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

Over the Brliiinnt Defeat OF tho spaniahl
Fleet by tho Asiatio squadron Of the
Unlted statss. "A 4 M
LONDON, May e.-IW the house ofl
parliament, at the hotels, which are
beginning to be full OF American tour
lists. at all the government Offices, and
particularly at the admiralty. the bril-
liant defeat OF the Spanish fleet by the
Asiatie fleet OF the United States at the
battle OF Manila was the one subject
talked of throughout the day.
The United States embassy was the,
center Of Interest for oil London. There
was a continuous hne OF callers re-
questing Information, the majority be-
Ing Americans. The United States am
bassador, Colonel John Hay, Is over-a
joyed at this demonstration of the
pyowess OF the American navy, remark-s
ing concerning Commodore Dewey
who Is a personal friend OF the ambas-
sador: "It Is hard to imagine so quiet
and amIable gentleman controlling o.
fierce naval battle. It Is these quiet
gentlemanly Americans. however. who
may be depended upon to surprise the
world when the opportunity OF making,
history comes in the line II duty
Lieutenant Colwell, the United States
naval attache. declared the result was.
merely what he expected. r q.
The hotel bulletins are surrounded
with enthusiastic Americans, many OF
them displaying miniature flags at their
buttonholes.
Many British naval officers have ex-S
pressed the warmest admiration for the
work OF the American fleet. In fact o.
preponderance Of sentiment In the Brit-
ish navy seems to be with! the Ameri-
cans throughout. the officers giving
many practical proofs Of their partial
ity. International courtesy, however,.
debarred the high officials from CONF
menting on the result.
All the Information obtainabie here
concerning the Spanish force Of auxil-.
iary cruisers, In regard to which vague
reports have 'emanated from Madrid,
tends to show that 1t has been over
estimated. The best two ships. the Coz
lumbia and the Normannia, formerly
OF the Hamburg rg-American line. are yet
unarmed and 1t Is believed they will be
unable to secure armament.
The chief factor OF the remainder Of
the Spanish force OF auxiliary cruisers
consists in the ak steamers belonging
to the Barcelona trans Atlantic COM
pany. They are fairly we'll armed but !
they have been scattered. Two of them
are with the Cape Verde squadron as
transports, one Is conveying the torpedo
flotilla. another. 1t is said, Is at Santiago
de Cuba, and two are at Cadiz. ~
The afternoon newspapers to-day cuin-
>ment at length upon the victory OF the
United States fleet at Manila. The Pail
Mall Gazette says:s.The earlier Spanish
stories left nc shadow OF doubt that the
Spanish feet had been. to put It round-ii
ly. smashed, and later information this,
morning places It even beyond possio!h-
ty OF q Spanish denial" *
The newspapers all discuss the uItI-
mate fate OF the Philippine Islands as
question In which the European powers
are vitality interested, and they agree in i
saying that another element of diseord
has been introduced into the far eastern
scramble. t':23 50 Z ~
The Evening Standard commenting on
the American victory says: ES
Every one will hope this prompt and
decisive blow to the Spanish forces Win
lead to an early termination Of hostile
ties, a hope which has been encouraged
by, The remarkable language of Senor.
Snveia in the cortes, when he declared
the Cuban problemis reduced to ques-
tion Of honor for Spanish arms. Al