The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-02
activity as 1t threatens to bring the "
to the continent Of Europe.
TIE next MOVE.
Admiral Dewey Is No Way
Restricted by the Presi-
dents Orders.

WASHINGTON, May 2, 1ssS.-It can be
stated on authority that the President S
instructions to Commodore Dewey do
nDI involve specifically the bombardment
of the city of Manila but the Commodore
was instructed to do whatever. was nee
essary within the limits of civilized war
fare to take possession of the islands,
and if a bombardnlent is necessary to this
end one will take place 1t is expected,
chowever, that our Asiatic squadron
will not lombard the city of Manila unless
It harbors troops who are operating Of
fenSively against u.s.
1t is said at the Navy Department it is
not the purpose of Commodore Dewey to
lombard Manila except as last resort
town, but it is not believed that anything
in the nature of general bombardment
will be necessary to accomplish this pur-
pose.
were to make stand on the plaza indi-
Gates that some further resistance is
likely. but it is believed that this can be
overcome e ny few , wen dlrected shells
from the information SO far received
through the press that the Spanish forts,
such as they were, have been destroyed
by the American fleet.
1t was known that the harbor at its
mouth was too wide to be commanded
by the inferior ordnance of the Spaniards
and that water was too deep to permit
the successful defence OF the entrance to
the inner harbor by mines. The charts
show that the harbor entrance is no less
than five miles across.
But it is by no means certain that mines
have not been placed in the inner harbor
and it was plucky undertaking for Com
modore Dewey to enter this harbor with
out spending some time in cautious ex-
plOratiOn and countermining.
Manila has a population of 160, 900 people
so that it probably would be very diff
cult for Commodore Dewey to spare
enough men from his fleet to maintain
~ Of t1a fnH IJr11 1aSC hn q n
arrange to secure the support of the in
surgents, with whom he is understood to
be in communication.
Persons who have the confidence Of the
President and who were with him today,
say the battle of Manila occurred at prac-
ticaly the hour the administration had
paper dispatches to the effect that a
blockade of Manila will begin at once
and that an early bombarment of the city
is expected is taken by the President to
indicate that none of our fleet sustained
any serious damage.
A member of the Cabinet said today
that the Governments policy had been
to engage the Spanish squadron in the
Pacific and finally bombard the capital
of the Philippines In this policy, it is
explained, there is no intention to Sc
cure a coaling station and no purpose to
attempt future control of the islands.
President Mckinley is greatly interested
in the movements of the Spanish squad
ron, which has left Cape Verde Islands.
but he believes that the Spanish fleet
will not attempt to invade the near by
waters, but instead will remain nearer
home. At the same time, some figuring
has been done on the basis of a posi-
BILE visit and while confident our vessels
would win, the administration is not los
ing sight of possible loss to the fleet
and preparations will be made against
any eventuality.
One of the Presidents closest advisers
said today that the Cuban policy against
which there has been some criticism of
found to have been the most polite
course that could have been adopted.