The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-07
THE WAR SITUATION

Washington, May 6,--Attor another day
OF waiting In the navy and state depart
mentS the doors were agon closed In
the evening without word from Com
modore Dewey or any other reliable source
as to what happened at Manila after the
cable broke.
During the course OF tho day there wore
rumors that the cable communication had
been restored, but these were soon fbttt,
to be baseless aud the excitement sub,
sided. One comfort the officials take in the
situation although 1t IL OF negative char
acIcr. Is that the lack of communication
is probable evidence that the Spaniards
al least are not in control of Manila
else they would speedily communicate this
fact to the rest OF the world through the
cable. II the delay means anything II Is
nothing more serious than that Com
modore Dewey has been delayed In carrying
out fully his plans for the occupation OF
Manila In other words II may not have
been possible for the commodore, within
the short space OF two days. TO effect the
destruction Of the Spanish fleet, the sIlcnc-
ing OF the forts At Cayitc, the seizure OF
corrigador island the capture OF Manila
and finally The restoration OF commun-
cation by cable. II he has been delayed be-
yond Tuesday or Wednesday In carrying
out this extensive programme it Is not
ut all surprising that he has not been
heard from through a dispatch boat
The state department Is in close touch
with Consul Wildman, at Hong Kong.
who is expected to supply the earliest
possible news from the Philippines.
The only message received from the
consul today was one Informing the de-
partmcnt that ffy-four families OF the
refugees in the Philippines had petitioned
for an admission to citizenship OF the
United states
II is barely possible tina, the first news
10 come may be through the British
sources. inasmuch as all British cable
subyen,ions contain n clause giving the
British government The precedence in the
use Of the cable in any gency.
Respecting Admiral SIMPSONS move
ment's, the department is stil mute. al
though II is apparent that interesting news
Is expected on that subject within the next
three days. Therefore IL is quite certain
that the rumor originating In London to
the effect that Sampson has undertaken a
campaign in the Canaries is dismissed
without attracting attention al the hands
Of the officials since Il viii be manifestly
impossible for the admiral 10 arrive at
the Canares within as short space of time
as indicated. Again the monitors in bis
fleet could not carry coal enough TO make
| the passage.
| Moreover the naval strategic board 10
not sending out notifications Of con-
| tempIated movements, Since the United
States has been conducting war II had
the right, an officer said, to chose It's
| own points OF attack without keeping other
governments advised OF It's purpose.
| The London report that the continental
| powers were seeking to have England Join
| them in Intervention lacks confirmation.
The state department has received no sug-
gestlon Of such Intervention and does not
+. believe Il is contemplated The foreign
representatives here including those OF
England. France Germany and Russia,
meet the reports with specific denial, aud
I declare that intervention is not being dis-
cnssed In any way now. These officia's
have been perfectly conversant with all
moves toward intervention and they doubt