The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-05-03
CONTROL OF MANILA CABLE
SOME EXPECTATION NTHATADuIRAL
DEWEY MAY GAIN 1T.

SOME EEXPECTATION NTHATADMIRAL
DEWEY MAY GAIN IT.
The Greatest Anxiety Felt as to the Casu-
aIties Sustained by the American Fleet
From the Stubborn Defense Made by the
spaniards it is Feared That They May
Have Managed to Infiict Severe Damage
on the American ships-If Manila is
Captured 1t May be Retained as a Base
Of Supplies During Remainder of the
War-spain's Navy Seriously Depleted.
Washington, May 2.-It is a curious
fact that the nation most directly in
terested Of all the great powers in the
combat that took place at Manila yes
terday should be among the last Off
cially to know of the result. Up to the
close of office hours to-day absolutely
the only information that our govern
ment had received of the brilliant VIC
tory Of Acting Rear Admiral Dewey
and the winning of the battle of Manila
on May-day came to the government
through the medium of the press dis
patches. If the report is true that Act
ing Rear Admiral Dewey has begun a
bombardment and blAckade of Manila
city it is unlikely that he can spare a
vessel to carry the news to Hong Kong,
the nearest cable station, so it is not
known when the official advices will
come.
Control of Manila Cable.
There was some expectation that
through the surrender of the city the
admiral might acquire control of the
cable, but even then there might be
practical difficulties in communicating
through it. The officers of Acting Rear
Admiral Dewey's fleet include at least
one lieutenant who is a good practical
electrician and telegrapher, but it is
not known that he is able to work a
cable successfully. Moreover, it is fear
ed that before retiring from the city
the Spanish troops will smash the del
icate and complicated electrical appar-
atus for the reception and dispatch of
messages, and it is very uncertain
whether there is enough technical skill
in the American fleet to repair such
damage without aid from the MAIN
land. The mere cutting Of the cable,
as reported by the Spaniards, is not re-
garded as particularly serious, since,
being hemmed in there by the Ameri-
can blockading fleet, the Spaniards
would not be able to make the cut far
off shore, so that the cable could be
easily grappled and repaired.
Anxiety as to American Casualties.
The greatest anxiety is felt as to the
casualties sustained by the American
fleet. From the stubborn defense made
by the Spaniards it is feared that be-
fore they burned, blew up or sank their
ships they managed to inflict severe
damage upon Acting Rear Admiral
Dewey's fleet. All of the ships engaged
were vulnerable in their lack of protec-
ton to life: There was not an armored
ship in Acting Rear Admiral Dewey's
fleet, the nearest approach to it being
the flagship Olympia She had some
coal protection around the sides and an
arched steel deck calculated to protect
the vitals of the ship. The other YES
sells. save those recently added to the
navy, like the McCulloch, have light
steel decks, but in all cases, with the
exception of slight protection in the
shape of gun shields, the personnel of
the ships was exposed to the fire of the
enemy.
Dewey May be Embarrassed.
If Acting Rear Admiral Dewey has
lost a considerable portion of his men,
it is feared he will be much embar-
rassed in the work of maintaining pos
session of Manila for lack of suffi-
cient force United States naval ves-
sells are always undermanned, accord
inc to European standards, and it will
not be possible, having regard to the
safety of the ships, to spare any con-
siderable number of men to keep the
city, especially if the engagement has
disabled many of them. There was
some talk of sending troops from San
Francisco to aid in this work, but it is
likely that the department will wait to
hear from Acting Rear Admiral Dewey
himself before taking any action. 1t
NAV be, and in fact, it is expected, that
nv combination with the insurgents he
will succeed in having his men relieved
of the task of garrisoning Manila.
Manila as Base of Supplies.
AS to the future Of the island, 1t is
likely that the government will retain
possession of at least one good port,
such as Manila, for a coaling station
and base of supplies during the re-
mainder of the war. There was under
stood to be a considerable Spanish force
in the Philippines and a large number
of natives are said to be loyal, meaning