The Opelousas courier., 1898-05-14
Washington, ID. e., News.
From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, DC, May 8, 1898.

"ASi oCCAScaAJ "VAo A>SSA'S" ~oAa
modore Dewey's official report OF
his remarkable victory in Manila
harbor, resulting in the destruction
of eleven Spanish ships, the demo.
lition of heavy shore batteries, and
the placing Of the PHILIPPINE Islands
under the Stars and Stripes, to pro
pose three cheers for Dewey! They
were given with a will by the crowd
gathered in the Navy Department,
including many newspaper men
and Senator Tillman. But even
more astonishing than Commodore
Dewey's report that his victory was
won without the loss Of a man, or
the injury of a ship, and with only
six wounded, was what followed.
Senators Tillman and Hanna, two
men as widely different in every
thing as could possibly be brought
together, locked arms and walked
over to the White House to talk
over the glorious and extraordinary
victory with Mr.. Mckinley. After
seeing that the most of us are pre-
pared tor any sort of miracle.
Secretary Long, in name of the
President, cabled Commodore Dew
ey his promotionto Acting Admiral,
and the thanks of the people, and
Congress has passed the resolution
reported from the House naval com
mittee rendering him the thanks of
Congress; also Il bill creating an
additional Rear Admiral in the ma
Wy, in order that the position can
be given to Dewey.
Orders have been issued for the
forwarding Of ten thousand troops
from San Francisco to the Philip
pine Islands at the earliest posi-
BILE moment, and present expecta-
tons are that they can be started
by the 18th inst. The area is ten
per cent greater than that of New
England, New York, New Jersey,
Maryland, and Delaware combined,
and their estimated population is
about 10000, 600. The fact is not
generally known, either, that more
than half Of the commerce of the
islands is with the United States.
The next important var news is
expected to come from the vicinity
Of Cuba-it may come any hour.
1t is easier to get a commission in
the volunteer army than it is to get
a direct hint from officials Of either
the War or the Navy Department,
but they cannot disguise their ex-
pectancy. News is expected from
admiral Simpsons fleet, which is
believed to be in the vicinity of
Porto Rico, and to be charged with
the double task of whipping the
Spanish fleet, if it can be located,
and of capturing Porto Rico. The
first section Of the army Of invasion
is known to be ready for embarka-
ton and only awaiting the com
mand to start for Cuba.
Camping grounds for twenty-five
or thirty thousand men have been
selected in Virginia, several miles
from Washington, and this week
that portion OF the volunteer army
which is to be modified in the vi
entity of the National Capital will
begin to arrive.
MI. Mckinley stood up we'll un-
der the social and political infuen-
ces brought to bear upon him in IA
vor of a thousand and one incompe-
tants who sought to wear the uni
form of general in the volunteer
army, and shut them all out by Sc
lecting real military men for those
positions, all from the regular army
except four of the major generals
Fitz Lee, of Va, Joe Wheeler, of
Ala, Senator Sewell, OF New Jers-
ey, and JAS. Ell. Wilson, of Del, all
of whom were generals in the late
war and three of whom are gradu-
ates of West Point. But, unless
the reports that such men as young
John A. Logan, known only as a
loud dresser and horsey social swell
and Russell A. Harrison, known to
the toadies when his father was
President as "Prince Russ" who
has made failure after failure in the
business Of the world, are to be
commissioned as colonies and given
staff positions, are untrue, he is go
ing to fall down in making the staff
appointments. Good staff officers
are considered as necessary to the
success of an army by military men
as good generals.
Secretary Gage was the. man who
was credited last year with saying
that no changes should be made in
his department solely because of
politics. There have been numer-
GUS changes on account Of politics
his department, but Mr.. Gage
has always been able to escape re-
sponsibility by saying that he ap-
proved the changes because they
we're recommended by his subordin-
ates as being "for the good Of the
service.D Now, he has shown the
foot by making a change for
politics himself, in forcing the res
ignation Of W. q. Ford, chief Of the
Bureau of Statistics, and giving the
place to 0. P. Austin. an attache of
Republican National Commit
zee, who had been thrown out of a
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