Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-05
war MAY SOON END.
Spanish Government Likely to See
Nothing but Disaster in Fighting.
HOW JARED AMERICAS SQUADRON.
3Ae Dispatches Do Not Mention Whether
Any Of Adm. Dswey's Ships Were Dam
aged-spaniah IIInts at Yielding
When Honor Ia Satisfied.

WASHINGTON, May Am opinion
freely expressed last night by naval
officers is that the very decisive victory
ofAdm. Deweys feet will mean proba-
bly, an early end to the war, without
further naval battles Of Importance.
The American feet, II is suggested, Is
now supreme in the waters Of Spain's
Pacific possessions and indications
were strongly toward the slipping Of
he Philippines from her control. 1t
was ss'1 that, only by quickly yield
ing to our demands in Cuba, could
this loss possibly be sverted.
Spain, 1t is argued, was con-
4Fonted with situation which prom.
led nsught save disaster In case she
elected to force more fighting. The
superiority Of the American feet has
hem demonstrated In the Pacific and
The same, 1t Is commended, would be in
sevitable In the Atlantic In case the
clash comes From whatever point Of
view considered, the policy Of more
sighting on the part Of Spain promises
nothing but more Spanish misfortune
Navy officers think this view must pre-.
vail with the Spanish government and
bslieve an end Of the war, upon the
basis Of Cuban independence, is to fol.
low soon and that, too, without further
Haotable opportunity for the American
, navy to prove Its power and distinguish
itself.
HOW JARED AMERICAS SQUADRON
LONDON, May while II Is quite
elesr that the Spanish squadron has
suffered . crushing defeat, the dis
patches leave unclear the intensely In
teresting question whether the Ameri.
ON squadron has suffered material
damage. All news thus for comes
from Spanish sources; but II seems
evident that Commodore Dewey
~ not captured Manila. I'm.
1ess be 10 able to make an.
other attack and capture the town
~ will be In On awkward posi-.
tion. having no base upon which
to retire and To reHt Probably, there.
fore, the United States squadron will
b obliged TO make for San Francisco,
y the entrance to Manila bay was
heavily mined with torpedoes Com.
modore Dewey displayed great pluck
and daring In making for the inner
hsrbor. Reliable details cannot he
he'd until Commodore Dewey's squad
ron IL able to communicate with Hong
Kong. There Is, however, q suspicious
arankness about the Spanish dispatches
that ssvors Of desire to break I'm.
pleasant news to the Spaniards. 1t Is
not unlikely, therefore, that Commo.
dore Dewey may be able to renew the
attack.
SPANISH HINTS AT YIELDING.
LONDON, May 2.-The Madrid CORE.
apondent Of the Standard says: The
sltting Of the house Of deputies Satur-
day was extremely interesting Senior
6ilvelA, In speech which has made a
profound impression and Is regarded
= marking turning point in Spanish
politics, declared that, as the Cuban
problem was now reduced TO q ques.
tion Of honor for Spanish arms" 1t |
behooved ministers to assume without
hesitation the responsibility OF decid-
ing when the point Of honor had been
sufficiently satisfied. When that time
had been reached, he said, 1t would be
time 70 appeal to the European nations,
% that they could decide what
ought to be done to restore peace and
determine the fate Of Cuba, because
al the powers were interested In Gu.
has future. Senior Silvela declared
that all the idealist foreign policies
were things Of the past; that nations |
nowadays were only moved by their
interests and that, therefore, II Spain
sought the Intervention Of the powers
shc must approach them with some
thing practicable, for instance, on the |
basis Of the Philippine islands, and |
With her hands full" Everybody was |
much struck by Senior Silvela's trans.
parent illusions to future inevitable |
sacrifices and CONCESSIONS