The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-04
Steamer Expected to Arrive at Hong
Kong To-Day with Details of the
Naval Engagement.
DEWEY TO BE MADE ADMIRAL
IN HONOR OF VICTORY OVER THE
ENEMY'S FLEET AND FORTS.
About 5000 Volunteers May BE Sent
to the Philippines to Hold Them
Until Spain Pays Indemnity.

WASHINGTON, May S.-The day passed
without single word from the American
fleet in the Philippines. and in view
of the long continued interruption in cable
communication, the officials are resigning
themselves to the belief that they must
await further officials news until boat
arrives at Hong Kong. This will not neces-
sarily be naval vessel for 1t is not be-
lieved that Commodore Dewey, who will be
cable, could have spared any of his ships,
even the McCulloch, to carry dispatches be-
fore the bombardment. In ordinary times
there is plenty OF communication by steam
ers, as we'll as by native vessels, between
the Philippines and the mainland, and the
officials will be rather surprised If some
news is not received by this means by to-
morrow. If Admiral Dewey wants troops
to hold what he may gain in the Philippines,
he will be sent as many as he. needs directly
from San Francisco, and 1t is very likely
that state volunteers will make up the quo
ia. The Cabinet talked about this to-day,
and is only waiting to hear what Commo-
dore Dewey wants.
The French embassy is the only foreign
establishment in washington which has re-
ceived official dispatches of the battle of
Manila. These came from the French am
bassador at Madrid, and were drawn from
Spanish reports. 1t was stated from Ber-
lin that the Foreign Office there had cabled
reports to all the German embassies, but the
German embassy here had not received
word on the subject up to a late hour to-
day. The British, French and German gov
ernments have consuls at Manila, but the
cable interruptions cuts them off from any
communication with their government. Who
has cut the cable is a source of much spec
ulation. a leading diplomatic said circum-
stances would indicate that the cutting had
been done by Spanish officials, on instruc-
tions from Madrid, in order to stop the
transmission Of further news of the disaster
there, and in that way calm the storm of
popular indignation at Madrid. 1t is thought
to have been impossible for Commodore
Dewey to have cut the cable, as he was un-
ward-and, moreover, there appears to have
been no motive for an interruption of cable
communication on his part. Repeated ru-
mors were afioat during the day to the ef-
g. ~. A. L.
vised of the fall of Manila just before the
cable communication broke. At o'clock
this evening Sir Julian declared that he had
absolutely no such information.
Secretary Long announced that as soon
as the department received an official re-
Port from Commodore Dewey confirming
the press accounts of his victory in the bat
tie of Manila, a cablegram would be sent
to the officer congratulating him upon the
splendid performance Of the American fleet
under his direction. Moreover, said the sec
retary, as soon as the necessary confirma-
tion is at hand, Commodore Dewey would
be made an admiral in recognition of his
valor This will be accomplished immedi-
ately by an executive order designating him
acting admiral, just as was done in the case
of Captain Sampson. Later on he probably
will be nominated to the Senate in the usual
course Of promotion to the rank of admiral.
None of the stories coming from Spanish
sources as to the battle of Manila appear
quite so ridiculous to naval eyes as the SOL
emn statement that Commodore Dewey
fired Manila and the Spanish ships by the
use of petroleum bombs. AS a matter of
fact there is no such weapon of warfare
in the American navy. nor would there be
any use for it. The ordinary service shell is
very much more destructive and quite as
capable af causing fire in combustibe ma
terial as any contrivance based upon the
use of petroleum. This is plainly shown by
the destruction of ships through fires
caused by service shells during the Japan
Chinese war. 1t was a disclosure of the
great danger to men-of-war thus brought
prominently forward that led Secretary
Herbert to reduce to a minimum all the
woodwork en- American war ships, and to
have all Of this wood fireproof One of the
very first results of the battle of Manila,
therefore is likely to be the cessation of
the effort which has been making for some
time past to abandon the fireproohng treat
ment of woodwork because of certain minor
inconvenience from the use of wood so
treated.
China issued her neutrality proclamation
to-day so there is now no place on the Ash
attic coast open to the free use of the war
vessels Of either Spain or the United States.
This is rather remarkable in that 1t marks
the first action of this kind on the part of
China, which has never before issued a
neutrality proclamation. and the naval off,
GERS are duly grateful for the consideration
shown by the Chinese government in with
holding the issue OF the decree until