The evening times., 1898-05-07
GAVE UP THE PRIZE.
. CONTINUED from First Page.)

| was said that the United States was TAX
| ing an extremely punctilious view of the
| situation and one that good sense does
not commend. The old criticisms that
| the peaceful blockade is Il farce were
made again with added viruience owing
| to the new incident The United States,
however. undoubtedly has escaped a call
from the French Ambassador.
The situation with regard to the COM
| ing battle OF Porto Rico is unchanged.
| There has been no corroboration of the
rumor that the Spanish feet has gone
| back to Cadiz. and this Is thought to be
| indisputable evidence that there was no
| truth in the story If the fleet were
| really now at Cadiz the world would
| know il beyond all question. II is be-
| lieved that the four armored cruisers and
| the three torpedo boat destroyers are very
| near to Porto Rico by this time, If in
deed they have not already arrived at
| San Juan.
Admiral Sampson is also on his way to
San Juan. according to authorities that
cannot be questioned, although the de.
partment persistently refuses to acknowl-
edge 1t. 1t is thought that the fleet will
arrive before tonight. although perhaps
not before tomorrow. A great battle
seems inevitable.
There is report that several Spanish
ships are at Barbados. There does not
seem to be any doubt as to the informa-
tion. The Navy Department Is of the
opinion that these ships, however, are
not the st. Vincent fleet. They are sup
posed to be Spanish gunboats that were
at Cuba before the blockade was insti-
tuted. and that escaped when war be-
came evidently unavoidable. 1t Is said
that the department will send a ship or
two to take them in within a few days.
Another Spanish Cannrd.
NN OfF1 f,I
Commodore Dewey up to late hour last
night. The failure of dispatches is not
giving the department any serious uneas-
mess. however. 1t is believed that the
cable was cut by the Spaniards at a point
where 1t would be extremely difficult to
reach 1t. 1t is the opinion of the depart-
ment that news will be received TODAY
either by cable or by dispatch boat.
The Spanish government yesterday mt
out caHard to the effect that several
Spanish gunboats were not in the fight
at Manila, but at points on the coast near
the scene of the battle. 1t was suggest
ed by Spain that these ships probably
prevented Commodore Dewey from TAX
ing Manila This extremely optimistic
view Of the situation Is not given any
credence by Secretary Long. and is not
causing him any misgivings
UnoHcial advices were received at the
department yesterday which are believed
to be reliable to the effect that Manila
has been taken. These advices state fur
ther that the city was burned during the
bombardment and that many lives were
lost.
Rounceville Wildman, the American
consul at Hong Kong, sent a cablegram
to the State Department yesterday that
very forcibly illustrates the grievous
conditions that have existed in the Phil |
ippnes under the Spanish rule. He
stated that four of the wealthiest and |
most influential families in the island had |
made application to him to become |
American citizens. They are refugees |
who left Manila and their estates and |
business few weeks ago because there
was no security for themselves or their
under the iniquitous Spanish |
but will be very glad to go back
again now that the victory of Commo-
lore Dewey probably means that the
United States flag is to float over the
Islands hereafter.
Excitement in Paris.