The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-05-12
Washington Letter.
(FrOm Our Regular Correspondent
w Acry>,1noHy Nav e 1000


Great and glorious as was the
victory won by Commodore Dewey
with our squadron, in destroying
the Spanish feet and capturing
the fortified town of Manila, on
one of the Philippine Islands,
the official report of which was
this week received, orders have
been issued by the President
which are expected to result in an
equally great and glorious victory
within the next few days. What
these orders are it would not be
wise to say at this time, because
the country is swarming with
Spanish spies who would at once
hasten to warn Spain Of the i'm
pending blow; but it may be said
that they include the capture of
Porto Rico.
President Mckinley has nomi-
mated eleven of the major gener-
ais provided for by the act Great
ing the volunteer army. Seven of
them are brigadier generals in the
regular army, and the other four
are, Gen. James H. Wilson, of
Delaware, who was a distinguish
ed cavalry commander in the Un-
ion army during the late war;
Senator w. J. Sewell. of n. j.,
who was major general in the
Union army; Gen. Fitzhugh Lee,
who was major general in the
Confederate army, and Represent
tative Joseph Wheeler, Of Ala,
who was major general in the
Confederate army. Twenty-Five
brigadier generals were at the
same time nominated, all Of them
officers in the regular army.
A considerable portion of the
volunteer army is to be modified
at Washington at once, for organ
ization and camp instructions.
In addition to the volunteer
army, Congress has authorized the
enlistment of 10000 men and a
brigade of engineers, in the south,
all of them to be men who have
had yellow fever.
Talk about what the q. S. will
do with the Philippine Islands,
which have been so gallantly cap
tured by our Asiatic squa dron
under Commodore Dewey, is al
together premature. It is bridge
that the administration will not
= It 'r' WAT l. ;. "a
( +Y:.rn')y has n:'t b. serious
; oonsll-r*'l ny t&l< President
and cabinet. That the islands
will be held by the U. S. during
continuation Of the war is the only
thing that is certain; all stories
about the final disposition Of tho
islands are founded upon nothing
more substantial than guesses.
The Spanish report that Com
modore Dewey used petroleum
bombs in the destruction of the
Spanish feet in Manila harbor,
and afterwards in bombarding the
city of Manila, is merely another
spanish lie. Petroleum bombs
have never been used by the .. S.
navy.
Although it will probably not
be possible to get a vessel in
time for it to participate in the
war, President Mckinley, and SEN
ators and Representatives general
ly ere much pleased with the spi-
rit which actuated the wealthy
Hebrews of Ohio to contribute the
money to purchase first-class
warship to be presented to the q.
S. for use against Spain, and many
kind We rds of the Hebrews are
heard. It is not the first time
that they have given a practical
demonstration of their patriotism.
Lieutenant Colonel Theodore
Roosevelt, who has just resigned
the position of assistant secretary
of the Navy, in order to see active
service in the field, will proceed at
once to San Antonio, Texas, where
his regiment of rough riders are.
Col. Wood is already there.
President Mckinley greatly sur
prised the Georgia Congressional
delegation, which had caucused
and selected man to be appoint
ed brigadier general in the volun-
teer army, by declining to appoint
their man. He took occasion to
tell them that no amount of poll
tical or social influence would
cause him to give commissions to
men who lacked military expert
ence, To his personal friends the
President has not hesitated to say
that his experience during the late
war with social and political gen.
erals was sufficient to prevent his
making any such.
It was supposed that Commo-