The herald., 1898-05-03
CONTROL OF THE CABLE
NOT LIKELY TO BE OBTAINED
FOR DAYS
NO DOUBT ABOUT A VICTORY
As Dewey's Ships Are Not Armored
Anxiety Is Felt for the Lives
Of the Men
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, May At is a curious
fact that the nation most interested of all
the great powers in the combat that took
place at Manila yesterday is among the
last officially to learn Of the result. Up to
the close of office hours today absolutely
all the information that this government
received of the brilliant victory of Com
modore Dewey and the winning of the bat
tie of Manila on May day came to the gov
eminent through the medium of the press
dispatches.
If the report is true that Commodore
Dewey has begun a bombardment and
blockade of the city of Manila it is I'M
likely that he can spare vessel from his
fleet to carry the news to Hongkong, the
nearest cable station, so it is not known
when official advices will come There
was some expectation that through the
surrender of the city the commodore might
acquire control of the cables, but even then
there might be practical difficulty in COM
municating through it. The officers Of
Commodore Dewey's fleet include at least
one lieutenant who is good practical
electrician and telegrapher, but it is not
positively known that he is able to work a
cable.
In addition, fear is entertained that be-
fore retiring from the city the Spanish
troops will smash the delicate and compli-
Gated electrical apparatus for the reeep-
ton and dispatch of messages, and it is
very uncertain whether there is enough
technical skill in the American fleet to re-
pair such damage without aid from the
main land. The mere cutting of the cable
as reported by the Spaniards is not re-
garded as particularly serious, since, being
hemmed in port by the American block
aiding fleet, the Spaniards would not able
to make the cut far off shore, so that the
cable could be easily grappled and re-
paired.
The greatest anxiety is felt as to the
casualties sustained by the American fleet
From the stubborn defense made by the
Epaniards 1t was feared that before they
burn, blew up or sunk their ships, they
managed to inflict severe damage upon
Commodore Dewey's squadron.
All of the ships engaged were vulnerable
in one respect-namely-in their lack of
protection to life. There was not an arm
ored ship in Comomdore Dewey's fleet, the
nearest approach being the flagship Olym-
pia. She had some coal protection around
the sides and an arched steel deck calcu-
lated to protect the vitals of the ship. The
other vessels of the fleet, save those re-
other vessels of the fleet, save those re-
loch, have lighter steel decks of this char
of some light protection in the shape of
gun shields, the personnel of the ships was
exposed to the fire of the enemy.
If Commodore Dewey has lost consid-
cradle portion of his men, it is feared he
will be much embarrassed in the work OF
maintaining possession of Manila for lack
Of sufficient forces. United States nava
vessels are always undermined accord
ing to European standards, and it will not
be possible, having regard to the safety OF
the ships, to spare any considerable num-
Der of men to keep the city, especially il
the engagement has disabled many Of
them. There was some talk this Afternoon
to aid in the work, but this has not YET
taken shape, so far as can be learned, ant
1t is likely that the department will wait
to hear from Commodore Dewey himself
before taking any action. 1t may be, ant
in fact 1t is expected that by combination
with the insurgents he will succeed in hav
ing his men relieved of the task of gar
risoning Manila.
A Coaling Base
As to the future of the islands, it is likel,
that the government will retain possession
of at least one good port, such as Manila
for coaling station and base of supple
during the remainder of the war. Their
was understood to be considerable fore
in the Philippines, and a large number O
natives are said to be loyal" mean ming. i
that sense, attached to the Spanish fol
tunes. With this material on one hant
and the insurgents on the other, the latte
stimulated by the overthrow of the Spar
fish at Manila, 1t is probable that civil wa
may rage on the island for some time ou
side of Manila proper. 1t is believed tt
officials have not decided what to do wit
the islands at the end of the war, but
their possession the United States will er
10y powerful weapon in enforcing term
s@s