The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-03
Major General Merritt Likely to Be COm-
mander of the Army of Occupation.
Washington till Hysterical with Delight Over the
Spanish Reverse-No Probability of Inter-
ference by European Powers

I winning of the battle of Manila on May
day came to the government through the
medium of the press dispatches. If the re-
port is true that Commodore Dewey has
begun bombardment and blockade of the
city of Manila it is unlikely that he can
spare vessel from his fleet to carry the
news to Hong Kong. the nearest cable sta
tion So it is not known when official adj.
vices will come
There was some expectation that through
the surrender of the city the commodore
might acquire control of the cable, but even
then there might be practical difficulties in
communicating through it. The officers of
Commodore Dewey's fleet include at least
one lieutenant who is good practical
electrician and teegrapher, but it is not
known positively that he is able to work
cable successfully. Second, a fear is en-
tertained that before retiring from the city
the Spanish troops will smash the delicate
and complicated electrical apparatus for the
reception and dispatch of messages, and it
, technical skill in the American fleet to re-
pair 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 port by the American blockadng
fleet the Spaniards would not be able to
make the cut so far off shore that the
cable could not be easily grapped and re-
paired
ANXIETY AS TO CASUALTIES.
The greatest anxiety is felt as to the casu-
alties sustained by the American fleet. From
the stubborn defense made by the Spaniards
it is feared that before they burned, blew
up or sunk their ships they managed to in-
fict severe damage upon Commodore Dew
ey's squadron. All of the ships engaged were
vulnerable in one respect-namely, in their
lack of protection to life. There was not an
armored ship in Commodore Dewey's fleet.
the nearest approach 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 vessels of the fleet, save those
recently added to the navy like the McCul-
loch have lighter steel decks of this char
acter, but in all cases, with the exception OF
some slight protection in the shape of gum
shields, the personnel of the ships was ex-
posed to the fire of the enemy.
If Commodore Dewey has lost a consider
able portion of his men it is feared he will
be much embarrassed in the work of MAIN
tanning possession of Manila for lack of suf-
dcient force. United States naval vessels are
always undermanned, according to Euro
pean standards, and it will not be possible.
having regard to the safety of the ships 10
spare any considerable number of men TO
keep the city, especially if the engagement
has disabled many of them. There was soma
talk this afternoon of sending troops out
from San Francisco to aid in this work. but
this has not yet taken shape as far as can
be learned, and it is likely that the depart
ment will wait to hear from Commodore
Dewey himself before taking any action. It
may be, and in fact it is expected. that by
combination with the insurgents he will sues
ceed in having his men relieved of the task
of garrisonng Manila.
FUTURE OF THE ISLANDS.
AS to the future of the islands. it is like
ly that the government will retain possess
sion of at least one good port. such as Man
LA, for coaling station and base OF sup
plies during the remainder of the war.
There was understood to be considerable
Spanish force in the Philippines. and the
large number of natives are said to be
loyal meaning in that sense attached to
the Spanish fortunes. With this material
OH one hand and the insurgents ON the
other, the latter stimulated by the over
throw of the Spanish at Manila. 1t Is proba-
bic that civil war may rage on the west
islands for some time outside of Manila
proper. 1t is believed the officials have not
decided what to do with the islands at the
end of the war. but i'm their possession the
United States will enjoy a powerful weapon
in enforcing terms of peace with spain.
Supposing Porto Rico shall next be seized.
1t would seem that Spain wIla have little 10
encourage her in further resistance. par
ticularly ~ The fall of Porto Rico wonla