The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-16
Dewey Cables That the Philip
pine Insurgents
Have Blockaded Manila on the
Land Side. s.
GUNBOAT CAPTURED
Spanish Vessel Attempts to
Reach Manila.
Inhabitants of Manila Eating
Horse Neat.

Washington, May 16-The navy de-
partment is in receipt of the following
cable from Admiral Dewey:
Cavite, May 13.-Hong Kong, May 16.
Maintaining strict blockade. Reason
to believe that the rebels are hemming
In the city by land, but have made no
demonstration. Scarcity of provisions
in Manila. Probable that the Spanish
governor will be obliged to surrender
soon. Can take Manila at any moment
Climate hot and moist. On May II cap
tured gunboat CalIao attempting to run
blockade. Have plenty coal One Brit
fsh, one French, two German, one ia
panese vessels here observing.
(Signed.) DEWEY.
Hong Kong, May 16.-The United
States dispatch boat Hugh McCulloch
has arrived here from Manila with dis
patches for the United States govern
gunboat Callao from the Caroline is
lands, recently entered the port Of Ma
Mia, being ignorant of the outbreak of
hOstilitieS between Spain and the Uni
ted States. An American warship fired
across her bows and signalled her a de-
mand for her surrender. The demand
being disregarded, the American ship
fired direct at the Spanish gunboat and
the latter surrendered.
The populace of Manila is reduced to
eating horse flesh and the prospect of
relief seems far distant.
The Hugh McCulloch also reports that
the Philippine insurgents applied to
Rear Admiral Dewey for his approval
of an attack by them upon the city. The
admiral, it appears, approved of the
plan, provided no excuses were COM
mitted. The insurgents then pleaded
that they had no arms with the ex-
ception of machetes, to which the admi-
raj replied:
Help yourselves at the Cavite arse
nal"
The city of Manila, however, has not
yet been attacked. About 5000 Spanish
troops are guarding the road leading
from Cavite to Manila.
There is no truth in the reported
massacre of a number of Americans
There has only been a trif1ing incident
during the police duty and nobody was
hurt.
Washington, May 16-The dispatch
es from Hong Kong brought welcome
news from Admiral Dewey to the presi-
dent and particularly to Secretary Long
and the naval officers who are watching
the admiraIs movements with so much
interest. While no apprehension exist
ed as to his security, nevertheless reas-
surance of safety is always pleasant
The kilograms indicate that Dewey has
lost none of the prestige gained in his
memorable fight of two weeks ago, and
that while he refrains from taking the
city of Manila, he has it practically at
his mercy.
The best evidence of the effectiveness
of the blockade maintained by the
American admiral and also Of the work
of the insurgents in surrounding the
city, is shown in the statement in the
dispatches that provisions are scarce in
the city of Manila, which seems to indi-
cate to Admiral Dewey an early surren-
der by the Spanish authorities.
The officials are making all possible
haste to rush troops to supplement Ad-
miral Dewey'S forces, so that IL the
Spanish governor does surrender, the
former will not be dependent upon the
small number of marines which he can
ally spare from the ships, but Will have
the assistance of soldiers in holding his
position and maintain order.
1t Is confidently hoped here that the
City of Pekin, chartered as transport
vessel, will be able to clear from San
Francisco in very short time, TO pc
followed in rapid succession by the 9TH
er three ships engaged for similar pur-
pose.
The Pekin can carry 1000, which, with
the marines aboard the Charleston, just
about to sail, will be of considerable as
sistance to the admiral, but far from
the number which he will need. The
total number of men to be sent will ag-
gregate probably 10000, as Major Cen
eral Wesley Merritt, who is to COM
mand the expedition, and who Is sub
seQuentIy to be made military govern
or, regards that as the least which can
maintain order in a city like Manila,
made up of many discordant elements.
Over ten regiments of infantry and
four batteries of artillery from the vol
unteers have been ordered to concen-
trate at San Francisco and from these
and the regulars now IN the extreme
west will be taken the men for the
Philippine expedition. 1t is expected
that practically all the volunteers will
go.
Secretary Long was at the navy de-
partment several times during yester-
day and in addition to the dispatch
from the admiral, he authorized the
publication of the statement that the
torpedo boat Terror, belonging to the
Spanish fleet, was disabled at Fort
France, Martinique. The dispatch is as
follows:
spanish torpedo boat Terror disabled
at Fort France, Martinique"
There was a disposition among some
of those who saw this statement to re-
gard it with suspicion, suggesting that
the report of disability was intended
simply as a blind and that the Spanish
government had caused it to be spread 4
so that no complaint could be made to
France on account of the stay Of the
boat at the neutral port. None of the
officials would express themselves on
the subject
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