The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-13
Leads all O0r North Carolina Da88 in B0h News and Circulation
INTERVENTION DENIED.
The Powers Are Annoyed at the Re
peated FabricatiOns.


| Cardenas harbOr yesterday and the loss
of five lives on board the tornedo boat
Winslow had SOLDERING effect on the
element of the Navy, which is crying for
rapid action and efforts at destroying
batteries with unarmOred ships. There
probably will be some sort of inquiry in
stituted to ascertain the responsibility
for sending such unprotected ships as
the WinslOw against fortified ports. 1t
is miraculous in the opinion of the Older
officers at the Department that thl$ dam
age and loss of life wee confined to the
Winslow, for the other boats with her
were very little letter off in the matter
of protection and scarcely any of them
could resist the fire of Il small rife 1t
| is likely that if such work as was at
tempted at Cardenas is to be done here
after the task will be assigned to more
| formidable craft.
Notwithstanding the multitude of rll-
mors that came from all parts of the
West Indies as to the bOmbardment of
San Juan de Porto Rico, and other san
culinary engagements between Simpsons
battleships and the Spanish forces, the
Navy Department was in official ignor-
ance of any such event. At the close u
office hours it was said that nothing had
been heard from Admiral Sampson.
1t is believed that there will be diff
Guilty in the admiral's communicating
with the department by cable from st.
Thomas and there are suggestions tha,
the newspapers despatch boats accom-
panying SIMPSONS fleet will be deprived
of the use of the cable also on the pre-
text that neutrality is thereby violated
and St. Thomas made a base Of opera
tions.
just where the Spanish flying squad
ron is still remains in doubt, and no word
of official confirmation has come to the
Navy Department of the Cadiz report
of the day before yesterday. StiH there
are enough Americans counting vessels
covering the approaches to the West In
dla channel to spot any approaching
Spanish ship in short order.
Mr.. Allen, the newly inducted Assis-
tant Secretary of the Navy, being a
Massachusetts man, had to bear the
brunt of score Of applications for pro-
lection that came to the Department
from all points on the coast from Maine
to Connecticut. The department has
done what it regards as necessary in as
signing the monitors and some vessels of
the mosquito fleet to the patrol of this
coast and in holding Commodore Schley's
magnificent squadron Mt Hampton Roads
| ready to fly at 20 knots to any point on
the coast that may be threatened
dispatch came to-day to the Navy
Department from Admiral Dewey at
Manila. 1t was dated Hong Kong to-
day was evidently few days old and
does not show that Dewey has possessed
himself of Manila. Probably he regards
his original orders as not broad enough
to justify that action without further di-
rectiOns and as his dispatch was sent last
Monday he could not have received the
last orders of the department The ma
ture of these orders is indicated by the
assignment of two such officers as Ma
jor-Generals Merritt and Otis to COM
mand the troops that are to be hurried
to the Philippines when the quarter
master has prOvisiOned the ships mt San
Francisco. General Merritt is the senior
Major-General in the United States ser
vice after General Miles, and in ordina-
ry cases, is entitled to the most impOrt-
ant commands so his dispatch for this
work may be taken as an evidence of the
Presidents estimate Of the importance
of this expedition.
In all official quarters, State Depart
ment and diplomatic, the reports coming
from London to the effect that same or
the continental powers, particularly
Germany and France, have made pro-
tests against American occupation of tb,.
Philippines, are met with fiat denial.
There has been no recent concerted ac
tiOn among the continental powers TO-
wards Intervention, nor have the reportS
Of these powers in Washington ey-
changed any views lately touching on
intervention
in the most specific manner by French
and German officials They are begin |
ming to feel considerable annoyance M
these official repeated reports and are |
inclined to attach some Significance to |
the fact that all Of them emanate from
London In at least one embassy of |
continental power this tendency at Lon |
don has received official attention and
the notice of the State Department has |
been drawn to it during an official inter-
view.
There is no doubt that Germany. /
France and Great Britain are sending
their warships to the Philippines. but
this is said to be a neutral movement for
the protection of the citizens and nrop-
erty of these countries and not with anv
purpose of aggression of interruDtiug the
plans of the United States. The French
government has the cruiser Rruix Mt Ma.
Mia. the British government has two
wnrships and Germany will soon have
several ships there. These are drawn
from the powerful squadrons which Eu
ropean powers maintain in Asiatic wa
ters. The German feet in those waters
consists of eight ships under Admiral
Hoffman with Prince Henry as second
IN command. The British fleet consists
Of thirty-one ships under Adm:Sal Sir
Il. II. Seymour The Russians have
twenty-five ships. and the French eleven
shins in Asiatic waters. With these for
nidable squadrons near the PhiliWines.
It IS not subject of surprise or appre-
hension that some of the ships should
be centered at Manila. when it is the
seat Of the greatest naval engagemoUe of .
recent years.