The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-05-04
NO NEWS FROM ADMIRAL DEWEY AT MANILA

the Spanish feet Ia destroyed completely
and In every respect dare say that
when We receive information from non
Spanish sources lis completeness will be
even more striking. What appears to me
and hose with whom I have discussed
the news. the most dlsgraceful feature
Of the action Il the failure OF the Spanish
batteries 10 give effective assistance 10
their feet. OF course the feet itself was
entirely outclassed. but that does not
account for Dewey being permitted 10
enter the harbor. which Is provided with
modern defenscs. have no doubt the
Americans have made a landing In some
convenient position and as no damage %
Dcweys ships has been specified. he can
easily make good what injury may have
been done The fact that he was able
TO form up the squadron for the block
ade Of Manila Immediately after defeat
ing the Spanish feet. proves that his
ships could have sustained no material
injury.
THE result Of this engagement sus-
tains the view I expressed 10 the World
some time slnce-that the spanIards are
no match whatever FOR the Americans.
either IN strategy or In the skilled use
OF modern weapons of artillery"
Gibson Bowles. ". p. also an authority
on naval matters. said:
1T Is perfectly clear In my opinion that
the Spanish feet has been knocked into
a cooked hat They are only letting US
know the facts by degrees and some
things In their dispatches are not easy
to comprehend. They say that the Amer
leans landed their wounded but Dewey
would never do that unless he had taken
a base Of operations on shore. and doubt
less we shall hear later that he has done
50; but unless he gets assistance from
the insurgents he may ind II difficult
TO maintain himself He has under the
circumstances been unable to bring SOL
dlers to make the power OF the feet
effective; but nevertheless. ne achieved
brilliant piece OF work and which the
more We hear Of II the more admirable
II Is likely 10 appear"
Political consequences are likely To en-
sue from the United States capture Of
the Philippines which has caused much
interest here. Germany has long had
covetous eyes upon these rich lands.
while British interests have been a bar
10 any deal between Spain and Germany
in relation to them. Japan Is also known
10 eagerly desire these possessions. Dew
ey's victory has suddenly placed the
United States in an important position
in connection with the far Eastern ques-
ton. European interests In Cuba are
remote. almost academic but the Phil
ippines is an entirely different matter.
II is believed that the United States can
use the possession OF the Philippines as
"a powerful lever to force spain to ahan-
don Cuba through the pressure OF Eu-
ropean powers who do not want a Span
lsh colonial disruption in the far East
TO take place until the Chinese question
Is settled.
Sir Charles Dixie said:
The United States possession OF the
Philippines raises numerous important
and delicate points for the consideration
OF the powers. / should not be surprised
II eventually the United States secured
the valuable good will OF Japan by hand
ing over the Philippines TO them"
The Idea II not the hope prevalent here
that the Spanish feet would prove a
tough opponent for the United States has
now entirely been dispelled and all conf
dence in the Spanish fighting power is
gone. The suggestion was thrown out
that the Cape Verde squadron had a
rendevouz with the coallng transports
at some out-of-the-way island In the
West Indies. where it will replenish the
bunkers before appearing opposite Ha-
vana. but the belief .. Spanish fore
sight is so entirely dispelled that 1t is
doubted II the Spanish have taken even
that essential precaution to equip them
ior a decisive engagement