The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-10

In about half an hour Secretary Long
appeared with a copy of the translat-
ed cipher in his hand. There was
great rush toward him, but tn secre-
tary good natLredly made allowance
for the excitement of the crowd and
smilingly read from the corner of the
room into which he had been forced,
the following cablegram:
Manila, May 1.-The squadron ar
rived at Manila at daybreak this
morning. Ut Immediately engaged the
enemy and destroyed the following
Spanish vessels: Rena Christina,
Castillo, Don Antonio de UllOa, 1sla
de Luzon, Isla de Cuba, General Lezo,
Marques de Duero, CorreO, Velasco,
Isla de Mindanao, a transport and the
water battery at Cavite. The squadron
is uninjured and only a few men are
slightly wounded. The only means of
telegraphing is to the American consul
at Hong Kong. l shall communicate
with him.
(Signed) DEWEY"
Before this a brief summary of the
cablegTam, as far as received, had
been given out by prominent officers,
in which it was stated that Dewey
cut the cable himself but was unable
to take possession of the town of Ma
Mia for lack of men; also that he had
ly at his mercy. 1t was noticed that
the cablegram, as officially promulgat-
ed, did not entirely agree with this
brief summary and the presumption
was that in the short time accorded
for consideration, the officials had con-
cluded that it was public policy to eX-
purgate the dispatch.
A second dispatch was received from
Commodore Dewey before noon. 1t
was as follows:
IN POSSESSION OF CAvITE
"Cavite, May Al have taken poses
sion of the naval station at Cavite,
Philippine islands and destroyed its
Notifications. l have destroyed the
fortified tions at the bays entrance,
parolling the garrison. I control the
bay completely and can take the city
at any time. The squadron is in excel
lent health and spirits. The Spanish
loss is not fully known, but is very
heavy. One hundred and fifty We're
killed including the captain of the
Reina Maria. l am assisting in pro-
tecting the Spanish sick and wounded.
Two hundred and fifty sick and wound
ed are in the hospital within our lines.
There is much excitement at Manila.
Will protect the foreign residents.
CSignedD DEWEY"
"a close study of Admiral DeWey's
two cablegrans during the day only
increased the wonder felt early in the
day by the naval experts at the extra
ordinary results achieved by the ad
miral without injury. The reports
that came before the cutting Of the
cable were of character to indicate
that Dewey was c-oing to make quick
and thorough wolk of the seizure of
Manila but it was feared that in the
fierce engagement against the spanish
fleet combined with the shore defenses
the American fleet must surely have
sustained a good deal of damage, loss
of life and other injuries. Yet in the
destruction of the entire Spanish fleet
and the silencing Of their forts, not an
American life was lost and not an
American ship was injured. There are
all sorts of theories among the officials
to account for this, but in the alb
sence of facts, it is hard to form rea-
sonable hypothesis. Probabl the true
explanation Will not be forthcoming
until mail advices are at hand, but the
Spanish naval prestige has received
a blow from the battle of Manila which
, it cannot recover in very many years.
WHY DEWEY CUT THE CABLE.
Admiral Dewey cut the cable him
self and, though he offers no explana-
zion for so doing, it is believed that his
Spanish governor general from COM
municating with his own government,
| but also to prevent the foreign cOnSulS
at Manila from interfering with his
plans by cabling protests to their gov
ernments. He made it impossible for
them to summon any war vessels to
enforce the protest they were expected
to make against the seige of Manila.
A closer examination of the two
cablegrams show that ia the news as
originally given out the names of
two Spanish vessels had been omitted
from the list Of those destroyed. They
were the Don Juan de Austria and the
Isla de LuZon. The Austria was a
1,130 ton vessel, IA knots, carrying ~
snch guns and also machine guns. The
ly armed. That makes eleven Span
ish ships destroyed by Dewey in the
short space of two hours
AS he left the navy department this
afternoon. Secretary Long said in an
, sweT to a question, that he had moth
ing further to communicate to the pub
lie: he had given already all of the
news that the McCulloch brought, save
. a tTifiing detail, not OF general inter-
est and of Importance to the depart
men 9'he receipt of advices at the
state department, however, from COM
mercial sources indicate that further
news may be coming by commercial
steamers.
If congress does not prematurely act,
as it did in the case of Worden when
he achieved his famous victory over
the Merrin-ac. Acting Admiral Dewey
will become an actual admiral in a
fey days. The law Of July 1S 1882.