The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-02
DULL DAY IN DEPARTMENTS.
NO WORD RECEIVED FROM MANILA
FROM OFFICIAL SOURCES.


ciaIS Skepticnl of Reliability of
Dispatches Owing to the Fact That
They Must Pass over Wires Con-
troIIed by the Spnninrds.
Washington. May 1.--No word from
Manila
This was the first answer given in all
Official quarters to-day to newsgatherers.
rejecting the immense Interest centering
in Commodore Deweys feet near the
Philippine Islands
Secretary Long arrived at the White
House shortly before II o'clock. He said
he had received no news of Importance
from any quarter up TO that time. There
was no significance in his CALL as he came
to take the President to church.
The Secretary felt that press dispatches
would bring news of any action in the
Philippines before the official dispatches
could arrive. As the President came from
the White House 10 take the carriage he
saluted the small party in waiting out
side. Throughout the morning no news
of importance was conveyed to the White
House.
The active centers at the state. war and
navy departments We're as busy as on
week days, despite the quiet Sunday calm
without, which filled the streets with
church-goers. Acting Secretary Moore
and Assistant Secretary Adee were to-
gether for some time at the state depart-
ment An official notification of neutral
ity had been received from Siam. This
was regarded as important, in that It
completed the neutral attitude of all East
ern Asia save China. No word came
from China, so that il is inferred her
ports are still open to the American fleet.
AT the navy department Assistant Sec
rotary Roosevelt and most of the bureau
officers were on hand to attend to matters
of pressing Importance.
Senator Davis, chairman OF the Senate
committee of foreign relations. called dur
ing the morning and had a talk with Mr..
Roosevelt.
The leading naval officials took the view
that no reliable information was likely to
be received as to operations In the Philip
pines for day or so, and possibly for a
week.
After talking with naval officers, sena-
tor Davis said he did not expect any au-
thentic information for week. The first
reports necessarily would come from
Spanish sources, as they controlled the
cables, and the senator had no doubt the
reports would be colored to show a Span
ish victory and a corresponding American
reverse. He thought the public should be
prepared for this.
The actual results, he believed would
not be made known until dispatch boat
returned to Hong Kong, which, being 600
miles from Manila, would defer authentic
information, perhaps until the latter part
of the week.
The navy department received official
confirmation of the arrival of tho battle
ship Oregon at Rio Janeiro. This was the
subject of general satisfaction for Il
means the very material strengthening Of
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet before Havana
within the next fortnight. The Oregon
base been making thirteen knots, or about
800 miles per day, and it Is calculated that
she will come the 5000 miles between Rio
and Cuba In 10 days. She must coal,
however, before starting northward and
this will take several days. Once with
the blockading fleet, Admiral SIMPSONS
first line will be made up of four superb
battleshlps Of practically the same
strength and equipment.
The new gunboat Topeka, just arrived
at New York, is ready for service with the
exception of her batteries These had
been prepared for her, but the guns were
turned over to the war department owing
A. are
able. however and the Topeka will be in
commission within q few days.
Capt Richardson Glover win take COM
mand of the gunboat Bancroft at Hamp-
ton Roads, where she will arrive to-mor-
row morning. The Bancroft then will go
to Cuba TO join Admiral SIMPSONS fleet.
Capt Mahan, the well-known naval aus
thor and strategist, is expected daily to
assume place on the strategy board The
strategy board was In session forNa time
to-day, but their discussions, as usual,
understood that the course Of the Spanish
fleet which left Cape Verde on
Friday is source of much inter-
est. II, as reported, the fleet is actually
coming this way 1t will be hailed with de-
light by naval authorities here. What they
have most feared was that the Spanish
ships wound hug the other side, compel
ling our fleets 10 go IN quest or them. 1T
they come to Porto Rico, II win meet the
best hopes of the naval authorities here.
Capt. Rodgers, who has been at the head
of the auxiliary board buying Ships IN
New York, called at the department TO-
day. There Is some talk that he will be
assigned to command one OF the Ameri-
can liners under charter, possibly the
Paris, which has just arrived after elud-
ing Spanish ships.
Secretary Ayers Office was open, but
the secretary did not come down The Of
hcials were busy stemming the tide OF
work which has accumulated during the
recent rush. Adjt Gen. Corbin was al
his desk. but he said there were no army
developments his purpose also being 10
get abreast of accumulated work.
The published report that the state de-
partment had notified the various en-
bassies and legations in Washington that
a land invasion Of Cuba would begin on
Wednesday next, is pronounced by diplo-
mats to be canard. No such notice has
been given.