with Hong
Kong. There is, however, suspicious
frankness about the Spanish dispatches
that savors of desire to break un-
pleasant news to the Spaniards. 1t is
not unlikely, therefore, that Commo-
odore Dewey may be able to renew the
attack.
SPANISH HINTS AT YIELDING.
LONDON, May 2.-The Madrid corre-
aspondent of the Standard SAYS: The
sitting of the house of deputies Satur-
day was extremely interesting. Senior
.Silvela, in a speech which has made a
profound impression and is regarded
as marking turning point in Spanish
politics. declared that, as the Cuban
problem was now reduced to a ques-
ton of 'honor for Spanish arms" it
behooved ministers to assume without
hesitation the responsibility of decid-
ing when the point of honor had been
sufficiently satisfied. When that time
had been reached, he said, it would be
time to appeal to the European nations,
so that they could decide what
ought to be done to restore peace and
determine the fate of Cuba, because
all the powers were interested in Gu
ba's future, Senior Silvela declared
that all the idealist foreign policies
were things of the past; that nations
nowadays were only moved by their
interests, and that, therefore, If Spain
sought the intervention of the powers
she must approach them with some
thing practicable, for instance, on the
basis of the Philippine islands, and
with her hands full" Everybody was
much struck by Senior Silvela's trans
parent illusions to future inevitable
sacrifices and concessions.