The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-06
TERRIBLEM0RTALITY
Deweys Squadron Alleged to Have
Suffered Greatly,
NAVY DEPARTMENT DENIES IT.
IL Was Impossible for Any One to Hear
Before the Officials at Washington,
The News Will BE Given Out
Promptly When IL Comes
10 Hand-Thc Movement
of Captain Sampson.

WASHINGTON. ID. c., May 5.-The
officials OF the Navy Department, from
the Secretary down, are thorouhgly in
dignant at the character of the stories
emanating from san Francisco, that are
being published as authentic accounts or
the engagement Of Commodore Dewey
at Manila. one I'm particular excited in
dgnaIon, that asc-ibing 20 Admiral
Kirkland, at Mare Island. the receipt
of telegram from Commodore Dewey
describing the terrible mortality on his
own fleet resulting from the battle OF
Manila. Il was shown that II was ut
terly impossible for news from the feet
10 come in any such fashion. lnas-
much as the department facilities for
the receipt OF information from Commo-
dorc Dewey's squadron were superior to
those OF individuals it was declared 10
be utterly improbable that they could
receive news before the department IT.
self such dispatchs as that complained
OF were cruel and seuseless, and inflicted
great misery upon the wives, mothers,
daughters and other relatives Of the
brave sailors Of this fleet. who have been
an1iously waiting to- hear from them.
Tho officials about concluded this morn
ing that there was little prospect OF re-
ceivlug news from Commodore Dewey
directly during the course of the day,
though there is always "a possibility tfat
a merchant vessel may reach Hong Kong
from the Philippines bringing some news
OF the battle and subsequent events az
Manila. IL is practically settled that the
cable cannot be relied upon as means
of communication, as it is doubtless cut
inshore somewhere between ITS landing
place i'm the Island OF Luzon-Point bo-
lanio-and Manila, and, therefore, at a
point beyond the reach Oh ConlIhouoI'
Dewey at this time
THE DEPARTMENT CALCULATION.
Tho official calculation is about as fol-
lows. The latest authentic and direct
news from Manila showed that Dewey
subdued the Spanish fleet and made MS
demand for the surrender OF Manila
through the British Consul some time
Sunday afternoon. He gave notice OF
bombardment at the same time az the eX-
piration of twenty-f0ur hours, Whlch
would make the bOmbardment itself begin
Monday afternoon. No boat could nave
been spared 10 carry dispatches In such
h
Manila had fallen that the AlcCulloch sail
ed from Manila. That would not be be-
fore Monday evening at earliest and pos
sibly not for q day or two later. Pre-
suming that the vessel sailed at the ear
liest moment Monday evening, allowing
three days for passage, she was not due
at Hong Kong or Mrs Bay until Tonight
But it is already tonight by our time in
either place and possibly the McCulloch
or some dispatch boat Is just entering the
harbor. There would however be other
delays i'm the receipt of the message here.
such as the time lost in the many cable
relay stations. which can be set down at
about six hours at a minimum. IL will be
seen that by this calculation there Is lit
tie chance Of official news coming IN dur
ing the daylight hours.
WILL GIVE OUT NEWS PROMPTLY.
There need be no apprehension on the
part Of the public that any news that Is
received from Commodore Dewey will be
withheld from IL. Secretary Long has
stated i'm the most positive manner that
he regards II as his duty TO make the
people acquainted with tho facts az soon
as he knows them himself. He believes
this is only just to the relatives and
friends of the sailors Of Dewey's fleet.
Therefore. the many statements and ru-
mors that are constantly circulating 10
the effect that the Navy Department has
received mysterious cabLegrams from
Hong Kong. which IL Is sedulously con-
cealing. may Doe set down as pure moon
shine.
MOVEMENTS OF SIMPSONS FLEET.
No confirmation is obtainable OF the
various reports that are published this
morning concerning movements ~ Admi-
raj Simpsons fleet People who from
tEofr ,Ff.f,I roafffan rrfgnf IA euunoaed
10 share I'm the confidence Of the admin
istration are credited with the statement
that the Admiral has gone TO seize Porto
Rico. and this statement Is made after
conference with the executive.
on the other hand II IS asserted with
almost equal positiveness that SIMPSONS
irOnclads have gone TO meet the oregon
and bring her I'm safety to the north.
Still another story is 10 the effect that
the Admiral has gone TO seize Matanzas.
for use as a base OF operations The Off
cials refuse absolutely 20 make public the
plan of campaign and thus give aid 10
the enemy. Therefore these conflicting
theories as 10 the plans Of the fleet can
be Judged only in the light Of their prob
ability when viewed I'm connection with
the usual methods OF warfare Thus 10
lombard Matanzas without at the same
time being able 10 land a sufficient force
10 seize and hold the place would seem
10 be very bad strategy. and the fact that
Simpsons feet was accompanied by no
troop transports would seem to negative
the idea that he had either gone TO at
tack Matanzas or To seize Porto Rico. To
attempt the latter would also require n
strong landing force, In view OF the num-
Der Of Spanish troops on the island. In
addition Il is suggested that Admiral
Sampson would be very 10th 10 run the
risk OF having one or more Of his best
ships completely disabled by attacking
forts needlessly. as the result might be to
leave his fleet inferior TO the Spanish
force.
ADDITION To FLYING SQUADRON.
A significant movement IS the addition
OF the warship New Orleans. late the
Abreuall of the Brazilian navy. 10 Com
modore Schleys squadron at Hampton
Roads in place Of the flyer Columbia.
This seems TO indicate a complete change
I'm the character of the squadron. which.
instead of being a flying squadron in the
ordinary sense. has now assumed the
character of an iron-clad battle fleet
Without being as speedy as at first or