Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-02
MANILA MAY BE STARVED OUT

Lack of Food May Cause Submission
in Short Time.
Copyright lSsS. BIZ Associated Press.)
HONG KONG. May Letters TO the
Insurgeng Junta here which were snug
gled on board the British steamer Me
mon, ait Manila, which arrived here
yesterday from the capital OF the Phil
ippine stands, asserted that the Phil
lpplne insurgents are occupying all the
hills surrounding Manila an radius Of
ten to twenty miles. awarding the arri-
val of the United States fleet under Com
modore Dewey, which was expected off
Manila ct any moment when the Mem
ION sailed. The insurgents say that 1t
the United States fleet blockades Ma
Ella, they can StarVe the place into
submission in about two weeks. Cor
roboration has been received OF the re-
port that the British residents of Ma
Mia expected that the British steamer
ESmeralda, Which Went there 10 take
or board the specie belonging to the
Hong Kong banks, would have a full
cargo of fced stuff, as usual, but this
was not the case and much distress is
ANT cipated in consequence, if the in
surgent land blockade and the United
States sea blockade are enforced.
| According to the sinSurgent leaders,
| the forces Of the Philippine insurgents
| propose, when the right moment ar
rives, TO make a faint attack upon the
| city Of Manila, but to make a strong
and determined attack upon the sea-
! ward forts. This plan, however, may
| be upset by the Spanish authorities,
who are Well aware of the intentions
I Of the insurgents TO cooperate with the
( United States fleet.
| Little definite information has oeen
ascertained regarding the Whereabouts
| Of the Spanish fleet aus a whole. But
| it is said by the insurgents shat war
ships Of Spain are in hiding, watching
outside the entrance of thu harbo: for
| the coming of the American ships.
| The whole danger appears to be from
internal causes, at.nIanila, where mas
| sacre of the foreign population is APP
pretended. The British consul, Mr.. Fl.
II. Rawson Walker, has cabled here
EGor the dispatch to Manila Immediately
Iof the iBrhis'n first class cruiser Edgar
Ito protect British interests here.
| AN idea, of the tactics adopted by the
Spanish authorities to keep UP the
courage of the fighting forces of Spain
| can be gathered from the Fact that
they have issued a placard stating tina
a Spanish cruiser, on Monday last, en-
gagged and sank two American Wa:-
ships.
1t is asserted that the Spanish cruis.
ter Castillo, of 3,342 tons displacement
! and 4.400 indicated horsepower, re
Gently grounded near the entrance d
Manila Bay, and was afterwards scut
tiled in shallow water.
1t is added that the intention OF tn,
Spaniards to use her as a statioaar!
battery, although some OF her guns hav
been landed and mounted on the forti
\ ticatione at the entrance of the harbor
where other guns have also recent.
been mounted.
1t is generally believed here tina
Commodore Dewey has arranged Wit
the Philippine insurgents TO seize
lharbor, near Mantle, to be used as
! base OF opera tons for the prolonge
Siege OF Manila, which Is anticipated
s unless the American commander ca
: induce THE Spanish fleet 40 come Gu
81 and accept "a general engage VI NM