The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-08

LEO. MARQUES DE DUERO, COR
OK, ISLA DE CUBA, GENERAL
REQ, VELLASCO, ISLA DE MIND
ANAO. A TRANSPORT. AND WAT
Err BATTERY AT CAVITE THE
SQUADRON Is UNINJURED, AND
ONLY A FEW MEN ARE SLIGHT
LY WOUNDED. ONLY MEANS
OF TELEGRAPHING IS TO AMERI-
CAN CONSUL AT HONG KONG. |
SHALL COMMUNICATE WITH
HIM.
CSIGNED.) DEWEY"
Before this brief summary of the ca
hlegram, as far as received, had been
given out another statement was made
by prominent officer, in which it was
stated that Dewey cut the cable him
self. but was unable to take possession
of the town of Manila for lack of men:
also that he had the bay and everything
else completely at his mercy.
1t was Immediately noticed that the
cablegram as officially promulgated, did
not entirely agree with this brief sum
mary, and the presumption was that in
the short time accorded for consideration.
the officials had concluded that it was
public policy TO eXpurgate the dispatch.
A second dispatch was received from
Commodore Dewey before noon. 1t was
as follows:
"CAVITE, MAY Al HAVE
TAKEN POSSESSION OF THE Ma
VAL STATION AT CAVITE, PHIL
IPpINE ISLANDS, AND DESTROY
ED IT'S FORTIETCATIONS. HAVE
DIES A.DYED NOTIFICATIONS
AT BAY ENTRANCE. PAROLLING
THE GARRISON. CONTROL
THE BAY COMPLETELY, AND
CAN TAKE THE CITY AT ANY
TIME. SQUADRON IN EXCEL
LENT HEALTH AND SPIRIT.
THE SPANISH LOSS NOT FULLY
KNOWN, BUT VERY HEAVY, $50
KILLED, INCLUDING CAPTAIN
OF REINA CHRISTINA l AM AS
SISTING IN PROTECTING THE
SPANISH SICK AND WOUNDED.
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY SICK
AND WOUNDED IN THE HOSPI-
TAI WITHIN OUR LINES. MUCH
EXCITEMENT AT MANILA. WILL
PROTECT FOREIGN RESIDENTS.
(SIGNED.) DEWEY"
A close study of Admiral Dewey's two
cablegrams during the day, only in
creased the wonder felt early in the day
by the naval experts at the eXtraOrdin-
AIRY results achieved by the admiral with
out injury. The reports that came be-
fore the cutting of the cable were of Il
character to indicate that Dewey was
going to make quick and thorough work
of the seizure Of Manila, but it was
feared that in so fierce an engagement
against a Spanish fleet combined with
the shore defenses, the American fleet
must surely have sustained Il good deal
of damage loss of life and other injuries.
Yet in the destruction of the entire Span
ish fleet, and the silencing of their forts,
not an American life was lost, and not
an American ship was injured
There are all sorts of theories among
the officials TO account for this, but in
the absence of facts it is hard to form
"A reasonable hypothesis.
Probably the true explanation will not
he forthcoming until mail adVices are
at hand but the Spanish naval pres
tige has received blow from the bat
tic of Manila from which it cannot re-
cover in very many years. AdmlraI
Dewey cut the cable himself and though
he offers no explanation for so dong, it
is believed that his purpose was nols only
to prevent the Spanish Governor Gener-
al from communicating with his own
government but also TO prevent the foi
eign consuls at Manila from interfering
with his plans by cabling protests to
their governments. He made it impOss-
bic for them to summon any war vessels
to enforce the protest they were expected
to make against the siege of Manila.
A closer examination of the two ca
Diagrams show that in the news as