The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-04-28

Spanish Philippine Fleet, it is Believed,
Will Remain In Port to Secure Protection
of Batteries of ManiIa-An Engagement
May Take Place in Harbor In Two Days
American Asiatic Squadron Stronger
Than the Spanish Asiatic cSquadron-The
Bombardment of Northern American
Cities Very Improbable.
Washington April 27.-The war sit
uation is substantially this. The block
aiding squadron remains passible be-
fore Havana with no present purpose
of bombarding or of drawing the fire of
the shore batteries. The startegic pur-
pose of effective blockade of the Cuban
capital is being accomplished to the en-
tire satisfaction of the authorities here.
There is no Indication that part of the
fleet will be withdrawn for the purpose
of affording additional protection to
North Atlantic ports.
CI IA baGLl6 IN faGIIlC.
AS to the report of the iminence of
a naval battle off the PHILIPPINES the
naval authorities here seriously doubt
whether the Spanish fleet will make q
stand against the American ships.
Their reason for this belief is that the
Spanish fleet is very inferior in num-
ber and quality to the American force
under Admiral Dewey. The depart
ment officials, therefore, are satisfied
that the Spanish fleet will not battle
on the high seas with AmiraI Dewey,
but Will remain in port to secure the
protection of the batteries of Manila,
and they are not expecting an engage
ment for about two days. Without Civ
| ing any explanation for setting this
time, the department allows it to be
surmised that the estimate is based
| on it's knowledge of AdmiraPs Dewey's
whereabouts. There is no certainty
that there will be an engagement at all
| in the immediate future, the main pur-
pose of the Americans being to seize
and hold some suitable Spanish ter
ritory in the PHILIPPINES as base of
| operations. 1t is possible that this can
| be done without attacking the fleet at
all, by seizing a suitable port on some
| adjacent island without fortification,
| the sympathies of whose inhabitants
| are towards the insurgents.
| The Montseratt.
| No word had come to the depart
ment up to the close of office hours of
| the arrival Of the Montseratt at Glen
| fugos The officials are inclined to
| believe that if she has got into that
! port she did SO before the blockade of
Cienfugos had begun.
| Bombardment of Northern Cities.
| The very fact that the Madrid Off
| cials have rather ostentatiously de-
| clared that the Spanish feet has sailed
| to lombard the cities on the north
American coast is taken as a certain
| indication at the navy department of
/ the utter improbability of such a
movement. If this We're contemplated
the Spanish officials would be the very
| last to make their purpose public. The
navy department as yet has made no
arrangements for the care of prisoners
| taken Dy our WdTSl1pS, DuL lnG legal
officers of the department think they
should be sent to the Boston naval
prison.
Coming Campaign In Cuba.
| In the war department there is a
! growing belief that the campaign prop
er in Cuba will not be in full swing
| before next fall, when the rainy season
has ended. That belief, however, has
not preventd the officers whose duty
it is to get the troops together from
pushing their work with the greatest
energy. Thus within twelve hours af-
ter the Hull bill became a law the de-
partment was able to begin to send out
circulars prescribing the methods to
be followed in recruiting the regular
army up to it's full war strength, 81 900
| men. The officials of the department
We're overwhelmed to-day with all sorts
of protests and appeals against their
action in making the assignments of
troops among the volunteer forces and