The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-05
Volunteer Army Likely TO Be Largs-
Iy Increased.
DOLE TO OFFER Us HAWAII.
Ammunition to Be Sent to Admiral
Dewey.

Washington, May A sensation was
caused throughout the city by the news
that came this morning of the arrival of
vessel supposed to be the dispatch boat
McCulloch at Mrs bay, forty miles from
Hong Kong, the cable terminus.
The officials Immediately fell into an air
of expectancy waiting for some word from
Admiral Dewey that would not only con-
firm officially the stirring news of the bat
tie of Manila, as reported by the press,
but telling what had happened since the
cable was interrupted. Up to the close
of office hours, however, no word had
come from Hong Kong
Great interest is felt in the reported re-
turn of the Spanish Cape Verde fleet to
Cadiz, but while admit, ting the possibility
of the fast vessels of the Spanish flvine
squadron making The passage in the five
days that they have been out from ST. Vim
cent the naval officers were disposed TO
regard with suspicion news of this kind
emanating from Portugal because of the
recognized sympathy OF the Portuguese
with the Spanish side.
1t would be worth a good deal TO the
Spanish admiral commanding the flying
squadron, supposng he were on his wav
across the Atlantic, to throw us off our
guard by having us believe that he had
returned to Spain.
The navy department has now secured
two vessels, the Australia and the CITY of
Peking, in San Francisco, which will be
loaded with coal and supplies and rushed
off to join Commodore Deweys fleet.
Whether or not they Will carry troops
will be determined positively when the
commodore is heard from upon this mat
ter.
The navy department Is hurryIng to-
gether an exceptionally large stock of am
munitoin to go forward by the city of Pc
kin to recruit the ammunition of Commo-
dore Dewey's fleet The first shipment OF
porjectiles left New York yesterday and
additional shipments will be made until
the full quota of powder and shot win be
in San Francisco within the next ten 0ays.
There will be a total of more than 10000
projectiles of various caliber and weight
The navy department is fortunate in hav-
ing laid in an ample stock of projectiles OF
all weights and sizes, so that there will be
no delay in getting a full supply ready for
shipment to Commodore Dewey. The SUD-
ply of powder is not so readily obtained
as powder has been distributed to the sew
eral fleets and ships as fast as 1t has come
from the mills
But owing to the emergency IN the case
OF the Asiatic fleet powder intended for
other uses win be sent to Commodore
Dewey. The recent explosions at powder
mills have not crippled the navy depart
ment in securing supplies Of powder but
they have caused some delay in filling the
orders of the war department.
No new official news has come to con-
firm the repori that the Hawaiian Islands
have been rendered to the United States
for war uses. 1t Is said that If the in
coming mail brought the proposition TO
San Francisco IL would scarcely be trusted
TO the telegraph there, on account of its
importance, but would be forwarded by
the railway mails, which would bring Il
here IN about five days. without excep-
tion the naval officers would welcome the
possession of Hawaii just at this moment
as affording a magnificent base for naval
operations in the Pacific, but il Is said
President Doles proposition must be sub
mitted to Congress so that 1t Will be for
the executive branch in the end 10 pass
upon this offer.
The fine British cruiser Blake left Gil
braltar to-day bound straight for Rio. and
II is supposed here that she goes 10 OBJ
serve any engagement that might threat
en- the oregon and the Spanish fleet.