The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-03

Washington May Alt Is curious fact
Z that the nation most directly Interested Of
i'll the great powers in the combat that
ook place n, Manila yesterday should b$
lmong the last officially TO know tho re-
suit Up 10 the close Of office hours today
absolutely tho only information that our
government had received OF the brilliant
,ctory OF Commodorc Dewey and the win
ling OF the battle of Malta on May DAY
,ame TO the government through the mod
UNI Of tho press
n II the report Is true that Commodore
Dewey has begun homhardment and
blockade OF the city Of Manila Il - liSsiy
10 can spare a vessel from his ice, 10
AIRY the nows TO Hong Kong. the nearest
,able station, 80 II is not known wh
,ficial advices will come. There was some
expectation that through the surrender Of
he city the commodore might acquire con-
.rol of the cable, but even then there might
% practical difficulties In communicating
through 1t. a fear is entertained that be-
s'ore retiring from the city the spanish
troops VIII smash the delicate AMI com
plicatod electrical apparatus for the ieceg-
lion and dispatch OF messages ana It Is
very uncertain whether there Is enough
technical skill In the American dect TO re-
pair such damage. The mere cutting OF the
cable, as reported by the spaniaids. IS not
regarded as particularly serious, as that
could be easily repaired
The greatest anxiety is felt as to ,hs
casualties sustained by the American nect
From the stubborn defense made by the
Spaniards 1t is feared that before tn. y
burned blew up or sunk their bhlps they
managed to inflct severe damage on Com
modore Dewey's sauadron
There was not an armored shlo IN Com
modore pewsy's fleet The olympia had
some coal protection around the eides ana
Ill arehed steel deck calculated to protect
Inc vitais Of the ship. The other vessels of
tha neet, save those recently aided to the
navy, Ike the McCulloch, have lighter
steel drills OF this character, bat the per-
sohnel OF the ships were generally exposed
A.
De"oy mas losl considerable portion o.
MIS- men. 1t Is feared ho will be mucn en-.
parfassed Ill the work OF MANAGING IN i,
control OF Manila.
There wai some talk this evening" ~,
senuihs Troop. uuI lrom san Francisco IL
AN III this MorA, but II "a likely tuat IN,
department vail wait TO hear from lonlnlu
So'S beWe! himself bpior2 taKlus any ao.
uoh' II may be, and, In tact. 1t 10 OK,
peeleu. that by combination with the m
suISolts he VIII succeed IN having his me,
'sueVeu OF the task OF sarrisonlns MANIA
40 10 lhc future oi the island. IL "a iiN>a,
snat inc government viii retain posses sioi
" at ieast one gova port, such as MAll.a
Ao' vohiins station and a base OF supple
eufihs Tue war. There was understood q
Nc considerable Spanish force IN the Phil
ippines. and large number OF natives a.
said TO be unloyai. between these aud "a
insurgents It Is likely that the ciyli wa
may rage on the island for some lime out
slds OF Manila proper II Is believed tn
officials have not decided what to do wlsl
tne Islands at the eud of the war, but II
their possession the United States will en-
1oy powerful weapon in enforcing term
o. peace with Spain.
surprising Porto kico shall next be seized
~ Wouiu seem mat spain would have litt.
70 encourage her In further resisting IN
United States, as the fall OF Porto Ric
would mean the loss 10 Spain OF her iroa
clad fleet should It cross the Atlantic.
There is no talk set OF European intcryen
ton, but one OF the most b.aeficial re ult
OF Dewey's victory yesterday is that
deep Impression has been made on 1t
European powers. who can now no lonce
AFFORD to blind themselves to the fact tha
man to man, the American navy Is equal I
y any In the world. There was no exhibitor
such as WAS snserlnsly predicted in tn
European press OF weakness In the Amer
lean fleet caused by the fact tina. /; was o
Heterogeneous composition. The lmpre ISL
produced Is likely to deter the Europca
powers from hasty interventlon. and IN
4 present indications nre that we shall be le
10 settle our Affairs With Spain NJ our ow
pleasure, always providing we 40 not y,
Involved In tho Eastern Qus stion throne
obtainjng 20 session OF the phitipnlnfs
u = entirely possible that con,modor
4 Dewey may secure his promotion Ia n
4 rank OF admiral through the solendid ~
hibition Of pluck, discretion and sale
n qualities he made Ia yesterday's engae,
a ments. The naval law. however. does nc