New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-05

rnr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

fnr TELEGRAPH TO TRlBUNE.l
washington. May 4.-Dispatches received to-
T.. from unofficial sources in Hong Kong an
..orncing the arrival of the converted revenue
arter McCulloch at Mrs Bay forty miles dis
CON, encouraged the President and his advisers
a. s,nect some news from Commodore Dewey
hsfore nightfall. But no report had been re-
,red from the American commander up TO
,o,o hour tonight. nor had Mr. Wildman. the
,.n,ted States Consul General in Hong Kong
confirmed the earlier press bulletin proclaimng
tho sighting Of the McCulloch in neighborng
Chinese waters. AS Hong Kong is closed
AGAINST American warships by Great Britain
declaration OF neutrality, unless such ships are
seeking a harbor In distress. the McCulloch
would probably have to depend for the delivery
of her dispatches on the services Of some neu-
troll craft and access to the cable might thus
lie delayed for many hours. AS any dispatch
sent by Commodore Dewey would also have
10 be relayed five or six times in transmission,
IFS receipt here would naturally he somewhat
slow and uncertain 1t is believed. however,
that official information Of some sort from the
scene Of operations off Manila Will arrive mere
by tomorrow morning without fall.
Meanwhile preparations are being pushed for
II
Philippines from San Francisco. The 14th In
fantry Regiment. now stationed at various
points on the Pacific Coast, has been ordered TO
concentrate at the Preside Barro cks, TO form
the nucleus OF m army Of occupation. Nolun-
teers from the slope and Rocky Mountain States
are 10 be added to swell the total of the en-
barking forces to perhaps 5000 men. Several
large steamers have been chartered Us trans
ports, and the cruiser Charleston is expected to
GO into commission tomorrow. 10 be ready 10
act as convoy TO the expedition. IL is not
probable that all the troops destined for the
Philippines will be sent on the first transport
feet 1t Will take some time 10 collect ana
organize the Western volunteers. and most of
the State commands are likely to be sent on a
later expedition. for which the cruiser Phila
delphia will act as convoy.
HAwAIrs OFFER OF HELP.
The report from San Francisco that the Ha
waiian Government has instructed us repre-
sentative In Washington 10 offer the unliet
States the use Of the islands as basis or oper
atons In the Pacific during the war with SPAN
1s accented here as trustworthy, though no off
cial confirmation has yet been had. HawaiTs
offer Is practically declaration Of hostllites
against Spain and would subject the Republic
TO reprisals If Spain were incondition 10 send
her men-of-war into Pacific waters. The Pres
!dent may not be able to accept the assistance
volunteered by the Dole Government without
the sanction Of Congress. but liberal drat
might be made on the coal. provisions and mu
nitions OF war available at Honolulu. The &C
ton Of Hawaii will doubtless 90 far toward
strengthening the sentiment in this country IA
vorable TO annexation The strategic advan
tages guaranteed by American control OF The
islands are TOO apparent 10 be ignored and i
Is hoped that their practical enjoyment in time
Of war may prove an object-lesson powerful
enough TO crush the narrow and academic oppo
eit!on 10 annexation which has asserted itself
for the last year or more in the upper branci
Of Congress