Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-05
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Inquiries Made for Information From
Commodore Dewey.
THE PRESIDENT NOT ALARMED
Attorney General Griggs Gives His
Theory of Delay.
THE PRESIDENTS CALLERS

The PRESIDENTS CALLERS
pha hundreds of anxious inquiries at the
White House today for Eews from Manila
give an idea of the teEeion over the sftua-
ton in the far east Almost without excep-
ton every caller inquired whether tn, Pres
idcnt vas in possession of anything official.
Up TO neon the President answered all
these anxious people with a shake of his
had. The President is not alarmed, but he
IS beginning to share to some extent m
the general anxiety. The old maxim that
mo news is good news has plenty of be-
Eavers. but the fact that Manila was equip
Led with The latest pattern of defense guns
is being PORTED out by over-anx;ous people
as irdicatirg possible serious damage to the
American fleet.
President Mckinley does not share these
dread suggestions of possible disaster, and
relies upon the Navy Department calcu!a-
lions that nothing may come from Hong
Kong before late tonight or tomorrow.
These calculations are based upon the be-
lief that Dewey waited for the capitulation
of Manila before sending dispatches to
Hong Kong.
Mr.. GriEEs Net Alarmed.
Attorney General Griggs, who was at the
White House today, said that he is not at
all alarmed at the failure to hear from
Dewey. He calculates that after capturing
Manila Commodore Dewey found it impos-
sihle to get possession OF the telegraph
wires leading from Manila to the point
where the cable begins. TIE capture of
Manila itself would not mean the capture
of the 5000 Spanish soldiers. These SOL
ders would retire to the country on the
fall of Manila.
They could hold he telegraph line in the
country. The LOCO marines of Dewey
would not be able to hold Manila and fol-
low these soldiers into the country.
Regarding the Spanish fleet which re-
Gently left the Cape Verde Islands, 1t is
believed by many of the Presidents strong
est advisers to be at Cadiz. 1t is said that
the information that this feet is at Cadiz
came from the agent of the Lloyds.
Several men exceedingly close TO the
President today express the belief that the
Spaniards will never send a fleet TO this
side. They are shrewd enough, it is said,
to know that the United States desires
this
Americans Oh NavaSsa.
Senator German of Maryland held short
ing regarding the plight of seventy-three
Americans on the Island of Navassa This
island belongs to the United States and
has valuable guano and phosphate depos-
it's The deposits are being worked by
Baltimore capital and majority of the
men now employed there are from Balti-
more. Senator German advised the Presi-
dent that these men had only supplies
enough to last ten days and that it was
impossible to get ships to take them off
unless given an escort from SIMPSONS
fleet. The cenator said that efforts had
been made 10 charter English ships to go
to the relief of the men, but were unsuc-
cessful. Unless a relief expedition is sent
within the next week these men will die
of starvation. as the island is barren and
the provisions will be exhausted.
Senator German requested the President
to send warship as a convoy to steam
er which shall take the men from the
island Navassa is about ninety miles
from the southern end of Cuba and mer-
chantmen fear capture by the Spaniards.
That is why no merchant vessel can be
Induced to take supplies to the men or to
bring them away. The situation is grow
ing serious. The President promised To
give the matter his attention and to con-
fer with Secretary Long about detailing
a warship to accompany boat to be fur
nished by the company working the island.
There are sixty colored men and thirteen
whites on the island.
OhiO's Volunteers.
A conference was held at the White
House by President Mckinley, Representa-
tive Grosvenor and Lieut.. Col. Dick this
morning over the military situation in
Ohio. Two regiments and a battalion of
infantry in excess CT the number called
for by the President are now i'll the state
camp. All are eager to go to the front,
and Ohio men are anxious that they be
given the opportunity.
II there should be no increase in the
forces allotted to the state and the reyi-.
Hents accepted in the order Of their SEN
iority, 1t would be necessary 20 dismiss the
Sth Regiment of the Presidents home dis
trict; the 18th Regiment of Representative
Grosvenor's district, and a battalion OF col
ored soldiers. An effort may be made to
muster them into service to make good the
deficiency in states that have no. report id
their full quota. President Mckinley and
Secretary Alger will consider the problem
and endeavor to arrange some form of re-
lief
Yellow Fever Immunes.
Senator Bacon and Judge Henry B.
Tt mpkins of Atlanta called on President
Mckinley this morning. Judge Tompkns
wants authority to organize q regiment
of yellow fever immunes. He has had yell
low fever himself and believes that lie
could raise regiment in Georgia, Alabama
and South Carolina. The President would
probably have accepted tine services OF
Judge Tompkins If the bill authorizing the
formation Of these regiments had passed
Congress.
Judge Tompkins is a prominent Georgia
politician.
Not Yet Commas siOned.
The major generals who were nominated
by President Mckinley yesterday have not
been given their commissions. General
Sewell was at the White House today He
said that he did not know when he would
be put into the service. General SeweIl
will not resign his seat in the Senate. He
does not anticipate that the war will last
long.
Many southern men are making applica-