The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-17

Washington, May i5.-The dispatches
from Hong Kong brought welcome
news today from Admiral Dewey to
ahe president and particularly to Sec
getary Long and the naval officials who
are watching the admiraPs movements
with so much interest. While no ap-
prehension existed as to his security
nevertheless reinsurance OF safety is
always pleasant. The kilograms indi-
cate that Dewey has lost none of the
prestige gained in his memorable fight
of two weeks ago and that while he
refrains from taking the city of Manila
he has it practically at his mercy. The
admiral expresses the belief that the
rebels are hemming in the city by land,
but the fact, he says explicitly, that
they have made no demonstration
seems to disprOve thoroughly the pub
0iShed reports that they had already
entered Manila and had begun a career
of bloodshed and rapine. The best
evidence of the effectiveness of the
blockade maintained by the American
admiral and also or the work of the
insurgents in surrounding the city is
shown in the statements in the dis
patches that provisions are scarce in
the city of Manila which seem to indi-
cate to Admiral Dewey an early sur
render by the Spanish authorities
Another published report seems also to
be refuted by the admiral'S advices and
that is that the rebels had raided Ca
Vite where the Spanish naval station
was located and where presumably
large supplies of arms and ammunition
supplying themselves with arms it
must have been with the admiraps con-
sent, as his dispatch is originally dated
from CaVite indicating that he is still
in possession. The greatest satisfac-
tiOn prevails here over the good work
being done and the effectiveness of the
blockade being maintained by him.
DEWEY'S MESSAGE.
The dispatch as given out by Secre~
tary Long is as follows:
'Cavite, May 49,, Via Hong Kong,
May 15.-Maintaning strict blockade.
Reason to believe that the rebels are
hemming in the city by land but have
made no demonstration. Scarcely any
provisions in Manila. Probable that
the Spanish governor will be obliged to
surrender soon. Can take Manila at
any moment. Climate hot and moist.
ON May 18th captured gunbOat CaIlao
attempting 10 run blockade. Have
plenty OF coal. One British, one
French, two German and one japanese
war vessels have been observing.
(Signed.) DEWEY"
a telegram has also been received
from Admiral Dewey thanking the
president for his promotion and COM
plimenting his chief of staff and the
commanders of all the naval vessels.
TO RUSH TROOPS TO MANILA.
Washington, D. c., May 15.-The
officials are making all possible
haste to rush troops to supplement
Admiral Dewey's forces so that if the
Spanish governor does surrender the
former will not be dependent upon the
small number Of marines which he can
lilly spare from his ships bu, will have
the assistance of soldiers in holding his
position and maintaining order. 1t is
confidently hoped here that the City
of Peking, chartered as a transport
vessel, will be able to clear from San
Francisco in a very short time, to be
followed in rapid succession by the
other three ships engaged for similar
purpose. The PekinS can carry LOCO
men, which will be of considerable as
SiStance to the admiral but far from
the number he will need. The total
number of men to be sent Will aggre-
gate probably $4,000, as Major General
the expedition and subsequently, to be
made military governor, regards that
as the least which can maintain order
in a city like Manila made up of many
sdiscordant elements. Over ten regl-
ments of infantry and four batteries Of
artillery from the volunteers have been
ordered to concentrate at San Fran
cisco and these and the regulars
now in the extreme west will be taken
on the Philippine expedftio ion. Ii is ex-
peeted here that practically all the VOL
-unt eerS will go.
WHERE THE TROOPS WILL BE
DISTRIBUTED.
Washingto ton, May 15.-Afser going
oyer the situation last evening with
General Miles. Adsutant General Cor
bin and the heads of the supply de-
the secretary of war made
an order for the assignment OF the VOL
snteer troops now being mustere6 into
the service Of the sUnited states and
the points where they Nali
a assemble with the least possible delay.
This step was rendered necessary froR
the fact that the state adthoriueS are
very fast relinqufshing control or the
troops that are passing over the muster
line under the authority OF the general
>. .1vernment. 1t became necessary to
"a emble these troops at once IN order
n meet the problem of their sssbsist- |
,nce 40 less than that OF their eqUlp- ]
nent ia the way of arms, clothing,
,amp ard garrison equippage. to say
,othine on the superior advantage OF /
lriu instruction under trained officers,