The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-06
The Fleet and the Philippines.

The orders Just issued for the despatch Of
the Baltimore to Hong Kong have an Inn
portant bearing on the question OF active
operations against Manila Bay in case of
trouble with Spain.
There can be no doubt that the outbreak
of war would be followed blythe utilization
ofall our ships, on foreign as we'll as home
stations. Commodore DEwEy's squadron,
in Asiatic waters, could, of course, either
be called to our shores or be employed In
protecting American commerce elsewhere;
but it seems more probable that its
primary duty would be to attack the
Philippines, SPANS most important colony
in that part Of the world. Even prepare
tions for such an attack would detaip the
Spanish war vessels now there, and 80 be
effective in cooperation. But in addition,
since the rebellion in those islands was
only recently quelled, less by arms than by
brides, 1t might be revived by such opera
tions. Our Hong Kong dispatches say that
the insurgent chiefs recently banished
thither have been asked, in a letter from
Manila, to aid in another revolt.
Our Asiatic feet has been concentrated
at Hong Kong within q few days, a sig
niflcant move, since this southerly rendez-
vous is so near the Philippines as to make
the short run thither, followed by active
operations, practicable without anxiety as
to coal supply. Our fleet is headed by the
Olympia, under Capt. GR1DLEY, which,
though not quite as large or as fast as the
Columbia and Minneapolis, is yet so much
their superior in battery power as to make
her a splendid example of the protected
cruiser class. She displaces 5,S7Otons. de.
velops 1913 indicated horse power, has a
trial record of 21.6s6 knots, and carries
four S-inch guns, ten rapid.1re 5.inch, four.
teen %6-pounders, six ~1-pounders and four
Gatlings. The Boston, 5000 tons, Capt.
FRANK WILDEs, carries two s.inch and six
6-inch guns, with twelve smaller pieces.
The Raleigh, 1928 tons, Capt. CoGHLAN,
carries one G-inch and ten 5-inch guns,
with fourteen smaller pieces. The Concord,
ITO tons, Commander WALKER, carries
six 6-inch guns and eight smaller pieces.
The Petrol, 500 tons, Commander WOOD,
carries four 6-inch guns and seven smaller
pieces. All these ships are now assembled
at Hong Kong, while the Monocacy, which
need not be reckoned in, remains at Woo
Sung.
What, then, is the bearing of the project
for the Olympia and the Baltimore to ex.
change stations, of which our Washington
correspondent speaks9 For the present
the Asiatic squadron will be strengthened.
The Olympia will not leave Hong Kong
until after the Baltimore gets there SO
that if our affairs with Spain are still
critical, she can be detained. Thus, so far
as the Philippines question is concerned,
we must now d to our available strength
the Baltimore, 4,413 tons, Capt. DYER,
with her four S-inch and six 6-inch guns,
besides fourteen smaller pieces. The Balti-
more will also, it is said, take to the Ash.
attic fleet a fresh supply of ammunition,
which the Mohican is to deliver to her at
Honolulu.
1t is easy to see that this would be a
formidable fleet, with it's aggregate of ten
s-inch, twenty.three 6-incb, and twenty
rapid-ire 5-inch guns. 1t is also available,
while leaving the Bennington at Honolulu
and drawing nothing from our side of the
Pacific or from the European squadron.