New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-07
WAR NEWS THAT WASN'T NEWS.
STORIES WHICH Would RE INTERESTING IF
ONLY THEY WERE TRUE.

STORIES WHICH WOULD RE INTERESTING IF
ONLY THEY WE'RE TRUE.
Another day of suspense as 10 the outcome ~ tho
attack on tho Philippines only another oppor
tunity To- the news vendors to pour forth a flood
OF contradictory and apparently false reports The
old story Of dispatch from Singapore was again
made 10 play the role OF authentic news. II added
nothing to what had been told on the preceding
evening. and evidently nothing moro than a
habilitated report from a Madrid source Of Com
modore Dewey's victory.
London in return for It's forbearance in not send
ing out news which It did not have. received from
Washington n message which said that Secretary
Long had word OF Manilas bombardment. and OF
great loss Of life among IT'S defenders Secretary
Long received such message.
The Singapore cable route having been worked 10
It's utmost capacity II became necessary 20 send
messages by way Of Shanghai. and a dispatch CIV
Ing what said 10 be a japanese version Of tho
nghtng at Manila reached this city. It's wording
was about the same the reports already pub
lished. Later in the day came a dispatch said TO
have been from Hong Kong TO the German
Embassy in Madrid. and footnote added that this
dispatch probably true, because In view ot
Germany's attitude toward this country Madrid
would be tho first city 70 get the news. Com
municaticn between Hong Kong and Manila has
not yet been reopened and while II Is possible that
definite reports from towns near Manila should
reach this country none OF the aforementioned
dispatches gives any clew to how the so-called
Information was derived.
Spain has picked up some little hope In tho lark
OF definite news and after her custom has advanced
n theory to show that II was after all "a glorious
day for the Spanish arms" Commodore Dewey's
silence Is ascribed to the concealment Of twelve
Spanish gunboats which. after allowing the feet
to enter the harbor. have now closed In about the
entrance and erectually blockaded It, II the Span
ish authorities want more reasonable theory.
they might advance the one that Commodore
Dewey has cunk many Spanish ships that the
channels are now impossible.
A story which said to contain the orders
given by the Navy Department to Admiral Sampson
was published yesterday morning. They
plcit in allowing the Admiral to use his discre-
ton after looking for the Cape Verd fleet, and
added that the Administration did not want to take
Porto Rico. unless 1t should be necessary a coal
Ing station. Other Washington dispatches said
that the nrst movement planned to capture
Porto Rico. in order TO cut OF Spain from base OF
supplies In Western waters.
A London story said that the Strategy Board had
given notice TO the British Admiralty to remove
English subjects from the Canary Islands. This
rumor gave rise to another that Admiral Sampson
intended to capture the islands, and gain a naval
base for an attack on the Spanish coast As such
a move would leave this countrys Southern coast
practically unprotected It would appear that this is
another sample OF news that is not news.
The officials Of the Spanish Embassy in London
make a sweeping denial OF the report that there Is
any intention 10 abdicate the part OF the Queen
Regent
There will be another chance In few days TO
report the Temerario-whioh Is now said TO have
left Ensenada yesterdayat Lisbon Porto Rico. the
Canaries and various parts Of the Atlantic coast
10
heard from as intercepting tho steamers carrying
gold on the routes from the KlondlkA