The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-28
DEWEYS PROBABLE PLAN OF ACTION
He May Philippine
for Strategic Basis for Further
Operations.


cure the protection of the batteries of
Manila, and the department is not ex-
pecting an engagement for about two
days. Without giving any explana-
ton for setting this time. the depart
ment allows IL to be surmised that the
estimate is based on it's knowledge of
Admiral Dewey's whereabouts. There is
no certainty that there will be an en-
gagement at all in the immediate fu-
ture, the main purpose of the American
expedition being to seize and hold some
suitable Spanish territory in the Phil
ippines as base of operations 1t is
thought this can be done by not at
tacking Manila at all, but by seizing
some convenient point on the islands.
No word has come to the department
up to the close of Office hours of the
arrival of the Montzerrat at Cienfuegos.
The officials are not inclined to believe
that IL she has gotten in that port she
did so before the blockade of Cienfuegos
had begun.
The very fact that the Madrid off,
cials have rather os:entatiously declared
that the Spanish fleet has sailed to
lombard the cities on the North Amer
lean coast, is taken as a certain indi-
cation at the navy department of the
utter improba bility of such a move
ment. If this were contemplated the
Spanish would be the very last to make
their purpose public. The navy de-
partment as yet has made no arrange
ments for the care of prisoners taken
by our warships. but the legal Off
GERS of the department think they
should be sent to the Boston naval
prison. Some vexation was felt at the
injury sustained by the Gushing. 1t
is said that this is the first serious
breakdown she has suffered in the nine
years of her service. Luckily the de-
partment will be able to replace her
very shortly. for President Malster of
the Columbian Iron works called at the
navy department this afternoon to an
nounce that the torpedo boat Mckee
20-knotter, would be ready for trial
tomorrow. She will be sent at once
to Norfolk to have the finishing touches
added, and then will join the squadron.
In the war department there is
growing belief that the campaign
proper in Cuba will not be in full swing
before next fall, when the rainy season
has ended. That belief. however has
not prevented the officers whose duty 1t
Is to get the troops together from push,
ing their work with the greatest ener-
gy. Thus within IL hours after the Hull
bill became a law the department was
able to begin to send out circulars pre-
scribing the methods to be followed in
recruiting the regular army up to its
full war strength of $4,000 men. The
enormous amount of work involved in
thus increasing the army. regular and
volunteer. has caused General Miles to
abandon his Southern trip for the pres
ent.
The officials of the department were
overwhelmed to-day with all sorts of
protests and appeals against their action
in making the assignment of troops
among the volunteer forces and many
changes may be looked for
The state department posted a notice
to-day, stating il had been officially ad-
-sssAI Af T.E
ders by Italy, the Netherlands. Switzer-
land, Norway and Sweden. Russia and
Colombia. 1t is supposed also that Off
cial notice of Great Britain's and
Frances neutrality will be received by
tomorrow. Including France and
Great Britain. four out of the six great
powers of Europe have declared their
neutrality, namely: Great Britain,
Italy. France and Russia. There re-
mains of the great powers Germany and
Austria, neither of which have yet act
ed. The delay of Austria does not cause
surprise, as Austria's sympathy with
Spain is more pronounced than that Of
any other country of Europe. 1t is not
doubted. however. that Austria will as
sumo a neutral attitude sooner or later.
The delay of Germany is felt To be due
solely to Germany's consulting her own
commercial interests before shaping the
exact terms of her neutrality proclama-
tion. From the first. Germany and
Great Britain have opposed the right OF
search as detrimental TO British and
German commerce. Thus far Spain has
announced much more radical doctrine
than the United States on this matter.
The Spanish order. published in the
Official Gazette last Monday. announced
the purpose of exercising the right of
search Of all merchant ships on the high
seas. The presidents proclamation of
yesterday qualified the right of search
by saying that il lis to be exercised
with strict regard to the right of neu-
trails. and the voyages of mail steamers
are not to be interfered with except on
the clearest grounds of suspicion" etc.
1t is understood that this matter of
right of search is causing hesitation on
the part of Germany and that II II Is
satisfactorily established that German
merchant ships shall not be subjected
same course as other nations.
The attitude OF Portugal is felt to be
more important just at present than
that OF any of the great powers OF Eu-
rope. owing to the presence of the
Spanish feet at the Cape Verde islands.
belonging to Portugal. Neither the
state department nor the Portuguese
minister at Washington had received
word up to tonight as to the purpose
of Portugal on the question of neutral
iiy. This caused considerable appre-
hension in ofYicial circles here, as IL
was felt that Portugars vicinage 10
Spain might induce her TO withhold
neutrality for time. She owns the
Cape Verde group. the Azores and the
Madras. which would give the Spanish
\ fleet three very ffnpOrfanr hasas Of