The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-03
SUNDAY At CAPITAL.
Activity at the Dcpartments-An Anx-
iou.ly Awaiting News from the Phil.
ippin~~-The Oregon Speeding Home
ward.

ippine~-The Oregon Speeding Home
ward.
Washington. May No word from
Manila" This was the first answer
given in all official quarters today TO
news gatherers, rejecting the immense
interest c~enturing in Commodore Dew
ey's fleet near the Philippine islands
Secretary Long arrived at the White
hoUse shortly before IL o'clock. He aid
he had received no news OF Importance
from n quarter up 10 that time.
There was no significance in his call
as he came To take the president TO
church. The secretary felt that press
dispatches would bring news OF any
action in the Philippines before the Of
fetal dispatches could arrive. Through
out the morning no news OF Importance
was conveyed TO the White house.
SUNDAY AT THE DEPARTMENTS.
The active centres at the state. war
and navy departments were as busy
as on week days. despite the quiet sun
streets with church goers. Acting Sec
rotary Moor and Assistant Secretary
Adee We're together for some time at
the state department. An official noti-
| ~ication Of neutrality had beer received
from Siam. This was regarded as i'm
portant. in that il completed the neu-
tral attitude of all eastern Asia. save
China. No wore came from China. SO
that it is inferred her ports are still
open to the American fleet. At the ma
Wy department Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt and most Of the bureau Off
GERS We're on hand to attend to matters
of pressing Importance. Senator Davis,
chairman of the senate committee on
foreign relations, called during the
morning and had a talk with Mr..
Roosevelt. The leading naval officials
tool the view that no reliable Informal
ton was likely TO be received as to
operations in the Philippines for a day
or so and possibly for a week. After
talking with naval officials Senator Da-
Wis said he did not expect any authen-
tic information for a week. The first
repOrts necessarily would come from
spanish sources, as they controlled the
cables, and the senator had no doubt
the reports would be cOlored to show a
Spanish victory and a corresponding
American reverse. He thought the
public should be prepared for this. The
actual results, it is believed. would not
be made known until a dispatch boat
returned to Hong Kong, which. being
600 miles from Malina, would defer au-
thentic information perhaps until the
latter part of the week.
The navy department received Off
Cial confirmation of the arrival of the
battleship Oregon at Rio Janeiro. This
was the subject of general satisfaction.
for it means the very material
strengthening of Admirars SIMPSONS
fleet before Havana within the next
fortnight. The Oregon has been max
ing thirteen knots, or about 800 miles
per day, and it is calculated that she
will come the 5000 miles between Rio
and Cuba in ten days. She must coal
however. before starting n~orthward.
and this will take several days. Once
with the blockading fleet. Admiral
SIMPSONS first line will be made up
or four superb battleships of practical
ly the same strength and equipment.
The new gunboat Topeka just ar
rived at New York, is ready for service
with the exception of her batteries.
These had been prepared for her, but
the guns were turned Over to the war
department., owing to pressing needs.
Other guns are available, however. and
the Topeka will be in commission with
in a few days.
Captain Richardson Clover will take
command of the gunboat Bancroft at
Hampton Roads, where she will ar
rive lOIlOTTO" HlOTIlHS. Inc bdIlCIolt
then will go to Cuba to join Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet.
Captain Mahan. the well-known ma.
val authority and strategist. is expect
ed ally to assume a place on the
strategy board. The strategy board
was in session for a time today. but
their discussions, as usual. were guard
ed with much secrecy. 1t is understood
that the cOurse Of the Spanish flee,
which left Cape Verde on Friday is q
source Of much interest. If, as report
ed, the fleet is actually coming this
way, it will be hailed with delight by
naval authorities here. What they
have most feared was that the Span.
ish ships would hug the other side
compelling u fleets to go in quest o.
them. If they come to Porto Rico. i
will meet the best hopes Of the nava
authorities here.
Captain Rodgers, who has been a
the head Of the auxiliary board buyin,
ships in New York. called at the de
partment today. There is some tall
that he will be assigned to commant
M of the American liners under char
ter, possibly the Paris. which has jus
arrived, after eluding Spanish ships.
Secretary Ayers Office was open, bu
the secretary did not come down. TIL
officials were busy stemming the It'd
of work which has accumulated dur
ing the recent rush. Adjutant Genera
Corbin was at his desk. but he sai'
there were no army developments. hi
purpose, also, being to get abreast o
accumulated work.
The published report that the stat
department had notified the variou
embassies and legations in washington
that the land invasion OF Cuba woul,
begin on Wednesday next, is pronounc
ed by diplomats to be a canard. -,
such notice has been given.