The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-05-03
JOY BEAMED
CountenanceS of Navy Depart.
ment Officials Reflected
Victory.
All Fatigue Forgotten as They
Talked Of the Battle of
Manila.
Belief That the Whole Story OF
American Victory Has Not
Yet Been Told.
Landing Of the American Wound.
ed Considered a Very Signiti-
cant Fact.

WASHINGTON, May 3.-Joy beamed
on every countenauce at the navy de.
partment and officials exchanged en-.
thusiastic congratulations Oh Conmo-
dore Dewey's victory as they entered
the department to take up their daily
tasks. Many Of the officers were tired
and worn to the verge Of nervous pros.
tration by the exhausting labors Of the
last few weeks, but all fatigue was for.
gotten for the moment, as they stopped
70 talk of the battle Of Manila. There
was anxious inquiry from all sources
for some kind Of news of the details of
the tight. 1t was realized by the off.
cials that nothing can be expected
directly from Commodore Dewey il
the usual course for at least two days
more. There is, however, a possibility,
which Is magnifed by expectant minds
here into a proba bility, that some infor-
nation at least more reliable and freer
from color, than that which comes from
Madrid. may be forthcoming through
49, AAhAS ASASAeA o4AISC.
Has Talked With Dewey.
While the Spanish government, in
the case OF an emergency, might take
absolute possession Of the cable at
Manila, 1t IS not customary to deny &C.
cess TO 1t to the diplomatic and consu.
lar officials Of neutral governments.
The cabled report that the British con.
sui general at Manila had a conference
after the conflict with Commodore
Dewey, indicates clearly that he is at
least in possession of the American
story Of the naval battle and probably
has been made acquainted with the ex.
tent Of the loss suffered by the Ameri.
can ships. 1t is not doubted thal if the
opportunity offers the consular officer
Will communicate promptly the facts
10 his home government, and it is just
possible that he has been requested by
Commodor Dewey to see TO it that a
brief and fair statement of the facts
are transmitted ID the United States
government.
Look For Even Better News.
The conviction IS growing in the
state and nav department that the re.
ports which have been received so far
Of the naval engagements greatly min.
lmlZe the achievements Of the Ameri.
can feet. A careful reading Of the dis.
patches, even those from Spanish
sources, seems to warrant an assumption
that Commodore Dewey has succeeded
completely in his undertaking, and has
accomplished everything that was ex.
pected Of him, and included in his or.
ders. 1t is noticed in one sentence that
the report speaks Of the commodore
landing his wounded. This is regarded
as a very significant statement. 1t is
not supposed for an instant that the
admiral abandoned his wounded to the
enemy and the only sane inference that
a be drawn IS that he placed them
IN proper shelter on shore, under a
guard from the United States fleet, and
is prepared to protect the landing place
with the gum Of the feet. Thus it ap.
pears that Commodore Dewey has
crushed the Spanish fleet, the prime
object of his expedition, and has re.
lIeved American commerce in the Pa.
cItc from the dread Of capture, while
III addition he has placed his feet on
Spanish soil, and holds a position
ashore, which may be developed into a
base Of supplies for his fleet, which thus
VIII have found a legitimate home.