Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-03
TROUBLE AT MANILA.

and no surprise will be felt at the re-
celpt OF news OF an outbreak at any
moment The United States Government
feels that it has assumed a moral obli-
cation towards not only the foreign resi-
dents at Manila. but towards the unpro-
tected classes Of the Spanish community,
including Catholic nuns and priests.
AS the insurgents are threatening the
| lives of some helpless monks, orders were
sent to the American military command
er to look into the matter and act I'm the
interest Of civilization and humanity. AS,
according TO report, the insurgents have
shown particular hostility towards the
monks, it is a reasonable expectation
that before long a collision will have oc-
CURED between themselves and the Amer
| ican troops, If the latter undertake to in
terfere in the execution Of the vengeance
Of the insurgents.
PORTO RICO.
Some reports which have been received
| from Porto Rico, but which for polite
| reasons cannot be made public, have given
| satisfaction to the officials of the War
| Department. since they go to show that
the resistance which can be made by the
! Spanish troops will be very light, and it
is even possible that General Miles will
achieve an almost bloodless victory.
| In fact, 1t has been suggested with some
plausibility that the Madrid Government,
realizing the imminence Of peace, and the
| lack Of loyalty towards the monarchy OF
! the mass Of Porto Ricans, may have al
lowed the Spanish garrison of the island
10 understand that they are not expected
| to sacrifice their lives in useless resist
| ance TO superior force so that all that is
to be expected is to be a rather formal
opposition to the progress of General
| Miles's triumphal march across the island
SHAFTER'S HEALTH REPORT.
| General Skaters health reports to-day
state that he is now caring for over 5000
sick people. including Spanish soldiers,
many of whom were found to be very i'll.
The task is a formidable one, and the
| attempt 10 care for all probably explains,
in "A measure, the lack of adequate pre-
paration for transports employed in bring
| ing home some of the wounded and sick.
| The conditions Of these boats were found
TO be so shocking as to demand an i'm
mediate official investigation, which was
begun to-day, and some court-martials
may be looked for In high places, unless
it can be shown clearly that the lack
of preparation was unavoidable.
VOTING AND WADE
Major-General Young called at the War
Department to-day, fresh from the front,
where his health broke down under long
and severe exertions imposed by the cam
paign. He spent some time with Secre-
tary Alger. as did Major-General Wade,
who has not yet been able to perfect the
arrangements for his expedition to Porto
Rico For the transportation thereof the
War Department is making an effort to
secure the two American liners, Harvard
and Yale, late the New York and Paris,
now In the charter of the Navy Depart
ment and it is believed that the effort
will be successful. AS to the other
liners-St. Paul and st. Louis-the Navy
Department has not yet reached de-
csion, though in view of the Presidents S
desire TO curtail war expenditures where
ever possible 1t is said that they,
too. will be surrendered by the Navy
Department in the course of few days.
In this case the naval commanders would
be left without commands, for even if the
vessels were used as army transports,
the law would not permit naval officers
to command them.
FIREPROOF WOOD FOR WARSHIPS.
Fireproof wood is again in full favor in
the navy, Secretary Long having to-day
issued an order requiring its use for
decks of battleships and monitors, the
only place from which 1t had been ex-
cluded by preceding orders, on account of
some commanders reports of dampness.
The Secretary has decided that the bat
tie of July Sd has removed any doubt
as to the importance of protecting war
ships from fire by the best means within
reach. SO he will appoint a board, to
consist Of line officer naval construcs
tor. and a chemist TO examine reports
coming from officers commanding ships
4
those who were present in the battle
where the Spanish ships were burned, and
he has instructed the Construction Bu-
reau TO gather all the information possible
Of this kind for submission TO the board.
wATsoNs SQUADRON.
Secretary Long stated this evening that
no change had been made in the orders
as TO watsons squadron, so that If the
Brooklyn is TO be attached thereto that
fact is not known at the department.
II Is much more likely that the Brook
lyn is coming north, as II was reported
70 the department a long time ago that
she was the first vessel Of the squadron
70 need overhauling and cleaning
| .,.~.v pprGnNEne RET,EASED.