The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-13
FIRST FATALITY /

y
In the wnr Has n Soldering Eree:o on Tho,o
Crying for Immediate Actlon-Aiistaise
q. .wrdn-s,lar "a Engagement.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 12.-The
setback received by the American
blockadlng squadron In the engage
ment In Cardenas harbor yesterday,
and the loss OF. five lives on board the
torpedo boat lWInslow had sobering
effect on the element In the navy which
Is crying out for rapid action and ef-
forts at destroying batteries with un-
armored ships.
There probably will be some sort OF
Inquiry Instituted to ascertain the re-
spcrsibil!ty sofssending such unprotect-.
ed shells as the winslow against fortl-|
fed ports. II is miraculous in the opin-
Ion OF the older officers at the depart
ment that the damage and loss OF life
were confined to the Winslow. for the
other boats with her were very little
better of in the matter Of protection
and scarcely an. of them could resist
the fire of a, small rifle. It is likely that
Il such work as was attempted at Car
denas is to be done hereafter the task
will be assign ID to more formidable
craft. IS ~
Notwithstanding the multitude OF ru-
nors that came from all parts OF the
West indies as to the bombardment OF
San Juan de Porto Rico and other. san
culinary engagements between Samp-
sons battleships and the Spanish
forces, the navy department was In Of
fetal Ignorance OF any such event. At
the close OF office hours 1t was said that.
nothing had been heard from Admiral
Sampson. Secretary Long remained at
his desk until SIS, and on leaving. sen:
word that he had nothing further to
make public The strain OF the day had
been severe on the secretary and he
went home well nigh exhausted. 81.
Communica,ion DinicnIt.
1t Is believed that there will be diff
Guilty in Admiral Sampson communicat-
Ing with the department by cable from
ST. Thomas, and there are also sugses-
tons that the newspaper dispatch boats
accompanying SIMPSONS fleet will be
deprived of the use Of the cable also, on
the pretext that neutrality is thereby
violated and st. Thomas made base
OF operations. In this case, 1t would be
necessary for both the admiral and the
newspaper men to have recourse to the
direct cable at Hayti, about $50 or 300
miles distant from San Juan. involving
o delay OF day and a half or two days
In Communicating Information TO the
United States.
Just where the Spanish flying squad
ron Is still remains In doubt and no
word OF official confirmation has come
10 the navy department Of the Cadiz
report Of day before yesterday that the
squadron is there.
still there are enough American
scouting vessels covering the approach
es to the West India channel to spot
any approaching Spanish ship In short
order. .ig5st'--
News From Dewey 2a
dispatch came to-day to the navy
department from Admiral Dewey ut
Manila. 1t was dated Hong Kong to-
dor, was evidently few days old and
eots not show that Dewey has possess
ed himself Of Manila. Probably he re-
CARDS his original orders as not broad
enough to justify that action without
lur'hcr directions and as his dispatch
was sent last Monday ,he could not
hhVe received the last orders OF the de-
partment. The nature OF these orders
Is indicated by tho assignment OF two
tuch officers as major generals Merritt
and Otis 10 command tho troops that
arc 10 be hurried to the Philippines as
rapidly az steam will take them when
.ae quartcrmastcr hns provlsioned the
shins at San Francisco, Merritt Is the
senior major genera! in the United
ntateS service after General Miles and
W ordinary cases Is entitled to the most
Important commands, 80 his dcsigna-
won Tor this worles may be taken as an
.u9ence Of the Presidents estimate OF
'"e Importance OF this expedition.
IN all official quarters the state de-
'aEttnent and diplomatic the reports
tohinE soE from London to tho effect that
,,a ",,ne Of the continental powers, pnrtlc-
s.y 1,.. Germany and France. have made
Tso'eSts against American occupation OF
n,a, me rnll!ppines, are met with fiat de-
nI ",''' There hns been no recent concert
,aon uel!on among trt continental powers
oMhfd lnterventlOnJ nor have the rep.
inst,nlatiycs OF these powers In Wash
s'oh exchanged any views lately