The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-03

and the winning of the. battle Of Ma
nla on May day, came to the govern
ment through the medium OF the press
dispatches. If the report is true that
Commodore Dewey has begun bonn
ba.dment and blockade OF the city OF
Manila, It Is unlikely that he can spare
q vessel from his fleet to carry the news
to Hong Kong, the nearest cable sta
ton, so 1t Is not known when official
advices will come. There was some ex-
pectation that through the surrender
Of the city the commodore might ac-
quire control OF the cable, but even
then there might. be practical difficult
ties in communicating through It.
The officers OF Commodore Dewey's
fleet includes at least one lieutenant
who Is a good practical electrician and
telegrapher,s but 1t Is not known posi-
lively that he Is able to work cable
successfully, Second, a fear Is enter
tanned that before retiring from the city
the Spanish troops Will smash the dell
cate and complicated electrical appar,.
atus for the reception and dispatch OF
messages, and 1t Is very uncertain
whether there is enough skill In the
American feet to repair such damage
without aid from the maitland. The
mere cutting OF the cables, as reported
by the Spaniards. Is not regarded as
particularly serious, since being hem
med IN by the American blocleading
fleet, the Spanlards would not be able
TO make the cut far Off shore: that the
cable could be easily srappled and re-
paired.
f,s The Grentest Anxiety.
The greatest anxiety is felt as to
the casualties sustained by the Ameri-
can fleet. From the stubborn defense
made by the Spaniards Il is feared that
before they burnt, blew up or sunk
their ships they managed TO infilct Sc
we're damage upon Commodore Dewey's
squadron.
b All OF the ships engaged we're vul-
nerable In one respect. namely In their
lack OF protection to life. There was
not an arrnored ship in Commodore
Dewey's fleet, the nearest approach
being the flagship Olympia. She had
some good coal protection around the
sides and an archcd steel deck, calcu-
lated to protect the Vltals OF the. ship.
The other vessels Of the fleet. save
those recently added to the navy, like
the McCulloch, have lighter steel decks
OF this character. but In all cases. with
tho exception of some slight proteo-
tion In the shape Of gun Shields. the
personnel of the ships were exposed to
the fire OF the enemy. II Commodore
Dewey has lost a considerable portion
OF his men 1t is feared that he Will be
much embarrassed In the work Of main
tanning possession of Manila for lack
of sufficient force. u United States naval
vessels are always undetermined, ac-i
cordlng to European standards. and 1t,
will not be possible, having regard to
the safety Of the ships, TO spare any
considerable number of men 10 keep
the city, especially II the engagement
has disabled many ofsthem. There was
some talk this afternoon OF sending
troops out from San Frnnclso to aid In
this work. but this has not yet taken.
shape as far as can be learned, and It
Is likely that the department will walt
to henr from Commodore: Dewey him,
SELF before taking any action. It may
be, and in fact, 1t lis expected. that by
combination with tho insurgents, he.