Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-02
EWEY'S VICTORY
1T WILL DE FOLLOWED ny SHARP
STROKE IN WEST INDIES.
WASHINGTON GOES FRAHTl
street. Filled with Rejoicing
People--specinl Editions OF News-
papers Go Like Hot CaheS'
President Much Pleased.

WASHINGTON. d. c.. May 1--tspe-
cial)-The magnificent victory OF Adhir"i
Dewey at the Philippines will be followed
by most vigorous and aggressive strokes
| In the West Indies. In all probability De-
fore the present week Is ended an au-
vance will be made upon Haoana ana
Porto Rico. The squadron OF Admiral
Sampson will cooperate with the Ameri-
can forces which will be landed In CUBA
this week. and with the insurgent forces
will agsail the Cuban capital. ii Is de-
signed now to hasten the movement
against Habana, and If the plan UNDER
stood 10 have been decided upon tonight
is carried out. the American army Oh
invasion will leave Tampa, Fla, on Tues
day. No advantage through delay on our
part will be allowed to accrue to Spain.
The enemy will be forced into fight, ana
the war will be prosecuted to an early
finish.
The victory OF Admiral Dewey's squad
ron at Manila is the greatest achieve
ment OF American arms since the civil
war, and eliminating that conflict. the
most glorious since the war of 1872, when
America worsted Great Britain at Put
Inlay and on the Atlantic ocean. The
victory is one of the most overwhelming
achieved In a century by any navy, and
the first one in which modern fighting
ships participated to any great extent.
The American fleet has covered Itself
with glory, and our ravy will take
sudden era rapid rise IN the estimation of
all foreign Powers.
WASHINGTON FRANTIC.
Washington has gone frantic over the
news of the prowess of the American
fleet. At this hour QmidnighD the streets
are filled with people, who are reading
the bulletins posted in front of the office
of the leading morning newspaper, or
eagerly devouriEs the first news of the
victory put in a special edition OF the
paper. Newsboys are selling the papers
like hot cakes.
No one in the capital is more pleased
over the news than President Mckinley.
He received all the press dispatches as
soon as they reached Washington, 4 spe-
cal loop having been placed in the White
House. Mr.. Mckinley waited anxiously
all day for some tidings from Manila,
and when, early this evening, they began
TO come in, there were present at the
Executive Mansion Nice-Presiden; Ho-
bart. Supreme Court-Justce Mckenna,
Secretary-Of-Wa Alger, Secretary of-the-
Inter II Bliss, Attorney-General Griggs,
and Representative Cannon. All the bulle-
tins from Madrid via Paris that came
over the telegraph-wires went to the
White House, and were received with
varying emotions
The first intelligence, which indicated
disaster TO our fleet, was naturally dis
couraging, but as the information became
clearer and apparently more authentic
and correct, and showed that Dewey had
won signal victory, the President and
his visitors rejoiced immensely. 1t is be-
lieved that when a complete and abso-
| lutely reliable report comes from an
American source, Ii will show that the
| Spanish defeat was even more crushing
! and overwhelming than is indicated by
to-nights advices from Madrid. 1t is a
| Spanish trick to color war news which
| has passed through their hands in their
own. favor.
THE CAPE VERDE FLEET.
| According to information received to-
day from st. Vincent, Cape Verde Islands,
the most formidable portion of the Span
| ish feet, which was coaling there last
| week, set sail two days ago IN a due west
! erly direction, indicating that 1t was
bound for Porto Rico, which lies exactly
opposite the Cape Verdes.
1t will take about twelve hours for
| the transports to convoy the American
| troops to Matanzas, and their landing
there will be followed up, in all proba-
bility, by an attack on Habana by COM
| bined land and sea forces. This plan, OF
course. may possibly be modified, but the
chances tonight seem to be that 1t viii
| be executed
DEWEY'S CHARACTERISTICS.
Admiral Dewey is regarded In naval
| circles in Washington as one OF the very
best officers of the American navy. lie
possesses many Of the qualifications that
Admiral Sampson has, is cooi-headed
tactful, aggressive, brave, and spiehuio
|