The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-29
COMING NAVAL BATTLE.
All Eyes Now Turning 10 the Phillip.
pine Islands.

WASHINGTON, April 21.-Interest at
the Navy Department in the progress Of
lostllties centers In the combat I'm the
Philippines. With Admiral Sampson
maintaining n blockade Of Cuban ports
without firing a gun against the Spanish
defences, and the Spaish fleet still at ST.
Vincent all eyes are turned 10 the far
East ana Commodore George Dewey is
considered as the man who viii have
the honor of making the first offensive
movement against the enemy's forces.
Commodore Dewey knows ships as he
knows men. He was president OF the
Naval Construction Board up 10 the
time he was sent TO take command OF
the Asiatie squadron, and as such con-
Quoted the trials of a number OF Ameri-
can vessels. An the United States
ships which We're turned over TO the
government on the Atlantic coast by the
contractors during Commodore Dewey g
presidency Of the Inspection, Board had
their deep sea or final trials under his
supervision. He saw their batteries and
their engines tested and naturally became
familiar with all the workings OF the
fine battleships ana other war vessels
put into commission within the period OF
greatest activity I'm naval construction.
With a naval force inferior 20 his own 10
contend with. Commodore Dewey Will
have 10 difficulty according 10 officers
on duty here. in defeating the Spanish
cruisers and gunboats IN Philippine
waters 10 may be 10 easy victory,
however but not the slightest doubt Il
felt that the United states squadron VIII
accomplish its object.
one or the highest officers OF the gov
eminent, who has authority TO speak ana
thorough Knowledge OF the plan arrang-
cd for Commodore D6wey's squadron,
said to-day that the Navy Department
did not expect 20 hear of the result OF
the movement against the Philippines be-
fore Saturday. II VIII take the Ameri-
can ships between two and three days
to move from Mrs Bay. near Hong
Kong. whence they are reported TO have
left to-day, TO Manila. Evidently an inn
mediate engagement Is anticipated. for
the naval authorities show a keen inter-
est IN all news about Commodore Dew
cy's formation OF ships. and intimate
that something more interesting than =
peaceful blockade has been intrusted 90
that officer There was much satisfaction
felt az the Navy Department over the
news contained ia press dispatches from
Madrid that the Spanish squadron IN tho
Philippines had started out 10 meet the
American vessels. There are about twice
as many Spanish cruisers and gunb0ats
ships. and elsewhere I'm the far east
Spain has numerous array of lighting
craft At Manila there are four cruisers
and five gunboats and at other points In
the Philippines she has six other gun
boats Commodore Dewey has four crul-
sers and three gunboats, including the
revenue cutter McCulOch. All the vessels
in the Philippines will probably make =
junction off Manila. II resistance ts in
tended. so that Commodore DeWeys
seven ships will have fifteen OF the enc
my 70 contend against. But the Ameri-
can vessels are far superior to the Span
ish force. Nearly all are new, while
those OF Spain are not very formidable.
The squadrons will lineup IN this way
Spain-Cruiser Reina Crlstina "a sister
OF the Alfonso XII. now az HaVana),
built IN 1887 iron. $3.50 tons. II 10 10
knots, according to draught, and a main
battery Of six 6.2-inch rifles; cruiser cas-
tilla. built in 1851. wood. 3,3i3 tons, IL
knots, and four 5.9-inch Krupps and two
47-inch krupps in her main battery;
cruiser Velasco, built in 1851. iron. LIS
tons. and three 6-inch Armstrong; in her
main battery. cruiser Don Juan de Aus
tria, finished I'm 1857. iron. 1.l52 tons, l3
TO IA knots. and four 4.7-inch rifles in her
main battery; gunboats Paragua, Callao.
Sanar. Pampagna, and Arayat built in
the eighties Steel. l37 tons, 10 knots, and
each mounting two quick-tire guns, cali
bre unknown: gunboats Mariyeles and
Mindoro. built In lSs6 and 1855, iron. li2
tons..l0 knots. each mounting one 2.7-inch
ride aud four machine guns; gunboat
Manileno. built in 1851. wood. 142 tons.
knots. and mounting three 3.5-lnch rifles;
gunboats Fl Cano add Gen. LEO. built in
1885. iron. 52S tons, 10 10 nearly II knots.
and each mounting three 4.7-inch rifles;
gunboat Marquis Del Duero. built In 1915.
iron, 500 tons 10 knots. and mounting one
6.2-inch and two 41-idch rifles.
United States-Cruiser Olympia, built In
1892 steel. $500 tons. 2l6 knots. protected
by a steel deck TO At inches in thick
ness, finch armor on barbettes and bands.
3 inches on two coming towers, 5-inch
gun shields, and oellulose belt. in ad-
dition TO coal protection; four s-inch
breach and ten 5-inch auiek-fira riA-~ in