The record-union., 1898-05-02
President and Officials Are Much
Pleased by the Result.
Naval Officers Think DeWey's Victory VIII
Result in Putting Speedy
End to the
War.

l.
ton is rejoicing tonight Not since the
dark days of the great civil conflict of a
third of century ago have the people Of
TINS city been so profoundly moved by
war news as they were this evening.
General rejoicing over the victory of
Admiral Dewey was the order of the
night. The streets were crowded and
the people greatly excited. Thus far no
official advices have been received by
the Government, but the Associated
Press Dispatches were transmitted to
the President and officials of the Ad-
iministration as rapidly as they were re-
ceived.
The President, in company with sew
eral of his advisers, read the bulletins in
the library of the White House early in
the evening, but later in the night he
went to his office on the second floor
of the executive mansion, where. until
late hour he continued to peruse every
dispatch with the deepest interest
| Officials of the Navy Department
were reticent in discussing the conflict
in the absence of official information,
but they made no pretense of concealinec
their qualification.
1t has been known for days at the
Navy Department that a conflict at Ma
Mia was inevitable, and while no great
fear of the result was expressed. there
was yet deep concern in the heart of
every official until to-night's news re-
moved some of the weight from their
minds
When Secretary Bliss was shown the
first dispatch, briefly recounting the
victory of the American squadron, he
unhesitatingly expressed his gratifica-
ton at the result
Secretary Alger declared that it was
clean, glorious victory" but in COM
mon with other officials of the Admin
istration, declined to make extended
comment on it.
The absence of any statement of spe-
cific injury to the American vessels in
the Madrid advices was construed as a
convincing indication that they had not
suffered appreciable injury and this was
especially pleasing to the naval students.
Not only was the preservation of the
American ships and men considered in
itself a happy outcome. but was COM
mented upon as indicating clearly that
Admiral Dewey and his associate Off
GERS and men under their command had
discharged splendidly their several Ju-
ties in directing and executing the fight.
In this connection it was pointed out
as little less than marvellous that the
American squadron escaped without Sc
we're injury, because, notwithstanding
the DISPARITY in the naval forces. the
Spanish fleet assisted by the shore bat
teries, should have been able to inhict
severe damage prior to it's being de-
stroyed. It's failure to do so was ex-
plicable only upon the hypothesis Of
perfect and swift work by the American
squadron.
An opinion freely expressed tonight
by naval officers is that the very de-
cisive victory of Admiral Dewey's fleet
will probably put an early end to the
war without further naval battles of
Importance. The American fleet, it is
suggested, is now supreme in the
waters of Spain's pacific possessions
and indications We're strongly toward
the Slipping of the Philippines from her
control
1t was said that only by quickly yield
ing TO our demands in Cuba could this
loss possibly be averted Spain, it was
argued, was confronted with a situa-
ton which promised naught save dis
aster in case she elected to force more
fighting. The superiority of a superior
Il
cific, and the same it is contended,
would be inevitable in the Atlantic in
case the lash comes. From whatever
point of view considered, the policy of
more fighting on the part of Spain
promises nothing more but Spanish
misfortune. Navy officers think this
view must prevail with the Spanish
Government, and believe an end of the
war on the basis of Cuban independence
is to follow soon, and that, too, without
further notable opportunity for Nhe
American navy to prove it's power and
distinguish itself.
Judge McComas, in expressing his joy
over the result of the conflict, struck
the keynote of the expected result Of
the cannonading at Manila to-day when
he said that it was likely to have a tre-
,nendous effect, not only in Spain, but
throughout Europe. He expressed the
belief that 1T would turn the tide of
European sentiment toward the United
States.
In official circles it is regarded as al
most certain that trouble of a most
critical kind will confront the Sagasta
Government within Spain's own bor-
ders. 1t is predicted that the Spanish
people have been led to believe that
their navy was invincible, and the bit
fer disappointment that will come over
the result of the first engagement OF
the war is likely to precipitate internal
dissensions, if not a revolution
|