The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-10
TIKI BATTLE OF MANILA,
Its Effect on Spain-TO Change to an
Aggressive Warfare.
(WaShington Post


An important movement by our fight
ing squadron is believed to be under
may. The early seizure of Porto Rico
Is probable. al. though the blockade of
Cuba is not to be broken, there is evil
dence that some of the more formid-
able ships of the feet, under Admiral
sampson, are to be used in another
and, at this time, more important di-
rection. With Havana we'll cut off, the
taking Of Porto Rico would deprive
Spain entirely Of a base Of supplies on
the side of the ocean. A strict CEN
sorship is now being exercised by the
government at Key West and Tampa.
Movements of both the navy and the
army will be guarded more vigilantly.
h heretofore.
The wherea,bout of Spanish war
ships in the Atlantic is uncertain.
They may have gone to the Canary is
await, as press dispatches indicate, to
await the CadiZ squadron; they may
be e~ndeavoring to intercept the battle
ship Oregon and gunfbOat Marietta,
which lrave just left Ria Janeiro, or
they may he steaming toward Porto
Rico. If the latter theory is correct
they will be met by our ships n the
biggest naval engagement of the war
will follow.
The destruction Of the Spanish fleet
in the east by Commodore Dewey will,
in all probability, mean a complete
change in the Madrid war policy on
the seas, if it does not percipitate a
revolution at home and the fall of the
dynasty. Hitherto there has been no
sign Of aggressive action on SPANS
part. Assuming the role of a proud but
deeply-wTOnged nation, pursued by a
stronger power, h has relied implicit
ly, but vainly, upon the European pow
ers to help her out of the difficulty. Her
ships abandoned Havana and Porto
Rico when the war clouds gathered
Seisure of these possessions was virtual
ly invited. Her torpedo fotilla stopped
at st. Vincent, n her powerful cruis-
ers tarried at Cadiz. Declaration Of
war was followed by warlike mani
~festos, but not by warlige acts. The
queen regent continued her appeals to
the pope and the powers, and the min
lister of war dramatically exclaimed:
Would to God We had not a ship west
of Spain! Then We could say Here
we are, come and take u.s." Mean
while the Spanish fleet in the Orient,
unable to escape, took refuge under the
forts of Cavite, there to await our AS
iatic squadron and utter humiliation.
There had been no intervention to
save Spain-nO European efforts to
stop the war-and with the defeat in
Manila bay" complete and crushing,
Spain was at once confronted by war
at home as we'll as abroad. And now
she must defend herself. Further in
action is impossible in this extremity,
The inevitable outcome-the least APP
parently that a happen to her, I'M
less, by advice Of the powers, she
would in this crisis haul down her flag
at Havan and grant the full indepen-
dence of the island-will be the loss of
Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines.
But it would seem that she must of
necessity go to war in earnest, if only
to meet more serious disaster, as the
sole means of salvation at home.
While his government will insist
upon and enforce its right to seize and
hold any Spanish colony until the war
ends, its policy is and viii continue to
be to avoid foreign entanglements that
would certainly grow out OF territorial
acquisition in the far east. The was is
not to be allowed to become one of con-
quest in any event. There will be no
departure, either in letter or spirit,
from the policy laid down in the Tel
Ter amendment to h congressional
resolutions, directing armed interview
ton to bring about the independence
Of Cuba. However, there is little Akli-
hood that Spain will regain possession
Of either the Philippines or Porto Rico
without the payment Of a heavy war
indemnity, which would naturally form
the important feature of a treaty Of
peace.
England's friendly attitude toward
the United States is causing resentment
in Francs. Germany, Russia, and Aus
tria. A new movement among these
powers for intervention is said to have
been i~naugurated.