The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-07
ANXIETY IS RELIEVED
By REPORTS OF INsURGENT
ACTIVITY
MONITORS SENT TO MANILA
Will Enable the Admiral to Hold His
Own Against Any Possible
Spanish Attack

ASSOCtdtcu 1ICSS 0PCCi0A VAo
WASHINGTON, June 6.-After a lot OF
conflicting rumors of naval engagements,
the landing of troops and such matters al
the navy department, there came at the
close of the day one Important bit of news
embodied in report from Admiral Dewey
of important successes achieved by the
Insurgents at Manila.
The navy department at 2 o'clock posted
the following bulletin.
admiral Dewey reports that the insur-
gents have been actively engaged within
the province of Cavite during the past
week. They have won several victories,
taken prisoners about 1900 men, so officers
of the Spanish troops. not native. The ar
senal at Cavite has been prepared for occu-
patton by the United States troops upon
the arrival of the transports"
Ill-Concealed Anxiety
The officials have been more anxious
than they cared to betray as to Admiral
Dewey's condition. They were not serious
ly apprehensive of danger to the fleet, but
an impression was gaining ground that the
admiral had not maintained the same
measure of success in his operations in
Manila bay that rewarded his first eff
fort. Now the report goes to show that his
plans are working out admirably; that he
has succeeded in placing upon the insur-
gents the burden Of conducting military
operations against the Spaniards while he
himself is lying in enforced idleness await
ing the arrival of troops. and that he has
succeeded in preventing the corruption of
the insurgent leaders by the Spaniards,
which appeared at one time to be threat
ening. There is some speculation here by
anxious minds as to how the insurgents
will treat the prisoners they have taken.
who are more numerous, 1t is said. than all
the captures made by the Cuban insur-
gents since their war began. 1t was re-
ported by cable, soon after he had secured
the cooperation of the insurgent chief
Aguinaldo. that Admiral Dewey would see
to it that the insurgents observed the rules
of civilized warfare. This caution was
made necessary by the terrible tales that
had been circulated of the barbarous treat
ment of prisoners captured by the insur-
gents. 1t is sincerely hoped that Agui-
naldo will see to it that this agreement is
observed in the case of the 1900 prisoners
he now holds, for, it is believed in official
circles, that the nations of the civilized
world will hold the United States morally
responsible for any excuses that may be
committed in the Philippines as a result
of our action there. The navy department
officials declare that Dewey is not respon-
sible for the safe keeping and maintenance
of these prisoners, which is most fortu-
nate, considering the limited resources of
the admiral in the matter of provisions.
Monitors for Dewey
The navy department gave orders today
that the double-turreted monitor Monad-
mock, now at Mare Island, should be made
ready to sail for Manila within ten days,
and the necessary orders were hurriedly
telegraphed. The Monterey will not wait
for the company of the Monadnock but
should be off in the course of few hours
under the convoy of the Brutus. The navy
department will Immediately procure an
other merchant ship to accompany the Mo-
nadnock on her 60O0-mile voyage.
The Monaduock is a most powerful double
turreted monitor. With twin screws and
5000 horse power engines she is easily able
to make twelve and a half knots an hour.
Built on the general lines of the Amphitrite
she has better engines and more power than
that Monitor. She carries four 10-inch guns
in two turrets, besides two 4-inch rapid fire
guns in a easement and numerous Sec
ondary battery. Her coal capacity is $50
tons In bunkers and almost as much stow
age room can be found on the decks. Conse-
quently the Monadnock has the ability OF
make longer cruise than the Monterey
without replenishing her coal supply, yet
her capacity Is still too small to permit her
to make the passage from Honolulu to the
Philippines unaided With these two mont
tors Admiral Dewey will be fully able to
take care of himself, even should the much
talked-of Cadiz fleet undertake to attack
him in Manila harbor. The monitors at their
maximum draw only fourteen and half
feet of water. or ten feet less than the Span
fish battleship Pelayo, and therefore would
be able to pick their position In the shallow
water where the Spanish batteships could
not possibly reach them, and hammer away
at the latter to their hearts content, pre-
senting themselves so small a mark as to
render 1t very difficult for the Spanish gum
ners to reply effectively.
There is no doubt entertained of
the Monadnock's seaworthiness, for
before being reconstructed at the Mare
Island navy yard she made the entire voy-
age from the Delaware clear around the
Horn to San Francisco, voyage longer
really than that made by the Oregon.
The Merrimac Affair
The members Of the naval construction
corps are still rejoicing over the splendid ex-
p.o!t of Hobson and Powell The latter.
young cadet who sat through the long hours
In steam launch under the Spanish fire
waiting to fetch away Hobson and his crew
is also a member Of the construction corps.
according to Chief Constructor Hichborn
The youngster was assigned to the force of
naval Architecture at Annapolis, and ac-
cording 10 the rules that placed him In the
construction corps as much SO as Chief
Hichborn himself.
The Cadiz Fleet
The Cadiz fleet which was reported to be
doing strange things In the West Indies yes
terday, is not giving the naval officials apy
concern. They have learned through tn
state department that the Spanish ships
were at Cad,z last Friday so they could not
well have been in the West Indies two DAYS
later.
Minor Matters
Up to the close Of office hours 1t could not
be learned at the war or navy department
that any news had reached there to show