The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-27


Times Herald from Washington says:
Navy department officials confidently
expect that within three days a deci-
sive battle will have been fought be-
tween the American and the Spanish
naval forces operating in the waters
of the Philippines.
1t is learned from a most reliable
source that Commodore Dewey's squad
ron, which left Hong Kong Sunday for
Mrs bay, has now left that place for
the Philippine Islands, under instruc-
tons sent several days ago by Score
tary Long. Steaming at the rate of
ten knots an hour the fleet ought to
reach its destination by this afternoon,
and it is expected by Secretary Long
and other department officials that the
vessels will be in action Immediately
after their arrival, unless the Spanish
men-of-war should prefer to remain
inside the mined harbors.
FIRST THING TO DO.
OF primary Importance, the officials
declare, is the immediate capture or de-
struction of Spanish vessels. After this
has been accomplished it will not be a
difficult matter to secure the fall of
Manila or Luson and of other ports by
simply conducting a blockade such as
the North Atlantic squadron is doing
with reference to Cuban ports.
1t is understood that Commodore
Dewey's plan Of campaign contem-
plates the capture or destruction Of the
Spanish fleet. There are six of these
craft, none of which is to be compared
10 the protected cruisers of the Amer
lean squadron.
AID FROM INSURGENTS.
AS Commodore Dewey has not large
squadron, it is appreciated that he will
not have sufficient vessels TO carry on
a blockade which will last any length
of time He will however, be able to
blockade the principal ports in which
the Spanish troops are stationed, and
the insurgents in the island viii prob
ably give him assistance by contrib
uting their land operations.
Altogether, naval experts say that
Commodore Dewey's task is the easiest
of those which have been assigned TO
any flag officer.
CUT THE CABLE.
Upon but one point are the officials
uneasy. This relates TO the continu-
ance of cable communication between
Commodore Dewey and the United
States. There is a Spanish cable line
connecting Hong Kong and the Philip
pines, and it may be found necessary
to cut the cable in order TO prevent the /
Spanish forces from cabling their gov
eminent the condition of affairs in the
island.
It is appreciated by the authorities /
that. as Spain can send no reinforce !
ments to the east, it will do the Span 1
iarCis very little good TO know what is
going on in the far east; but for pru- /
Dental reasons it is believed that /
Commodore Dewey should hasten to {
st the cable under his control as rap
idly as possible.
It is supposed at the department
that he has made all necessary prepar-
ations to cut the cable and to keep
possession of the end connecting with
Hong Kong, ana with an operator on
board his ship he Will be able to COM
municate with the department as often
as shall be necessary.
PERHAPS BEFORE SUNDAY.
New York, April 26.-A dispatch to
the World from Hong Kong says:
The guns of Americas Asiatic squad
ron will soon be laundering in the
harbor of Manila, the capital of the
Philippine islands. Commodore Dewey
has orders from Washington TO capture
or destroy the Spanish fleet. Unless
SPAIN WarShlpS are IN hldlng, the
fighting will begin at or near the Phil
ippines, and the time is only a matter
of hours-perhaps before Sunday.
General Aguinaldo, the president of
the Philippine insurgents, has sailed
from Singapore, where he has been in
exile with the members of his cabinet.
They chartered their own steamship.
AT THE HEAD OF AN ARMY.
They will land at a convenient point
On the islands and the general will put
himself at the head Of an army of So
200 well-equipped insurgents now gath
cred and waiting for him. General
Aguinaldo viii lead this large force to
attack Manila by land while the Amer
can warships lombard the city from
he sea.
The movements of that army inter
st Commodore Dewey and command
lis sympathy, but he has given the in
;urgents no official aid or encourage
nent Nevertheless, the two forces
will cooperate in fact and should
prove more than a match for the Span
ards.
Consul Williams arrived on Monday
rom Manila on the steamship Esmer-
Ida. a fast dispatch boat took him ,
to the flagship Olympia.
The consul will accompany the fleet
'ack to Manila. He has full informa- I
ion, it is believed, regarding the Span
sh Notifications at Manila and else |
where on the Philippines, and also re- I
arding the location of mines and tor 7
edoes planted in the harbors. The t