Evening star., 1898-04-28
Admiral Dewey's Position in the
Pacific.
CANNOT REMAIN IN PORTS
Naval Men Looking Toward the
Philippines.
CUBAN BOMBARDMENTS

mOSt precarlouS tenure IN the AS1atlc ports,
is such that he is absolutely obliged to do
one Of two things-capture a port in the
Philippines and make 1t a base of sup
plies and a temporary home for his ships,
or head his fleet due east and straight
across the Pacific for San Francisco. 1t is
expected that the other European powers
holding possessions on the Chinese coast
will adopt the same rules as those laid
down by England to the conditions
der which the ships of belligerent powers
may seek shelter in their ports. No mat
ter how well-inclined toward the United
States China will undoubtedly be obliged,
under European pressure, to join in the
same practice.
Thus Admiral Dewey will find that hav-
ing secured one supply of coal at a port
belonging to one of these powers that port
will be practically closed to his ships. for
he would not be permitted to enter them
again for the same purpose within three
months, a space of time that would more
than consume the amount of coal that
can be carried on ship board. This state
of affairs strongly accentuates the unwise
policy that has prevailed in the past of
failing to secure coaling stations in remote
parts of the world like Asia.
So Admiral Dewey is under the necessity
in which he may stay as long as he pleases.
and it will be seen that his position is
consequently much more perilous than is
that of the Cuban blockading squadron.
The admiral Is believed to have sailed at
O'Clock yesterday from Mrs bay, China,
for the Philippines. Assuming that his
squadron is travelling at the prescribed
speed of ten knots, it is calculated at the
Navy Department that he should occupy
about sixty hours in the passage to Manila,
which will bring him off that port early
Saturday morning. 1t is probable that If
the Spanish fleet can be driven into arr
harbor under the protection of the batteries
Admiral Dewey will detach some of his
ships to blockade the ports to keep them
while using another part of his small force
to seize and~occupy, with native assistance
some other and an unfortified port as a
base as.y
No Intention to BOmbard.
Officials at the Navy Department reply
with simple smile of discredit to the fire.
quent suggestions that come through the
newspapers of wholesale bo,nbardment of
the Cuban coast by Admiral Sampson. The
apparent lack of any sufficient purpose and
the very poor strategy involved in any such
action is. said to be sufficient to dismiss at
once any such stories mere fgments of
imagin alton. Indeed, it can be stated on as
good authority as can be obtained in such
a time this. that there is no intention on
the part of the government to lombard any
Cuban ports at present, if at all, and GER
tainly no such move will be made until the
feet is reinforced by the transports carry
ing troops enough to hold any advantage
Gus positions ashore that 1t nay win.
New Orleans Naval Militia.
The Secretary of the Navy has requested
the New Orleans naval militia to go to
Port Royal, S. c., and take the monitor
Passaic from that port to New Orleans
where she will be manned by the militia
and stationed at the mouth of the Missis-
sippi to defend the river. A similar reques.
has been made to the South Carolina naval
militia to proceed to Wilmington, N. c.,
where the monitor Nantucket is now un-
der repair al a private ship yard and take
that craft to Port Royal, SC, to replace
the Passaic as a defender of the naval sta
ton. The New Jersey naval militia have
gene on board of the monitor Montauk to
take her to Portland, Me. AT that point
they Will leave her and return, and the
Maine authorities are expected to raise 4
provisional naval militia to man the craft
More Officers Needed.
The large increase in the number of ships
in the navy and the great need for the SER
vices of additional officers has been en-
phasized in the calling into duty of a num-
Der of retired officers, and has caused a re-
Dewal Of the efforts on the part of the
Navy Department, and caused a speedy
Passage by Congress of the naval perscn-
mel bill, which if enacted into a law would
III large measure meet the present emer-
sency. 1t is therefore very gratifying TO
the Officers interested in the measure to
learn that the common belief that Repre-
sentative Boutelle. chairman of the naval
committee so far from being opposed to
the personnel bill is one of its champions
and will in the course Of day or two seek
to have the House act upon that measure
under such conditions that will promise
speedy vote upon it. The delay in secur-
ing acton SO far has been in a measure
owing TO desire on the part of Chairman
Boutelie 20 afford ample time for proper
consideration of the measure. He has pre-
pared several amendments which cure in
his mind certain defects which he has dis
covered
Today's Naval Orders.
The following naval orders were issued
today:
Lieut.. W. L. Burdick, detached from the
navy yard at Lee que Island and ordered
to the Southerby executive officeI
Boatswain M. Wogan, detached from
League Island yard and ordered to St.
Paul.
Lieut.. c. c. Rodgers. detached from the
Naval Academy and ordered to the Reso-
lutte as executive officer.
Lieut.. M. G. Miller. detached from the
torpedo station and ordered to command
the Oneida.
Commander E. w. Watson detached
from command of the naval station, New
London, and ordered to command the
Scutherby.
Lieut.. j. NJ. Poyer detached from the
Washington yard and ordered to the st.
Paul.
Acting Ensign T. L. Jenkins, ordered to
the Resolute.
Lieut.. c. A. Foster. retired, to Wabash
Lieut.. H. Eldridge. retired, to bureau of
ordnance
Ensign ]. B. cahoon. retired, to New
York yard.
Lieut.. c. P. Shaw. retired. to Washington
yard.
Passed Assistant Epo>jpaar