Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-06
No DEWEY NEWS YET
The COnqueror Of the Philippines, How
ever, Believed 10 Be 0. K.
AID TO BIZ SENT FROM FRISCO.
The Hero, Though, Probably Repairing
His Ships al Manila.
SIMPSONS MOVEMENTS SECRET.
They Nay End in Seizure Of Porto Rico
fOf Some Cuban Port.
SIMPSONS MOVEMENTS SECRET.
NO FEAR FELT FOR THE OREGON.
II In Not Believed Spanish Admiral
Would Risk IA Combat with Her
Brazil Declares Neutraiity-Her De-
lay Of Advantage to Us.

WASHINGTON, d. c., May 5.-secre-
ty Long said at the close Of office hours
to-day. that NJ to that time he had re-
reivcd no word from Commodore Dewey.
Ie added. however. that he felt no ap-
rrehonsion over this lack Of news. be-
cause. i'm the first place. reports were not
expected, with the cable at Manila cut,
and furthermore. no fears were enter
tanned rs TO Commodore Deweys ability
90 maintain his position There was no
doubt. the Secretary said. that Commo-
dore Dewey's fleet had. annihilated the
Spanish fleet, and, with this much ac-
compished, Dewey was master of the
situation at Manila.
The department is taking steps 10 rem
der effective aid to the Commodore in
tHe matter of supplies. and Naval Con-
e'rucior William l.. Clapp, now at San
francisco, is TO go out at once 10 repair
the damages sustained in the battle of
Manila. Preparations for suitable con-
y0y of supply-ships were also indicated
hy the choice OF commander and Off
GERS for the cruiser Charleston, now at
Mare Island.
IL is recalled at the Navy Department,
this connection, that. having received
the surrender of Manila, the Commodore
would be able to secure any quantity of
labor and of such material as a mari
time city like Manila affords, for the
repair Of his ships. He also would be
able to place his wounded in some one
~ the Manila hospitals or other public
buildings.
SIMPSONS MOVEMENTS.
No news could be learned at the Navy
Department relative to the movements
OF Admiral SIMPSONS ironclads, but
from the confident tone of the few Off
cials who are acquainted with the policy
~ the department. they are expecting
20 hear very soon Of news from his |
squadron almost as interesting and i'm |
portant as that received from the Philip |
pines
a high officer to-day almost demolished |
he theory that Admiral Sampson was
going TO succor the Oregon, now on her |
way from Brazil to join the North At
antic Squadron He declared that the
Navy Department was under no apprehen-
sion about the Oregon. for the reason that
ID did not consider that the Spanish ad-
miral Of the Cape Verde squadron would
be willing 10 risk a combat with the Orc
sOn, even with the great odds in his favor,
as. even if overwhelmed i'm the end. the
oregon certainly would destroy one of the
spanish ships. and perhaps two of them
ma the Spanish Government could not
nord 10 exchange pawns at This stage of
ne war. That left open as possible
'oints OF operation for Sampson either
'orto Rico or some port on the Cuban
cast, but just which theory is to be
ccepted is not even hinted at by the
epartmentsl officials.
BRAZIL NEUTRAL
Notice came 10 the State Department !
rom Brazil to-day that that government
lad declared neutrality. There is now
Z Brazil. for. however beneficial the
clay has been TO the United States in
citing its warships safely along the
.razi coast, the issue OF the proclama-
Jon Just now is likely TO be still more
enehcial in closing Brazilian ports TO the
panlsh flying squadron, if it should be
eaded in that direction. IL may be
oted. however, that while the' first re-
orts received were little credited, the
1vices coming 10 the navy to-day,
lough not conclusive. inclined the officers
l the belief that the Spanish flying squa
ron has turned back from Cape VerdeI
i consolidate with the home squadron at
adiz.
POWDER FOR DEWEY
The Navy Department will ship 10000
lnds of powder to Commodore Dewey
add 10 the stock he now has left. This,
Ith tho large number of S-inch armor-
.crcing projectiles shells, and 6-inch
1d 5-inch rine-balls, will make the ship
~ of ammunition very large one.
ae powder and shot together will give
rounds for the big guns, and several +
.ousand rounds for the rapid-fire rifles.