The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-28
American Fleet Expected to Arrive
at Any Moment,
SHIPS OF DEWEY SUPERIOR.
Comparison Of the Vessels That
Are to Fight,

Washington. April 27.-The indications
all point to the Pacific becoming the scene
of the first naval battle between the Unit
cd States and Spain.
Secretary Long was with the President
at the White House tonight, with the ex-
pectaton of hearing from the Aslauc
squadron, off Manila in the Philippine ISL
ands.
The White House war chamber has a d.
rect connection with the European cable,
and the President has a copy of the cipher
code used by our representatives abroad.
A member of the cabinet, in discussing
the situation tonight, said it seems as
though the first naval engagement be-
tween the United States and Spain must
take place off Manila. He added that he
would have preferred to have had the first
conflict between the two navies take place
on this side of the waters, but 1t is evident
that Spain does not intend to come over
here to engage in battle, so we have
thrown down the gauntlet, and we must
so to her.
1t was suggested that the Spaniards
might seek to delay the conflict over Ma
nila with the intention of eXhausting our
coal supply and then bring all her force
to bear upon, us. and take advantage of
our vessels, which would be practically
helpless without coal.
The member Of the cabinet, who Is well
versed in the condition Of our navy, replied
that our fleet in front of Manila is a very
formidable one and fully competent to de-
feat the Spanish ships in that vicinity. He
added that this subjec has been fuzzy con-
sldered and there seems to be no doubt in
the minds of those responsible for the
movements of our battleshps that Com
modore Dewey will be able to vanqulsh
the spaniards and capture the Philippines
There is large supply of coal at Ma
nila, according to the most reliable re-
ports, and that is one great incentive for
us to win our first battle. A victory there
win have a good effect and win certainly
influence other conflicts to come after
wards
1T is evident" continued the cabinet
officer. "that we are to meet with little or
as she has sent no reinforcements to her
troops there and she has withdrawn her
ships from the harbor of Havana, and the
only warships she now has in the adja-
cent waters are a number of small gun
boats and torpedo boats, which are hid
den away under the lee Of Moro Castle
or in San Juan Under the circumstances
il is impossible TO draw them into a naval
conflict over Cuba, and having declared
war we should proceed TO wage an ag-
gressive warfare, even 10 the extent of
going into their own waters after them"
This seems TO be the fixed determina-
ton of the administration, and is given as
one of the reasons why Havana has not
been fired upon before this. The Secre-
tary Of War expects 10 have all of the vol
unteer regiments organized equipped and
ready for immediate cooperation with the
regular troops within the next two weeks
Then an invasion of Cuba oy the land
forces may be expected
The United States squadron consists Of
the protected cruisers Olympia (hagships),
Baltimore, 'Boston and Raleigh; the gun
boats Concord Petrol and Mccullough.
and the transports Zafiro' and Manshan.
The coal bunzers Of the ships are all
flied and the transports carry 1900 tons
besides.
The squadron is provisioned for six
months.
The Mccullough is a new boat, built for
a revenue cutter. and was rated as one OF
the finest In the service OF the Treasury
department until the navy department
took her for man-of-war. She was on her
way by the Suez canal and the Mediter
ranean 70 take station on the Pacific coast
She Is of $50 tons burden and swift Inn
mediately upon her arrival in Hong Kong
she was supplied with a modern battery
and torpedo tubes and she Is looked upon
as superior in fighting ability to the little.
gunboat Petrel. which Is only s92 tons.
The Spanish ships are not Of much ac-
count, comparatively, They include the
wooden cruiser Castillo, Of 400 tons; the
cruiser Velasco, OF lih2 tons; the Don An
tonic Jlloa ana Don Juan de Austria. each
i.ls0 tons. and the Isla de Cuba and Isla
de Luzan. each Of l,0SO tons.