The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-03
DEWEy'S STROKE
AND ITS EFFECT
His Official Report Will Govern
a.
Military and Naval Operations.
SPAIN IN ORIENT NO LONGER
Sampson and Schley Will Benefit by
Battle of Modern Ships OFF Manila.
There Will be Complete In
yasiOn of Cuba.
staff Correspondence TO THE sun.

vaSlOn OF CuDa.
staff Correspondence TO THE sun.
WASHINGTON, May "A marked calm
ness prevails in official circles in regard
to Deweys great naval victory i'll the
Orient.
The administration leaders express the
opinion that in respect to further mill
tary and naval movements serious de.
termination will be exercised.
Commodore Deweys official report
will be deemed of great value in con-
nection with orders to Admiral Sampson
and Commodore Schley.
The Spanish power in the Orient is
broken, but little is yet known to the
damage sustained by our vessels.
As this is the first engagement our
new navy has had it is Of incalculable
value to know exactly how our vessels
behaved and whatweakness they showed
Information on this line will enable the
commanders of the Atlantic squadrons to
correct 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.
Affairs in Madrid are disturbed. The
Spanish Cover. owing to the defeat
at Manila has been driven to desperate
straits. Civil strife has appeared in
Spain, and she boy king will have diff
Guilty in longer maintaining his position
on the sea or in Cuba. If the Cape
Verde fleet will now face an open en-
gagement, it is quite probable that the
same fate would befal it, as came to the
command of Admiral Montigo.
The opinion is entertained that if the
Care Verde fleet is not already directly
on its way to Porto Rico, it will never
90 there, or anywhere on this side OF
the Atlantic. The fact, however, that
the fleet Oil leaving the Cape Verde
Islands steamed straight away towards
Porto Rico for twelve hours renders it
probable that it continued on this course
and will show up at Porto Rico.
Ii this is found to be the case, it is be-
lieved that the war can be ended with
one bold stroke within very short
time after it is positively known that
the fleet is coming this way.
The effect the battle of Manila and fall
Of the Philippines will have on the in
vasion of Cuba by an American force is
uncertain. Some authorities are strongly
in favor of making formidable inva-
sion at ince AMI at the same time attack
ing the coast deiences f'um our fleet
without delaying to ascertain the move
lnents of the Spanish fleet. This is con-
side red little hasty by conservative
people.
As was contemplated, it IS quite prob.
able tl.at Il force Of 5000 men will be
landed at Il convenient point in Cuba
within two or three days to establish
base OF supplies and put themselves in
communication with the Cubans, a. was
before contemplated. BY that time it
will PROBABLY be known definitely where
the Spanish fleet is.
Ii it is at or on its way to Porto Rico,
a strong fleet composed OF the Flying
SQUADRON and some of Admiral Samp-
sons squadron will be sent against it to
do battle without any fear as to what the
result will be.
At that point the destruction of the
CAPE Verde fleet was to place Spain in
Il helpless position. ii, however, 1t Is
found that the Spanish fleet has returned
to the Canary Islands. the complete in
vasinn of Cuba will be hasIened and the
capture OF Havanna and Matanzas be
undertaken by the co operation "I land
all naval forces by the speedicst process
possible. There will be no apprehen
sion il the Spanish fleet has tlrned back
that it will at any time make ulNAggres-
sive move.
Admiral Jouett, retired, expressed I'M
limited praise for the American s"amen
at the battle of Manila. ''It wLs a
glorious victory" said he. "Tlcrc is no
mt T.. dashing and gallant seaman in the
", ri than Commodorr Dewey.
H, fmght with everything against
him, and his victory is overwhp ming. II
were in authority / would this morning
him to be an Admiral. | would
telegraph it and let the whoe world
know that this country instanl ly recog-
nizes valorous service. Commodore
Dewey will take Manila; in fact he must
have Il foothold there now, else he would
not have placed the wounded ashore.
From this time the Asiatic squadron will
operate without embarrassing mt.
"This engagement simply roves what
every seaman has contended, that there
Is no comparison bet yeen the army and
navy OF Spain and those of he leading
nations of the earth. They re asst ssins
and cut-throats and cowards, and their
officials are bribers and bo, dlers. Our
ships our men, and our g'n S are vastly