The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-07
MESSAGE FRoM pEwrY.
Tells Sec'y Long the Insurgents Have
Captured over 1,SOO spaniards.

AeAis Sec'y Long the insurgents Have
Captured over 1,SOO Spaniards.
WASHINGTON, June 6.--After a lot OF
conflicting rumors Of naval engagements,
the landing of troops and such matters at
the Navy Department there came towards
| the close of the day one important bit OF
| news embodied in a report from Admiral
! Dewey of important successes achieved by
the insurgents at Manila. At o'clock Sec
retary Long posted the following bulletin:
Admiral Dewey reports that the i'm
surgents have been actively engaged within
the province of Cavite during the past week.
They have won several victories, taken
prisoners about 1900 men and fifty officers
of the Spanish troops not native. The
arsenal of Cavite has been prepared for
occupation by the United States troops on
the arrival of Transports
The officials have been more anxious than
they cared to betray as to Admiral Deweys
condition. They were not seriously appre-
hensive of personal danger to the fleet bur
an impression was gaining ground that the
admiral had not maintained the same
measures of success in his operations in
Manila bay that rewarded his first effort.
Now the report received goes to show that
his plans are working out admirably that
he has succeeded in placing upon the in-
surgents the burden of conducting military
operations against the Spaniards while he
himself is lying in enforced idleness await
ing the arrival of troops, and that he has
succeeded in preventing the corruption OF
ha bU ha mia rdc
which appeared at one time to be threat
ening.
There is some speculation here by anxious
minds as to how the insurgents will treat
| the prisoners they have taken, who are
more numerous, 1t is said, that all the cap
lures made by the Cuban insurgents since
their war begun. 1t was reported by cable
soon after ne had secured the cooperation
of the insurgent chief, Aguinaldo, that Ad-
miral Dewey would see to it that the in
surgents observed the rules of civilized war
fare. This caution was made necessary BY
the terrible tales that had been circulated
of the barbarous treatment OF prisoners
captured by the insurgents 1t is sincerely
hoped that Aguinaldo will see to 1t that
this agreement is observed in the case or
the 1900 prisoners he now holds, for it Is
believed in official circles that the nations
of the civilized world will hold the United
States morally responsible for any great
excesses that may be committed in the
Philippines a result of our action there.
The Navy Department officials declare that
Dewey is not responsible for the safe keep
ing and maintenance of these prisoners,
which is most fortunate, considering the
limited resources of the admiral in the mat
ter of provisions
The Navy Department gave orders to-day
that the double turreted monitor Monad-
mock. now at Mare island. Cal. should be
made ready TO sail for Manila within ten
days. and the necessary orders were hur-
riedly telegraphed. The Monterey will not
wait for the company of the Monadnnck,
but should be off in the course of a few
hours under the convoy of the Bru.us The
Navy Department will Immediately procure
another merchant ship to accompany the
Monadnock on her x-thousand-mles voy-
age. The Monadnock is a most powerful
double-turreted monitor. With twin screws
and three thousand horsepower engines. she
is easily able to make 1919 knots an hour
Built on the general lines of the Amphitrite,
she has better engines and more power than
that monitor. She carries four ten-inch guns
in two turrets. besides two four-inch rapid
fire guns in a casemate. and numerous
secondary battery. Her coal capacity is ESQ
tons in bunkers. and almost much more
stowage room can be found on the decks.
Consequently the Monadnock has thetahiiity
to make longer cruise than the Monterey
WITHOUT replenishing her coal supply. yet
her capacity is still too small TO permit her
to make the passage from Honolulu TO the
Philippines unaided.
With these two monitors Aemlral Dewey
will be fully able TO take care OF himself.