The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-07
PLEASED AT NEWS.
Administration Glad To Hear Frem
Dewey A.ain.

Washington, June G.--After q lot of
conflicting rumors of naval engagements,
the landing of troops and such matters,
at the navy department., there came at the
close of the day, one important bit spf
news embodied in a report from Admiral
Dewey of important. successes achieved by
the insurgents at Manila.
The officials have been more anxious
than they cared to betray as to Admiral
DeWey's condition. They were not
seriously apprehensive of danger to the
fleet, but an impression was gaining
ground that the Admiral had not main
tanned the same measure of success in his
operations in Manila bay that rewarded
his first efforts. The report received goes
to show that his plans are working out
admirably, that he has placed upon the in
surgents the burden of conducting
military operations against the Spanish,
and that he has prevented the corruption
of the insurgent leaders by the Spaniards
which appeared at one time to be threat
ening. There is some speculation here as
to how the insurgents viii treat the
prisoners they have taken, who are more
humorous, it is said than all the captures
made by the Cuban insurgents since their
war Legan. 1t was reported soon after he
had secured the cooperation of the insur-
gent chief, Aguinaldo, that Admiral
Dewey would see to it that the insurgents
observed the rules of civilized warfare.
This caution was made necessary by the
kf--r II @o1x.
treatment of prisoners captured by the
insurgents. 1t is hoped that Aguinaldo
will sec that this agreement is observed
in the case of the 1909 prisoners he now
holds, for it is believed in official circles
that the nations of the civilized world will
hold the United States morally respon-
sible for any great excesses that may be
committed in the Philippines as result
CT our action there.
The navy department officials declare
that Dewey Ia not responsible for the safe
keeping and maintenance of these prison.
ers, which is most fortunate considering
the limited resources of the Admiral in
the matter of provisions.
The navy department. gave orders today
that the double turretted monitor Monad-
mock now at Mare island, California.
should be made ready to sail for Manila
within ten days and the necessary orders
were hurriedly telegraphed. The Monte
rey will not wa it for the company of the
Monadnock, but should be off in the
course of a few hours The navy depart
ment will Immediately procure another
merchant ship to accompany the Monad-
mock on her 5000 mile voyage. She is
most powerful double turreted monitor,
with twin screws and 5000 horse power
engines, she is easily able to make IL 1-2
knots an hour. Built on the general lines
of the Amphitrite she has better engines
and more power. She carries four 10 inch
guns in two turrets, besides two four inch
rapid fire guns in a casemate and
numerous secondary battery. Her coal
capacity Is $50 tons in bunkers and almost
as much more storage room can De found
on the decks. Consequently ths Monad-
mock has the ability to make longer
cruise than the Monterey without replen-
ishing her coal supply, yet her capacity is
still too small TO permit here tosmake the
passage from Honolulu to the Philippines
unaided.
With these two mentors Admiral Dewey
will be fully able to take care of himself,
even should the much talked of Cadiz
fleet undertake to attack him in Manila
harbOr. The monitors at their maximum
draw only IA IL feet of water or ten feet
less than the battleship Pslayo and there
fore would be able to pick their position
in the shallow water where the Spanlsh
batteship could not possibly reach them,
and hammer away at the latter to their
hearts content, presenting themselves so
small mark rs TO render it very dftficulS
for the Spanish gunners to reply efreotivs-
ly. There is no doubt entertained of the
S seaworthiness, for before
being reconstructed at the Mare Island
Navy Yard, she made the entire voyage
from the Delaware clear around the Horn
to San Francisco, d voyage longer really
than that made by the Oregon.
The members of the Naval construction
corps are still quietly rejoicing over the
SPLENDID exploit of Hobson and Powell
The latter, a young cadet, who sat
through the long hours in steam launch
under the Spanish fire, waiting to fetch
away Hobson and his crew is also mem
Der of the construction corps, as he WIS
assigned to the force of naval architecture
Mt Annanolis