The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-03
FUTURE OF THE ISLANDS
Troops May Bs Sent From San Fran
Will Be Kept as Coeling Station and
for a Base OF supplies-The Islands
VIII Be a Powerful Weapon in Die
of European fntervention-Dewey Has
Earned His Promotion.

II In a curious fact that the nation
most Interested of all the great powers
in the c&nbat that took place at Ma
niia yes(brday should be among the
last officieily to know of the result.
Up to theAclose of office hours to-day
all the infprmation that our govern
ment had received of the brilliant VIC
winning of the battle of Manila on May
day came to the government through
the medium of the press dispatches.
IL the report is true that Commodore
Dewey has begun a bombardment and
blockade of the city of Manila. II Is
unlikely that he can spare a vessel
from his fleet to carry the news to
Hong Kong, the nearest cable station,
so 1t is not known when Official advices
will come There was some expecta-
ton th6t thfUush- -tHUuUVuvgefsder OF the
city the commodore might acquire con-
troll Of the cable. but even then there
might be practical difficulties In COM
municating through IL. The officers
of Commodore Dewey's fleet include at
least one Lieutenant who is a good prac-
teal electrician and telegrapher. but IL
is not known positively that he Is able
to work q cable successfully. Second.
a fear is entertained that before retir-
ing from the city the Spanish troops
viii smash the delicate and complicat-
ed electrical apparatus for the recep-
tion and dispatch OF messages. and 1t
is very uncertain whether there Is
enough technical skill In the American
fleet to repair such damage without aid
from the mainland. The mere cutting
of the cable, as reported by the Span
iards, Is not regarded as particularly
serious. since being hemmed in port
by the American blockading fleet. the
Spaniards would not be able TO make
the cut far on short. so that the cable
could be easily grappled and repaired
The greatest anxiety Is felt as to the
casualties sustained by the American
fleet. From the stubborn defense made
by the Spaniards IL was feared that
before they burnt, blew up or sunk their
ships. they managed to infict severe
damage upon Commodore Dewey's
squadron. All of the ships engaged
were vulnerable in one respect; namely.
In their lack OF protection TO life. There
was not an armored ship In Commo-
dore Dewey's feet. the nearest approach
being the flagship Olympia. She had
some coal protection around the sides
and an arched steel deck calculated to
vessels of the fleet, save those recently
added to the navy. like the McCulloch,
have lighter steel decks OF this charac-
ter. but in all cases with the exception
OF some slight protection in the shape
Of gunshields, the personnel of the ship
was exposed to the fire OF the enemy.
II Commodore Dewey has lost a con-
siderable portion of his men, il is feared
he VIII be much embarrassed in the
work OF maintaining possession OF Ma
Mia for lack of sufficient force. United
States naval vessels are always under
manned. according to European stand
ards, and IL Will not be possible. having
regard TO the safety of the ships TO
spare any considerable number of men
to keep the city. especially IL the en-
gagement had disabled many of them
There was some talk this evening of
sending out troops from San Francisco
TO aid in this work. but this has not yet
taken shape. so far as can be learned,