The record-union., 1898-05-03
Talk Of Sending Troops to Retain
Possession Of the Islands
Until 1t Has Been Determined as to What
Disposition Shall Be Made of
Them When the War
Is Ended.

ious fact that the nation most interest
ed of all the great powers in the combat
that took place at Manila yesterday
should be among the last officially to
know of the result. Up to the close of
office hours to-day absolutely all the
information that our Government had
received of the brilliant victory of
Commodore Dewey and the winning Of
the battle of Manila on May Day came
to the Government through the medium
of the press dispatches.
If the report is true that Commodore
Dewey has begun a bombardment and
blockade of the city of Manila, it is un-
likely that he can spare a vessel from
his fleet to carry the news TO Hongkong,
the nearest cable station so it is not
Known when official advices will come.
There was some expectation that
through the surrender of the city the
Commodore might acquire control of
the cable. but even then there might
be practical difficulties in communicat-
ing through it. The officers of Com
modore Dewey's corps includes at 1>est
one Lieutenant who is a good practic-
able electrician and telegrapher, but it
is not known positively that he is able
to work the cable successfully
Second. fear is entertained that be-
fore retiring from the city the Spanish
troops Will smash the delicate and COM
plicated electrical apparatus for the re-
ception and dispatch of messages, and
it is very uncertain whether there is
enough technical skill in the American
fleet to repair such damage without aid
from the mainland. The mere cutting
of the cable. as reported by the Span
iards is not regarded as particularly
serious, since, being hemmed in port
by the American blockading fleet, the
Sraniards would not be able to make
the cut far off from shore, so that the
cable could be easily grappled and re-
paired
ANXIETY AS TO CASUALTIES.
The greatest anxiety is felt as to the
casualties sustained by the American
fleet. From the stubborn defense made
by the Spaniards, it was feared that
before they burnt, blew up or sunk
their ships, they managed to infict Sc
sere damage upon Commodore Dewey's
squadron.
All Of the ships engaged were vulner-
able in one respect-namely, in their
lack of protection to life. There was
not an armored ship in Commodore
Dewey's fleet, the nearest approach be-
ing the flagship Olympia. She had some
coal protection around the sides and
an arched steel deck calculated to pro-
tect the vitals of the ship. The other
vessels Of the fleet, save those recently
added to the navy. like the McCulloch,
have lighter steel decks of this charac-
ter but in all cases, with the eXcep-
tion of some light protection in the
shape of sun shields, the personnel of
the ships was exposed to the fire of the
enemy
If Commodore Dewey has lost a con-
siderable portion of his men it is feared
he will be much embarrassed in the
work of maintaining possession of Ma
Mia for lack of sufficient forces. United
States naval vessels are always under
manned. according TO European stand
ards. and it will not be possible, hav-
ing regard to the safety of the ships,
to spare any considerable number of
men to keep the city. especially if the
engagement has disabled many Of them
TALK OF SENDING TROOPS TO
MANILA
There was some talk this afternoon
of sending out troops from san Fran
cisco to aid in this work but this has
not yet taken shape, so far as can be
learned, and it is likely that the de-
partment viii wait to hear from Com
modore Dewey himself before taking
any action. 1t may. and in fact it is
expected, that by combination with the
insurgents. he will succeed in having
his men relieved of the task OF garri-
soning Manila
FUTURE OF TIE ISLANDS.
As to the future Of the islands. it is
likely that the Government viii retain
possession Of at least one good port,
such as Manila, for a coaiing station
and base of supplies during the re-
mainder of the war. There was un-
derstood to be considerable force in the