The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-05
HIGH HOPES ARE RAISED
By REPORTS OF ARRIVAL OF
NEWS FROM MANILA
DISPATCH BOAT M'CULL0CH
May Have Reached Mrs Bay, but
officials Are Still Waiting for
the News

Associated Press Special Wire
HONG KONG, May 4.-The United
States dispatch boat Hugh McCulloch has
arrived at Mrs Bay. 1t is said she left
Manila before the battle.
Waiting for News
| WASHINGTON, May 4.-The news OF
the arrival of the revenue cutter McCul-
loch at Mrs Bay from Manila was con-
veyed to the Navy Department first
through the Associated Press dispatches.
The officials Immediately began to cal
culate about when the first report by cable
might be expected from Commodore
Dewey Mrs Bay lies about forty miles
from Hong Kong, the cable terminus, and
there is not believed to be any communica-
| ton by wire between the points. If the
| McCulloch put into Mrs Bay instead OF
going directly to Hong Kong, it was I'M
doubtedly because in the opinion of Com
modore Dewey the British neutrality laws
would not permit the ship to enter for the
purpose of communicating with her home
government. She Is neither disabled to
the point where she might claim the bene-
fit of the emergency clause, nor is her coal
entirely exhausted so that might be made
a plea for entry. 1t Is said by some naval
officers that to go into Hong Kong for the
sole purpose of cabling to the United
States government respecting the progress
of hostilites would be practically using
the British port as base of operations
against the enemy. However, there are
other officers who do not take this view of
the law. Supposing that the dispatch boat
is in Mrs Bay, she would probably send
an officer or a native boat or some other
means of transportation than the ships
boat to Hong Kong with the dispatches
from Commodore Dewey. The time con-
sumed by this would depend upon the hour
the officer started, for if the McCulloch,
as surmised. arrived late in the evening or
at night the journey would probably be
made with difficulty and slowly, and might,
indeed, be deferred until next morning
which. allowing for the difference in time
between Washington and Hong Kong,
would bring the dispatch to this city some
where after midnight tonight.
The Report Denied
HONG KONG, May ADMINISTRATION de-
velops the fact that no verification has
been obtained of the reported arrival AT
Mrs Bay of the dispatch boat Hugh Nc
Culloch, which was attached to Commo-
dore Dewey's squadron, and which was
said to have left Manila before the battle
of Sunday last.
At the White House
WASHINGTON, May 4-President Nc
Kinley had scarcely ensconsed himself in
his favorite corner near a window in the
west end of the Executive Mansion before
the congressional callers began arriving
Mr.. Mann, an Ohio politician. had a con-
s,lltatjnr,- --ith LAIN. ;rr1rnedia tely altar
breakfast, and scarcely had he left be-
fore Senator Quay of Pennsylvania reached
the White House with friend Senator
Faulkner of West Virginia and Repre-
sentative Gardner of New Jersey followed
There was a complete absence of official
news at the White House up to II o'clock.
The President had been hourly expecting
an official dispatch from Commodore
Dewey via Hong Kong, but none has ar
rived.
Senators Fairbanks and Turpie and
Representative Crump of Indiana called
today to urge the appointment of Captain
r. A. Skunk Eighth Cavalry, as inspector
general or adjutant general on the staff
of a major general. Major Skunk is now
with his command. left at a Western post,
and the President gave partial assurance
of favorable action.
At Barbados
A crack Spanish cruiser, believed to be
the Alfonso XIII, is reported to be at
Barbados in the West Indies. There are
conflicting reports on this point. however,
and if cruiser is there she may be the
Carlos V, which left Madrid some time
ago for supposed cruise along the Span
ish coast. The Alfonso XIII is new
protected cruiser of over 5000 tons dis
placement with excellent ordnance, while
the Carlos V is still more formidable
craft of over 5000 tons. The first named
vessel is reported from another source to
be at Cadiz, so there is some combustion
in the reports. Surprising any cruiser is
in that section of the West Indies, she
would be almost in the pathway of the
Oregon coming northward and thus ex-
posed to capture if the battleship thought
1t worth while to lie in wait for the ex-
pulsion of the Spanish cruiser from the
British port under the neutrality law.
AS to the Oregon herself, the opinion Is
expressed that she is in no particular
danger at the hands of a Spanish fleet
that may be approaching the coast from
Cape Verde, as she will probably keep
close along the Brazilian coast within the
three-mile limit where she cannot be at
tackled except by breach Of neutrality.