The herald., 1898-05-03
MIGHTY LITTLE DOUBT ABOUT
SEVERAL OTHERS
DEWEY HOLDS MANILA BAY
A Naval Base Secured Though Lack
of Force May Prevent Capture
of the City
Press Special Wire

LONDON, May S-Little additional
news has arrived from Manila, but the car
dinal fact is that Commodore Dewey IL
now in possession of Manila bay and can
certainly take possession of Corregidor
island, even if he finds difficulty in effect
ually capturing Manila itself, owing to the
absence of a necessary landing force.
Thus having secured a naval base. he will
have no difficulty in securing supplies Of
coal.
The Madrid correspondent Of the Daily
Mail says:
1t is suggested that the half-breeds at
the Manila arsenal, who are rebels at
heart, cut the cables connecting with the
submarine mines and thus enabled Com
modore Dewey to force the harbor in
safety.
No real bombardment will be necessary
to destroy Manila If the shells are of such
a description as will set houses on fire. the
bulk of which there are of wood and bam-
boo. The only public buildings are built
of stone, while the brick-built old town is
incapable of resisting artillery.
Captain Cadarzo of the cruiser Reina
Maria Christiana, who was killed on the
bridge of his vessel, was one of the most
brilliant officers in the Spanish navy. His
ship was a model of order and efficiency.
He read and wrote a great deal, especially
with reference to naval and colonial mat
tiers, and he was so outspoken that he
often came into collision with the author
tiles.
It appeared that Admiral Montijo was
taken altogether by surprise. and the
Spanish authorities generally were in
state OF utter unreadiness. The forts were
not completed, the harbor was not mined.
there were no searchights, and the Amer
lean squadron was only sighted after It
had already passed the outer and princi-
pal forts.
On every side in England is heard praise
of the skill and daring displayed by Com
modore Dewey in a situation where, II
anything miscarried he would have been
caught in most desperate position. At
the same time credit is given Admiral
Montijo, who had wretched fleet and
stood no chance except from the assistance
he might receive from the forts.
The American vessels, however, by
moving to and fro were easily able to
avoid the badly directed fire from the forts
and, looking to all the circumstances, 1t
is apparent that the American feet could
have received but slight damage.
The moral influence of the first great
victory is incalculable, and although 1t Is
practically certain that Spain will not
yield until she has tried conclusions in the
Atlantic and also where she hopes for bet
ter luck with her really first-class fighting
squadron, 1t is believed that similar VIC
tory in Cuban waters would produce signs
of revolution in Spain, compelling an en-
deavor to come to terms.
The Berlin correspondent of the Stand
ard says:
1.-THE German warship Kormorant( third
class cruiser) left Kiao Chau yesterday
Sunday for Manila. This, with the Irene
(second-class cruiser) now en- route to
Manila from Nagasak, Japan, will make
three warships of Germany in the Philip
pines. According to the latest official sta
tistics there are only about 100 Germans in
Manila.
The Times says:
The measures advised by the United
States naval strategic board seem well
conceived to meet any possible emergency.
The sending of three German men Of war
to the Philippines Is much criticised.
Commodore Dewey, according to a re.
ported dispatch from Madrid, gave Cap
tain-General August twenty-four hours
to comply with an ultimatum which de-
manded all warlike stores and the entire
stock of coal in charge of the government
officials. The ultimatum asserted that no
money levy would be made upon Manila.
The dispatch says 1t Is believed IN Mad
rid that the government has already
cabled Captain-General August authority
to comply with the demand, no other
course being open. Grave events may fol-
low public knowledge of this compliance.
Symptoms of Gravity
MADRID, May 81 a.m.-The mob to-
night tried to break into the Apollo theater
and hold a manifestation. The police pre-
vented the attempt from being successful
but the crowd broke all the windows be-
fore they were dispersed.
Immediately after the declaration of mar.
tial law large number of police and civil
guards occupied the principal streets. The
Puerto del Sol is held by squadron of the
Princes hussars, while the Pava hussars.
dismounted, are in the Pontejas square.
near the telegraph office.
Harrison Has Faith
INDIANAPOLIS, May 2.-General Ben
jamin Harrison was seen at his home to-
night by a representative of the Associated
Press and asked for an expression on the
great naval victory. He prepared the fol-
lowing expression:
"If the accounts we have received are
correct, the performance of our fleet under
Commodore Dewey at Manila, will take
very high place in naval history. The pass
ing at night into a harbor that was mined.
to encounter at dawn the Spanish fleet UNI
der the guns of heavy land Notifications
and that without any reconnaissance or
dilatory preliminaries, was magnificent
exhibition of pluck. 1t recalls Farragut
and Mobile bay. The fight must have been
very hot and we can hardly. suppose,
have escaped some losses in the gallant
crew, If not of ships. have undaunted
faith in the American navy-ship for ship
and man for man--it is unmatched"