Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-24
SAILING TO THE EAST
Camara's Squadron Watched by
Our Agents.
BELIEVED TO Be NEARING GAMBIA
Dewey Able to Successfully Re-
sist.
CONDITIONS AT ANILA

CONDITIONS AT MANILA
LONDON, June pa dispatch to Lloyds
fre m Algiers confirms the report that Ad-
miral Camara's fleet passed the Island of
Pantellaria (not Pampelleria), going east
ward, On Wednesday, June %.
Report From an American Agent.
That the Spanish Cadiz fleet is proceeding
steadily eastward is no longer doubted here
Trusted agents of the government on the
shores of the Mediterranean are watching
every movement of the ships and availiny
themselves of every reliable source of in
formation. So, when word came from one
of these agents today that the squadron
was sighted off Pantellaria day before yes
terday, the officials were bound to accept
the statement as beyond question.
The first report to that effect, which
came through an Italian newspaper, was
taken with some reservation owing to the
known efforts of the Spanish government
TO mislead our naval authorities by just
such publications in friendly neutral news
papers. By the reckoning of the naval Off
GERS the squadron should be now nearing
Gambia, south Of Greece. At the rate they
are progressing, the squadron would reacn
Port Said, at the entrance Of the Suez
canal, about Monday or Tuesday. Beyond
this point 1t is not believed that the squad
ron will go, for it is confidently felt that
the whole Spanish movement is nothing
more than a spectacular display arranged
to meet the irresistible demand of the
Spanish populace, and particularly the
clerical party, that something should be
done to save the Philippines to Spain There
is question whether the canal authorities
will allow the heavy Spanish armored ships
to risk the passage of the canal, even if
Admiral Camara is willing to undertake it.
Their draft of water is so great that they
might easily ground in the canal and thus
obstruct it to navigation Indefinitely.
Dewey's Ability to Resist.
But even if all these expectations are not
well founded, the naval officers are conf
dent Of Dewey's ability to successfully re-
sist an attack by the Spanish squadron.
According to their calc Ilations, the spien-
did double-turreted monitor Monterey is
very near to Manila, under convoy of the
BrutUs, and her arrival may be expected
within two or three days. When she swings
into line with Dewey's squadron there is
not an ironclad In Camara's force that
would care to stand before her. Then 1t
must be remembered that long before the
CaCiz squadron could possibly reach Manila
bay General Merritt's troops will be, in
conjunction with the insurgents, in posses-
sion of all the forts surrounding the
harb bor and the Spanish guns, being man.
ned by American artillerymen, will be ex-
pected to give better account of them
selves than they did when Dewey attacked
them.
Dewey Supreme at Manila.
1t is said at the Navy Department that
Admiral Dewey is the supreme authority
at Manila. If troops, marines or sailors
are landed at that place from any neutral
men-of-war it will be with his permis-
sion. 1t is not questioned here that a ma
ton may properly seek such permission
when it is deemed essential to protect it's
co-citizens, its consulate and it's interests.
But it is usual in such cases for the neutral
commander to seek the permission of the
investing admiral, If it is possible to prefer
the request. However any landing is made
it will be distinctly regarded as merely
temporary and as having no bearing upon
the political aspect of the case. In other
words, no such landing could by any pos
sibility be properly construed into the ac-
quirement Of right to remain in possess
and our government does not for a moment
contemplate that any of the European pow
ers would attempt to set up any such claim,
for it would surely be resisted to the full
extent of our military and naval power
No Overturcs by Germany.
1t can be authoritatively stated that per-
mission to land marines or troops at Ma
Mia has not been sought by the German
ambassador here of the State Department
nor has it been granted. In fact, no over
lures on this subject have been exchanged
in Washington or Berlin.
Since the arrival of Admiral Diedrich
with German warships at Manila no in
structions whatever relating to the Manila
situation have been sent from the German
foreign office to the German ambassador at
Washington, nor indeed has the subject
assumed phase where instructions of any
kind have passed during the last three
weeks. This dispOses of various reports.
based on the fact that DR.. Won Holleben.
the German ambassador. called on the Sec
retary of State yesterday, that being the
regular diplomatic day, and in particular
1t shows that no basis exists for the story
that DIR. Won Holleben requested and Sc
cured permission for the landing Of Ger
man marines at Manila to protect the Ger
ma N consulate