The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-05-18
DEWEY MAINTAINS The BLOCKADE
CAPTURES A GUNBoAT.
Tho Inhabitants are Suffering for Want o.
Provisions Insurgents Have Com
mitted no 0utrages.

That Admiral Dewey Is maintaining
a perfect blockade at Manila and that
the islands are at his mercy Is evident
from the report that the people have
been reduced to eating horsefiesh.
Dewey's fleet has also been strength
ened by the captured Spanish gunboat
Callao. This boat. hailing from the
Caroline Islands. was not aware of the
hostilities at Manila, and attempted
to run the blockade. One shot was
sufficient to bring down her flag.
Late kilograms indicate that Dewey
has lost none OF the prestige gained In
his memorable fight OF two weeks ago
and that while he refrains from taking
the city of Manila he has II practically
at his mercy. The admiral expresses
the belief that the rebels are hemming
In the city by land, but the fact that
he says explicitly that they have made
no demonstration seems to disprove
thoroughly the published reports that
they had already entered Manila and
had begun a career of bloodshed and
rapine. The best evidence Of the ef-
fectiveness of the blockade maintain
ed by the American admiral and also
OF the work Of the insurgents in sur
rounding the city Is shown In the
statements in the dispatches that pro-
visions are scarce in the city of Manila
which seems to indicate to Admiral
Dewey an early surrender by the
Spanish authorities II the rebels have
been supplying themselves with arms
II must have been with the admirars
consent and his dispatch Is originally
dated from Cavite. indicating that ne
Is still in possession. The greatest
satisfaction prevails In Washington
over the good work being done and the
effectiveness Of the blockade being
maintained nv him.
The officials ore making all possible
haste 10 rush troops to supplement an-
miral Dewey's forces so that II the
Spanish governor does surrender the
former will not be dependent upon the
small number of marines, which ne
can lily spare from his ships. but VIII
have the assistance of soldiers In
holding his position and maintaining
order. 1t is confidently hoped that the
CITY of Peking. chartered as trans
mort vessel. will be able to clear from
San Francisco In q very short time, TO
be followed in rapid succession by the
other three ships engaged for SINH
lar purpose. The Peking can carry
LOCO men, which. with the marines
aboard the Charleston just about to
sail. will be of considerable assistapce
10 the admiral. but far from the h-m-
her which he will need. The total
number of men to be sent will aggre-
gate probably 1900. as Maj. Gen:
Wesley Merritt, who is to command
the expedition and subsequently to be
made military governor. regards that
as the least which can maintain order
in a city like Manila. made up OF many
discordant elements. over ten reg1-
ments of infantry and four batteries
of artillery from the volunteers have
been ordered TO concentrate at San
Francisco and from these and the
regulars now in the extreme West,
viii be taken the men for the Philip
pine expedition. 1t Is expected that
practically all the volunteers viii go.
Owing to the hurried departure OF the
Charleston It is not expected that she
Will wait for any considerable number
of troops. as these will follow later on
the other relief ships.