The evening times., 1898-07-26
THE FLEET oFr MANILA
How Ovr Gallant sailors Spend the
Days Of Waiting.


How Ovr Gallant Sailors Spend the
Days Of Waiting.
San Francisco, July 26.-The following
letter dated Cavite, June "a, has been re-
ceived in this city:
The American fleet rides proudly at
anchor on the scene of the memorable
battle Of May /. The Olympia. the Bal
timore, the Concord, and the Boston are
the majestic four which form the outer
line, and back of them are the Raleigh.
the Petrol, and the McCulloch and the
transports and coal ships. including the
Manila. the Callao. the Zafiro. the Nan
shan. and the Cyrus. Cavite. now the head
quarters Of the insurgents and a town OF
growing activity. Is behind them. and up
the bay can be seen the besieged city.
with the feet OF foreign warshfps behind
1t. Corregidor Is in view to the westward;
the lookout has full sweep Of the bay.
The rigid discipline that the hour and
the situation call for prevails through
out the entire fleet. In the hours OF day
light every passing craft Is overhauled
and questioned, and at night surveillance
is doubled. All lights 20 out at DUSK,
double line Of picket boats surround the
feet, and the great electric searchiights
sweep the harbor The orders direct that
sentries shall hall approaching boats
twice and then fire across their BOWS. II
that brings no response. they are directed
to fire at them. Ammunition stands be-
hind every gun. and at, night the crews
sleep at the guns. 1t brings the realiza-
tion Of war to the otherwise peacelui
scene with a rush when the call OF the
fhn
bright rays of the great electric search
lights bring day to night.
On Monday night 1t was reported that
the gunboats Zebu and AGuaris hao
come out of the Passig River and were
below the bridge preparing for a torpedo
attack. Admiral Dewey promptly issued
orders for additional precautions. The
crews slept at their guns, with one man
on his feet. The lookouts and sentr1es
were doubled. and the lights were kept
going constantly II was just the night
for such an attack, for II was very dark,
and rain fell in torrents. All through the
long night the fleet was on the alert. but
there was no attack.
When morning dawned the admiral or
dered the Boston. the Petrol and the Cal
lao to cruise down to the mouth OF the
Pasig. Their cruise created considerable
excitement in Manila, for they passed
close to the harbor 'front.' They saw
nothing Of the ships they were seeking
and. although there had been considera-
BILE speculation as to their whereabouts,
it is thought that they are still in the
river. 1t is the intention, however. TO
keep the closest watch possible, and to
convoy dispatch boats to a place of
safety.
The men of the fleet continue in excel
lent health The hot suns of May have
given way TO milder ones, and the rainy
iS he
but great care is being exercised. The
fleet needs fresh food. but relief from
home and Australia is expected shortly.
The situation in Manila grows more
desperate hourly. The Spaniards at last
concede that the insurgents are hemning
them in, and fear that the water supply
OF that city will be cut of. The loss Of
$500 prisoners has told severely, and :he
city is growing hungry. The desperate
Spaniard partially vents his spleen on the
Englishmen in Manila. but dares not go
too far. Over the door of me Spanish
military club there is a placard making
filthy reference to Englishmen. The
Spaniards are reported to be tntrenching
one of the hills back of the city. with
the idea of making their last stand :Ee.e.
The position in question Is said to be
very strong
The naval officers do not believe that II
will be ever used. however. for they are
convinced that when the American troops
arrive and the first real menacing move
ment against the city is made Augustin
will hoist the white flag II there is a
fight. 1t will be short and sharp. Ad-
miral Dewey says he can reduce and take
the place In an hour. He will have no
trouble in sfiencing the batteries, AMI can
make the city an undesirable place to
live in in ten minutes after h. opens FIRE
On land the American troops will CO.
operate with the insurgents and cut of
the rear. 1t is not going to be hard for
the American troops to campaign about
Manila. the country offers no serious
physical difficulties. Deweys men are
anxious for the advance. and they will
go up to Manila with a song and cheer.
They have now rested on their arms for
nearly seven weeks. and are ready.
This is a time when the American away
from home languishes and is heavy of
heart. and the gallant boys in blue are
anxious to end it all for all time and get
back to kinsmen. The Spanish have fol-
lowed the American example at Santiago
de Cuba. and have sunk n hulk at the
mouth of the Pasig. 1t will be Of little
avail. however. as the American ships
can do their work from the outside The
cruise of the Boston and the Concord
CLEANED that bit of Information.
While the Boston and the Concord were
off the city the Spanish gunners of the
batteries trained their guns on them but
they have evidently remembered the
promise of Dewey to return their fire, for
they contented themselves with the an
tics of aiming. The saucy little Callao
passed very close to shore, Haunting de-
fiance to the Dons. and the crew got
good. clear view of the lower portion of
the city.
Admiral Dewey himself went close to
the city on Sunday last He was return
ing the call of Vice Admiral Won Died.
erichs, of the Kaiserin Augusta, the Ger
man flagship, and was taken up on the
Concord. which passed close to the shore
The admiral made some mental notes for
future reference.
The latter is perhaps the most inde-
fatigable man in the ship. Aided by Flag
Lieut.. Brumby. Capt. Lamberton. of the
Olympia. and Ensign Caldwell, his sec
retary, he is always at work. He is at
once the master of every detail in the
conduct of the fleet, and his vigilance
for the safety of his men and ships and
the success of the nations cause is con-
stant. He is a disciplinarian and decis-
I've His men respect, admire, trust and
obey him.
Fire i'm the House Of Babies.