Arizona republican., 1898-05-10
EFFECT OF POSSIBILITIES.
The Manila Battle Will Probably De
 eide Future Operations.

Washington, May 10.-The admins tration will not, it is said, arrive at a hasty determination in respect to fur ther military and naval operations in
 consequence of the reports received
 from the Philippines. The reports
 show that Commodore Dewey has ut terly destroyed the Spanish power in the Pacific.
 As this is the first engagement our
 modern war vessels have had, it is
 of incalculable value to know exactly
 how our vessels behaved and what weaknesses they showed. Information
 on this line will enable the command
 CTS of our Atlantic squadrons to cor
 rect whatever defects may exist in the
 new system of naval action, and give
 them confidence in the good qualities
 of the modern warship not heretofore tested. A very strong belief prevails that the Philippine victory is the be-
 ginning of the end, and that prompt
 action at this time will speedily
 bring Spain to terms. The disturbed condition of affairs at Madrid shows the desperate straits to which the Spanish government has been driven. and it is conceived to be possible that Spain will not be in the condition to prosecute the war much further. Civil strife at home will make it very diff cult for her to maintain herself. even for a short tlme either on the sea or in Cuba.
 The opinion is entertained that if the Cape Verde fleet is not already df- rectly on it's way to Porto Rico it will never go there or anywhere else on this side of the Atlantic. The fact, however, that the fleet, on leaving the Cape Verde Islands, steamed straight away toward Porto Rico for twelve hours renders it probable that it con- tinued on this course and will show up at Porto Rico. If this is found to be the case it is believed that the war can be ended with one bold stroke within a very short time after it IS positively known that the fleet is com ing this way. No doubt whatever is felt that if the Spanish fleet will face an engagement we will be able to ut terly destroy 1t.
 There is still some uncertainty as to the effect of the news from the Phil ippines on the contemplated invasion of Cuba Some authorities are in favor of r aking formid- able invasion at once, at the same time attacking the coast defenses from our fleet, without delaying to ascer- tain the movements of the Spanish fleet. Conservative opinion is that this would be a hasty action, and the probability is that cur plan, so far as the invasion Of Cubq is concerned, will not be changed, but that the force of ,000 men, or possibly more, will be landed at a conven leEu point in Cuba within two or three days to establish a base of supplies and put themselves in communication with the CuEans, as was before cont teGipiI:ed.
 By that time 1t will probably be known definitely where the Spanish fleet is. If it is at Porto Rico or on it's way there a strong fleet, composed of the flying squadron and some of Sampson's squadron, will be sent against it to do battle without any fear as to what the result will be.
 The destruction of the Spanish fleet under these circumstances would reD- der Spain entirely helpless, and she would have to sue for peace under such terms as we would grant Ii, on the other hand, it is found that the Cape Verde fleet has turned back to the Canaries, it is probable that the complete invasion of Cuba will be has tened, and the capture of Havana and Matanzas be undertaken by the coop eration of land and naval forces by the speediest process possible. There will be no apprehension if the Spanish fleet has turned back that it will at any time make an aggressive move