Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-08-18

my. In the South much qualification
was felt at the appointment Of e1-COn-
federates to important commands.
DEwEY'Y VICTORY.
The first naval action of Importance
was the attack made May l by Com
modore Dewey in the bay Of Manila,
in the Philippine Islands, on the Span
ish feet assembled there. The Span
ish vessels were inferior and were all
destroyed, without inAicting any loss
upon the Americans. Aguinaldo,
Philippine rebel, was taken by US from
Hong Kong to Cavite, a town near
Manila, and provided with military
supplies, for cooperation with US
against the Spanish. So well did he
use his new resources that the Spanish
were beaten by the rebels at many
points, and were finally cooped up by
them in Manila. Meanwhile Dewey,
being without troops, was unable to
operate ashore. Manila was at his
mercy, but he had to wait till General
Merritt, with his troops, was sent
across the Pacific from San Francisco
to his assistance. Aguinaldo improved
the interval to press the siege Of Ma
Mia and proclaim republic, with
himselfat its head. The United States
had destroyed SPANS fleet, he con-
fessed, but his Filipinos had expelled
SPANS army from the provinces, cap
tured most of it and penned the feeble
remnant in the capital To the
American assumption that the Philip
pines were to be American, he opposed
the claim that they had won their IN
dependence and would retain it. The
capture of Manila by the rebels would
mean the butchery Of the Spanish gari-
son. For this reason and for obvious
political reasons Dewey discouraged
an assault by the PHILIPPINES on the
city, expecting to take it himself ulti-
mately and protect it with the Amer
lean troops when they arrived. The
situation became strained, and there
is prospect that the Americans will
after time find it necessary TO fight
their cantankerous allies.
In an engagement Of minor vessels
in Cuban waters on May II Ensign
Bagley, of the Winslow, and four 9th
ers were killed.
HAVANA AND CERvERA.
The apparent plan of campaign Of
the Washington government was to
take Havana as the readiest way Of
securing the object of the war. Many
troops and ships were assembled at
Tampa and Key West, whence they
could be speedily transported to some
point on the Cuban coast near Havana.
Various places along the coast were
reconnoitered and some were bonn
barbed. Such preparations, If gen
uine, were rested, and the whole
plan of campaign was changed on May
Is by the announcement that Admiral
Cervera's feet Of four formidable war
ships and two torpedo-boat destroyers
had arrived off Martinique, in the
West Indies. 1t was later seen oil
Curacao, near Venezuela. On May
10 the Spanish fleet entered the har-
Dor of Santiago, on the southern coast
of Cuba. Its presence there was def
nitely ascertained by Commodore
Schley. As it was impossible to trans
port troops for the capture of Havana
while Cervera' s feet was in striking
distance, it became the chief object Of
the army and navy to capture or de-
stroy this fleet.
HoBsoN's FEAT.
On May 81 there was lombard
IN ent of the Spanish forts at the mar
row entrance to the harbor of Santa
90, but without result other than to
locate the enemy's batteries. On
June 3 Naval Constructor R. ?. Hob
son won much distinction by under
taking to sink the collier Merrimac in
the narrow channel to prevent the
escape of Cerveras feet. The kind
treatment accorded the daring South
erner bv Ceryera when captured