The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-05-05

sent the revenue cutter McCulloch back
to Hongkong with dispatches and that
the first information from him will
come from that point.
All news thus far comes from Span
ish sources, but it seems evident that
Commodore Dewey has not captured
Manila. Unless he is able to make
another attack and capture the town he
will be in an awkward position, having
no base upon which to retire and to re.
fit.
Probably, therefore, the United States
squadron will be obliged to make for
San Francisco. The entrance to Ma.
Mia bay was heavily mined with tor.
pedoes.
Commodore Dewey displayed great
pluck and daring in making for the in
ner harbor. According to private adj
vices received from Madrid the United
States cruisers Olympia and Raleigh
and two other vessels, the names OF
which are not given, entered the har.
Dor.
No dispatches give details as to the
vessels actually engaged on either side
1t appears to be incorrect that the Amer.
ican ships finally anchored behind the
merchantmen on the east side of the
bay. 1t should be the west side.
In the dispatches from Madrid the
statement was made that Admiral
Dewey effected landing on the west
side of Manilt bay for the men of his
feet who were wounded in the engage
ments. 1t was suggested in official
circles that this landing had two-fold
purpose. 1t was not only that the
wounded might have better care than
they could receive on shipboard in the
face of other probable engagements,
but also to carry out what was known
to be Admiral Dewey's purpose to effect
junction with the insurgents as soon
as possible.
WASHINGTON, May 2.-Not since
the dark days of the great civil
conflict of a third of a century age
have the people of this city been so pro-
foundly moved by war news as they
were last evening.
The first battle of the Hispano- Amer.
ican war has been fought and victory
lies with Admiral Dewey's squadron
under the Stars and Stripes.
That was enough to set the people OF
Washington almost in a frenzy of en-.
thusiastic rejoicing. For days they, in
common with the people throughout the
country, have been awaiting news from
the Philippine islands, as everything
pointed to a battle at Manila that might
be a decisive conflict of the war. When
the news came indicating a great vic.
tory for the American squadron the Ell.
thusiasm of the people was let loose
and the streets Of the city rung with
cheers.
Ordinarily Washington is the quietest
of cities on Sunday, but as bulletin after
bulletin was posted in front of the news.
paper offices, each successive one con.
veying information more gratifying
than its predecessor, the crowds in the
streets became uproarious. Good as
well as bad news spread rapidly, and by
10 O'Clock the streets were crowded
with people, all discussing the one ex-
citing topic of the hour. Hundreds
gathered in front Of the bulletin boards
and every scintilla of newsstand it was
all glorious--was received with enthusi.
astiC cheers.
While victory had been expected, the
news of it-coming as it did from Span.
ish sources-gave vent to the patriotism
of the people which has been pent mp
for days. 1t was a spontaneous out.
burst Of patriotic feeling that scarcely
knew bounds. Admiral Dewey's name
was on every lip aud his praises were
sung in the rejoicings Of the people.
Thus far no official adyiCes have been
received by the government, but dis.
patches were transmitted to the presi-
dent and officials of the administration
as rapidly as they were received, The
president, in company with several of
his advisers, read the bulletins in the
library of the White House. The news
was evidently of the most gratifying
character to him, but no statement
could be obtained at the executive man.
sion concerning the battle or its posi-
BILE consequences.
Officials Of the navy department were
reticent in discussing the conflict, in
the absence of official information, but
they made no pretense Of concealing
their great qualification. Secretary
Long declined to comment upon the
subject, but it was evident that he felt
relieved. 1t has been known for days
at the navy department that a conflict
at Manila was inevitable, and while no
great fear of the result was expressed,
there was yet deep concern in the
heart Of every official.
The absence of any statement of spe.
cific injury to the American vessels in
the Madrid advices was construed as
convincing indication that they had not
suffered appreciable injury, and this
was especially pleasing to the naval
students Of the news. Not only was
the preservation of the American ships
and men considered in itself a happy
outcome, but it was commented upon as
indicating clearly that Admiral Dewey
and his associate officers and the men
under their command had discharged
splendidly their several duties in direct
ing and executing the fight.
In this connection IL was pointed out
as little less than marvellous that the
American squadron escaped without
severe injury, because. notwithstand.
ing the disparity in the naval forces,
the Spanish feet assisted by the shore
batteries, should have been able to in.
hict severe damage to its foe before it,
self being destroyed. It's failure to do
so was expicable only upon the hypoth.
esis of perfect and swift work by the