Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-16
City Hemmed in by lnsur-
gents on Land. Al
MUST SOON SURRENDER
Published Report That the Rebels Have
kaided Cavtse Reruted by the Ad-
nirarA Advfces. Spanlsh Gum
boat Captured While Enter 49,"
Ing Manila Hurhor.
(BY TalePranhl \

(By Telegraph.)
WASHINGTON, May 15.-Dis-
patches from Hong Kong brought
welcome news today from Admiral
Dewey to the President and particu-
larly to Secretary Long and the OFF,
clais who are Watching the admir;.ls
movements with much interest ."
While no apprehension existed as to
his security. nevertheless reassur-
ance OF safety is always pleasant
The 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 i,
practically at his mercy. The admiral
expresses the belief that the rebels ar.
hemming in the city by. land, but the
fact that he Says explicitly that they
have made no demonstration seems
to disprove the published reports that
they had already entered Manil, aud
had begun j career OF blootlShed and
rapine. The best evidence of the cft,.c-
tiveness of the blockade maintained
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
Another published report seems also
to be refuted by the ad..4iral.s ;1tlyices.
and that is that the rebels had raided
CaEite. where the Spanish naval sta
ton was located and where the pre-
sumably large supplies of arms ana
ammunition were kept. Ii the rebels
have been supplying themselves with
arms 1t must have been with the ad-
miral'S consent. as his dispatch is orig
inally dated from Cavite. indicating
that he is still in possession. The great
est satisfaction prevails here over the
good work being done and the effect
iveness OF the blockade being main
tanned by him. The dispatch, as given
out by Secretary Long, is as follows:
"Cavite. May 49, Hong Kong. 18th
Maintaining strict blockade. Reason
to believe that the rebels are hemming
In the city by land, but have made no
demonstration. Scarcity of provisions
in Manila. Probable that the Spanish
governor will be obliged to surrender
soon. Can take Manila at any mo-
ment. Climate hot and moist. on
May - captured gunboat Callao, at
tempting to run blockade. Have plen-
ty of coal. One British, one French.
here observing.
(Signed) DEWEY"
A telegram has also been received
from Admiral Dewey. thanking the
President for his promotion and com
plimenting his chief OF staff and com
manders of all American vessels.
The department is making all haste
to rush troops west to supplement Ad-
miral DeWey's forces. SO that he will
not be dependent upon the small num-
Der of marines. which he can illv
spare from his ships, when the city
surrenders. but will have the assist
ance of soldiers in holding his position
and maintaining order.
1t is confidently hoped here that the
City OF Pekin. chartered as a transport
vessel, will be able to clear from San
Francisco in a very short time. to be
followed in rapid succession by the
other three ships engaged FOR u similar
purpose. The Pekin can carry 1000
men. which, with the marines aboard
the Charleston, just about to SAIL will
be OF considerable assistance to the
admiral. but far from the number he
will need. The total number of men to
be sent will aggregate probably 10000.
as Major General Wesley Merritt. who
is to command the expedition and sub
sequently to be made military gov
ernor, regards that - the least num-
Der which could maintain order in a
city like Manila, made up of many dis
cordant elements. Over ten regiments
of infantry and four batteries of artil-
iery from the volunteers have been or
dered to concentrate at San Francisco
ana from these and the regulars now
In the extreme west will be taken the
men for the Philippines expedition. 1t
is expected here that practically all
the volunteers will go.
Secretary Long was at the NAVY
Department several times during the
day and in addition to the dispatch
from the admiral he authorized the
statement that the torpedo boat Ter
ror. belonging to the Spanish fleet. was
disabled at Fort of France, Marti-
nique. The dispatch is as follows:
abea pa al Boo torp pea io-incn dis.
There waeo be equal or superior
'of thnse :. armor that has ever been, :,
arS u with the highest velocity at -
silly 1-2 inch without cracking the &C &C
ish 1t was the very last piece to =.
90 aat:livered under the existing contract tr
q Is intended for the Kentucky. =
inc War Department rushed ahe- .'ie
preparations for the mobilizin-
rough equipment of the vYer, would
ny, and the progress which6 subject.
ade is most gratifying. public a
The important developr,h received from
y was the definite Silt sne ueparture or
ant however d~ptain Brainard She is
rprises. Thcome point in Cuba with a
: Merritt securing the release of two
emit of,can prisoners under flag OF
truce in exchange for Spanish prison
ers held by this government.
At the State and War Departments
the officials were on hand at many OF
the bureaus the greater part OF the
day. Secretary Day and Assistant