The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-05-19

ing dispatch has been received by the
navy department from Admiral Dewey:
"CAvITE, May 13, HoNGKoNG, May
5.-Maintaining strict blockade. Rea-
son to believe that the rebels are hem.
ming in the city by land, but have made
no demonstration.
Scarcity provisions in Manila. Prob.
able that the Spanish governor will be
obliged to surrender soon. Can take
Manila at any moment. Climate hot
and moist. On May IL captured gun.
boat Callao, attempting to run blockade.
Have plenty of coal. One British, one
French, two German and one japanese
vessels here observing. "DEwEY."
The officials are making all possible
haste to rush troops to supplement- Ad-
miral Dewey's forces, SO that if the
Spanish governor does surrender the
former will not be dependent upon the
small numter of marines which he can
lily spare from his ships, but will have
the assistance of soldiers in holding his
position and maintaining order. 1t is
confidently hoped here that the City of
Peking, chartered as q transport vessel,
will be able to clear from San Francisco
in very short time, to be followed i'll
rapid succession by the other three ships
engaged for similar purpose.
The Peking 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 which he will
need. The total number of men to be
sent will aggregate probably $4,000, as
Major General Wesley Merritt, who is
to command the expedition and subse-
quently 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.
Reports received indicate that II 300
men selected for the expedition from the
volunteer forces in the country west of
the Mississippi river will be prepared to
move in O few days. Adjutant General
Corbin is of the opinion that in the
neighborhood of 1000 of these will
finally qualify for the expedition. 1t is
the purpose now to send force of l5,-
600 to the islands. In order to make up
the requisite number, it is the intention
of the army officials to send as part of
the expedition at least three regiments
of seasoned regular troops. General
Corbin said that the regular troops
probably would be sent from the forces
encamped at Tampa, Fla, as they are
the most available now at the disposal
of the department.
1t is not regarded as desirable to re-
move such regular troops as have been
lefs in the Indian country. The fear is
entertained that If those troops should
be sent away from their present posts
some Of the unruly Indians might take
advantage of their absence to commit
outrages and depredations upon the
white settlements. For that reason the
regular troops selected for the Philip
pine expedition will be taken from the
forces modified the Atlantic coast.
1t was announced definitely that the
transport ship City Of Peking, now.at
San Francisco, would sail for Manila
maybe today with about a regiment and
half of the volunteers already selected
for the expedition. Other forces des-
tined for Manila will be hurried to San
Francisco as rapidly as possible and will
be sent to the support OF Admiral Dewey
as soon as they can be thoroughly
equipped.
HoNdKoNG, May 16.-The United
States dispatch boat Hugh McCulloch
has arrived here from Manila with dis
DdUCnbS UuO OlllUGu BONtIu-
ment. She reports that the Spanish
gunboat Callao, from the Caroline
islands, recently entered the port Of
Manila, being ignorant of the outbreak
of hostilities between Spain and the
United States. An American warship
| fred across her bows and signaled her a
demand for surrender. The demand
! being disregarded, the American ships
fired direct at the Spanish gunboat and
the latter surrendered.
Uhe populace of Manila is reduced To
eating horse flesh, and the prospect OF
| relief seems far distant.
The Hugh MoCulloch also reports
that the Philippine insurgents applied
| to Rear Admiral Dewey for his approval
of an attack by them upon the city. The
admiral, it appears, approved Of the
plan, provided no excesses were commit
ted. The insurgents then pleaded thai
they had no arms with the exception ol
machetes, to which the admiral re
piled;
"Help yourselves at the Cavite ar
senal."
The city of Manila, however, has no
yet been attacked. About 5000 Spanisf
troops are guarding the road leading
from Cavite to Manila.
/
The Cruiser Yale Sails.