The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-05-13
NO ALARM IS FELT.
The Government Has Received Ns
Dispatches from Manila.
INDIGNANT At FALSE REPORTS.
Dispatch to Chicago Says Comm odore Dew
ey's Fleet May BE Bottled Up-A Bos-
ton Telegram states That DeweyIs
Acting AS Governor at Manila.

ton Telegram states That Dewey
Acting as Governor at Manila.
WASHINGTON, May 6. - Secretary
Long said at the close of Office hours
yesterday, that. up to that time, he
had received no word from Commodore
Dewey. He added, however, that he
felt no apprehension over this lack of
news because, in the first place, re-
ports were not expected, with the ca
BILE from Manila cut, and, further
more, no fears were entertained as to
Commodore Dewey's ability to main
tain his position. There was no doubt
the secretary said, that Commodore
Dewey's fleet had annihilated the
Spanish fleet. and, with this much ac-
complished, Dewey was master of the
situation at Manila. 1t was suggested
to Mr.. Long that the shore batteries at
Cavite and on Corrigidor island might
be a serious menace to the American
fleet, but the secretary did not share
this view, holding that the strength of
the Olympia and other ships in Dewey's
command was ample to make him mas
ter of Manila bay and its surround
ings.
The department is taking steps to
render effective aid to the commodore
in the matter of supplies, and a con-
structor of high ability is to go out at
once to repair the damages sustained
in the battle of Manila. Preparations
for suitable convoy for the supply
ships was also indicated by the choice
of commander and officers for the
cruiser Charleston, now at Mare is
land. 1t is recalled at the navy de-
partment, in this connection, that,
having received the surrender of Ma
Mia, the commodore would be able to
secure any quantity of labor and of
such material as a maritime city like
Manila affords for the repair of his
ships. He also would be able to place
his wounded in comfort in some of the
Manila hospitals or other public build.
ings. 1t is always desire of prudent
naval commander to get his wounded
ashore at the earliest possible oppor.
tunity, as they stand better chances
of recovery.
Although naturally anxious to hear
from Commodore Dewey, the presi-
dent and the members of the cabinet
are not at all alarmed at the non-ar-
rival of news from him. 1t is pointed
out that the cable office is about ten
miles or more distant from the city,
and that the connecting land line is
undoubtedly in the hands of the Span
ish. These, it is assumed, cannot be
dislodged by the commodore with the
landing force now at his disposal. The
commodore, it Is said, may have been
compelled to send slow vessel out, or
he may be waiting to send news of the
surrender of the islands In any
event, the contingencies are such that
no definite time can be fixed for the
arrival of the report.
The officials of the navy department,
from the secretary down, are thor
oughly indignant at the character of
the stories coming from San Francisco
as authentic accounts of the engage
ment of Commodore Dewey, at Manila.
One in particular excited indignation
that ascribing to Adm Kirkland, at
Mare island, the report of telegram
from Commodore Dewey describing the
terrible mortality on his own fleet re-
sulting from the battle of Manila.
Capt. Crowninshield, chief of the navi-
cation bureau. declared that il was
utterly impossible for news from the
fleet to come in any such fashion and
declared that such dispatches as that
were cruel and senseless and inflicted
great misery upon the wives. mothers
daughters and other relatives of the
brave sailors of the fleet, who are
anXiOusly waiting TO hear from them
FEAR THAT DEWEY Is BoTrIEp UP.
CHICAGO, May c.. "A dispatch to the
journal from Washington says the fear
that Dewey may be bottled up in Manila
harbor is gaining ground. 1t is recol-
lected that the entrance TO Manila bay
is through channel planted with
mines Dewey passed over these
silently in the night, and no oppor-
tunity was given the Spaniards TO fire
them. Now, ii he has not forced a
surrender of the city and gained con-
troll OF ,he switchboard used in firing
the submerged explosives, an attempt
to leave the harbor by any one of the
ships composing the Asiatic squadron
would be met with an attack from the
mines.
DEWEY ACTING AS GOVERNOR AT MANILA
BosroN, May 8. The following tele-
gram received by L. T. Viles, of Bos-
ton, friend in Singapore, was read at
the banquet of the Electric club last
night;
SINGAPORE MAY 5--Reliable information
received here cOrroOoratng news Of Dewey's
victory AT Manila, and he is now executing the
duties Of governor general there.
PREPARING TO LEAVE.