The record-union., 1898-05-13
Neither at the Vessels Built to Re-
sist Fire of Heavy Batteries.
Diplomatic Circles FIatIy Deny Reports
From London That the Powers Have
Made Protest Against 0ccu-
patton of Philippines.

WAohINGION, May 1.-THE Sets
back received by the American block
aiding squadron in the engagement in
Cardenas harbor yesterday, and the
| loss of five lives on board the torpedo
boat Winslow, had a SOLDERING effect
| in the element in the navy which is cry
ing out for rapid action and efforts at
| destroying batteries with unarmored
ships. There probably will be some
sort of inquiry instituted to ascertain
the responsibility for sending such un-
protected shells as the Winslow against
fortified ports. 1t is miraculous, in
the opinion of the older officers at the
Department, that the damage and loss
of life were confined to the Winslow,
for the other boats with her were very
little better off in the matter of protec-
ton, and scarcely any of them could re-
sist the fire of a small rifle. 1t is like
| ly that if such work as was attempted
| at Cardenas is to be done hereafter,
the task will be assigned to more for
midable craft.
Just where the Spanish flying squad
|
word of official confirmation has been
received by the Navy Department q
| the CadiZ report of day before yestetE
| day that the squadron is there StfE
! there are enough American scouting
vessels covering the approach to the
| West Indies channel to spot any ap-
preaching Spanish ship in short order.
The people on the New England coast
| have had their apprehension aroused
| again lest the Spaniards congregate on
| their coast and destroy their summer
residences and small craft. Mr.. Allen,
| the newly inducted Assistant Secretary
| of the Navy, being a Massachusetts,
man, had to bear the brunt of scores of
| applications for protection that came
| to the department from all points on
| the coast from Maine to Connecticut.
| The department has done what it re-
| garded as necessary in assigning the
monitors and such vessels of the mos
quito fleet to the patrol of this coast,
and in holding Commodore Schley's
magnificent squadron at Hampton
| Roads, ready to fly at twenty knots
| speed to any point on the coast that
may be threatened.
A dispatch came to the Navy De-
partment from Admiral Dewey at Ma
nila It was dated Hongkong to-day,
| but was evidently a few days DID, and
| does not show that Dewey has pos
sessed himself of Manila, or that he has
|
ment. The nature of these orders is
indicated By the assignment of two
! such officers as Major-Generals Merritt
and Otis to command the troops that
are to be hurried to the Philippines as
rapidly rs steam will take them. A1er-
ritt is the senior Major General in the
United States service after General
Miles, and in ordinary cases is entitled
to the most important commands, so his
designation for this work may be taken
as an evidence of the Presidents esti-
mate of the Importance of this expedi-
ton.
| In all official quarters, the State De-
partment and diplomatic, the reports
coming from London to the effect that
! some of the continental Powers, par
/ ticularly Germany and France. have
made protests against American occu-
patton of the Philippines, are met with
! flat denials These denials are made in
| the most specific manner by French and
/ German officials. They are beginning
to feel considerable annoyance at these
| oft-repeated reports, and they are in
/ clined to attach some significance to the
! fact that all of them emanate from
| London. In at least one Embassy of a
/ continental Power this tendency at
! London has received official attention,
| and the notice of the State Department
| has been drawn to it during an official
| interview. Both the German and
French authorities feel that their dec
| laration of neutrality should be re-
| ceiyed in good faith, and without the
frequent intimation that they are about
to intervene to defeat the ends of the
United States.
AS showing how far fetched such re-
/ ports are. an ambassador stated to-
/ night that intervention along the lines
suggested by the dispatches from Lon
! don would be so clearly against Amer
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