The record-union., 1898-05-04
REPORTED /
CAPTURE
OF manila,
No CondrmatoTy News of.
the Surrender.
British Embassy Denies Re-
ceiving Such AdViceS.
The Cable Between the Philippines
and Hongkong Cut.
The Spanish Colonial Office, However, Ad-
fnits Receiving Word Before the Cable
Was Cut That the American Fleet
Was Bomharding Manila.

WASHINGTON, May 3.-The French
ambassador, M. Jules Cambon. has re-
Iceived dispatch from the Foreign Of
nee at Paris stating that the French
ambassador at Madrid, M. Patenotre
mas forwarded official details of the
Spanish reverse at Manila, based on
the latest Spanish advices.# This re-
port states that the Spanish cruisers
Reina Maria Christina and Castillo
were totally burned up, after being set
on fire by bombs from the enemy's
(American) ships. Two smaller ships,
the dispatch states. were sunk in order
TO avoid falling into the hands of the
enemy. Other Spanish ships were half
destroyed and had taken refuge in
Bakers Bay.
The British Embassy has received no
reports of any character as to the
Manila battle, so that there is no basis
for the statement that the State De-
partment has been informed by Brit
ish officials that Manila has surrender
eu 10 commodore Dewey.
In the absence of specific advices
from Manila, members of the diplomat
ic corps are discussing with great in
terest the future course of the United
States towards the Philippines. They
do not doubt that the islands will be
occupied by the American forces, if in
deed their occupation has not already
occurred. The only question on that
point is said to be the number of men
Commodore Dewey can spare from his
fleet to make up a landing party suffi-
when large garrisons of Spanish troops
are there.
1t is the future of the Philippines,
however, which most interests the for
eign authorities here. As to this, a lead
ing diplomatic official said it was un-
fortunate at this juncture that the as
sertion was made by leading men here
that the Philippines would be taken and
held at least until the war ended, when
they might be sold to Great Britain or
Japan. He pointed out that, while this
yet it's announcement now only served
to awaken European Powers at mo-
ment when it was needless and inn
polite to excite the resentment in those
law, he said, which kept
victorious nation from enjoying the
fruits of warfare by holding territory
gained in battle.
Intervention by the Powers of Eu-
rope, he pointed out, was a new pro-
cedure, quite apart from international
law, and based upon only the strength
of this united action. But, he added
significantly united squadrons often
make international law.
The suggestion that Great Britain
would take the Philippines in exchange
for the Bermudas and other British
possessions near this country is not
regarded as feasible. 1t is pointed out
that the Bermudas and other British
West Indian possessions have far great
er prospective value to the mother
country than the Philippines, owing
to the command they will have of the
Nicaraguan Canal or other inter-
oceanic waterways between North and
South America Such a canal would
be highway for the British commerce
to and from British India, and 1T is
said that the possession of coaling sta
tions and ports near the canal are of
far more concern to England than her
remote insu1ar possessions in Asiatic
waters.
There have been no suggestions as
yet of intervention from any foreign
although it is felt that the oc-
eupation of the Philippines is more like
ly to develop a move in this direction
than any other step thus far taken.
A diplomatic official of long expert
ence in Asiatic countries pointed out
that there were circumstances connect
ed with the Philippines which would
make their holding by the United States
more Of a detriment than a benefit.
He said their population was made UP
of Malays. japanese, Chinese and half
breed Spaniards. mixed with the former
races, making an incongruous people
impossible to assimilate with American
institutions. The stature of the people
was far below those of Cuba or Hawaii,
en- that objections which had been made