The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-06
3 CRUEL AND SENSELESS.
Fake Dispatches, Said to Have Come from
Commodore Dewey. Denounced by the
Navy DepnI tment-No News Received
Since Notice OF Bombnrdmcnt was

DS"Cys " tiS
Navy Depnttment-No News Received
Since Notice OF Bombnrdment was
Given.
Z WASHINGTON, May 5.-The officials
OF the navy department from the sec,
retary down are thoroughly indignant
at the character OF the stories coming
from San Francisco as authentic ac-
counts Of the engagement OF Commo-
dore Dewey at.Manila. One In partic-
ular excited Indignation, that ascribing
to Admiral Kirkland, at Mare Island,
the receipt Of telegram from Commo-
dore Dewey describing the terrible
mortality on his own feet resulting
from the battle of Manila. Captain
Crowninshield, chief Of the navigation
bureau, declared that 1t was utterly I'M
possible for news from the feet to come
in any such fashion, and added that as
the departments facilities for the re-
ceIpt OF information from Commodore
Dewey's squadron were superior to
tIlOSe VI Any sfl!o4S4uudi,i ~ was ulbeAIJ
fmprobable.tha they could receive news
before the department itself. Such dis
patches as that complained Of, he said,
were cruel and senseless and inflicted
great misery upon the wives. mothers,
daughters and relatives OF the brave
sailors OF this fleet. who are anxiously
awaiting to hear from them.
The officials nave about concluded
that there Is little prospect Of receiving
news from Commodore Dewey directly
during the course of the day, though
there is possibility that a merchant
vessel may reach Hong Kong from the
Philippines bringing some news OF the
battle and subsequent events at Manila.
1t Is practically settled that the cable
cannot be relied upon as q means Of
communication, as it IL believed to be
cut in shore somewhere between its
Harding place in the landing OF Luzon-
Point Bolinao-and Manila and beyond
the reach of Commodore Dewey at this
time. ..15
The official calculation Is about as
follows: Ths latest authentic and di-
rect news from Manila showed that
Dewey subdued the Spanish fleet and
made his demand for the Surrender Of
Manila through the British consul some
time Sunday afternoon. He at the
same time gave notice Of lombard
ment at the expiration Of twenty-four
hours which would make the lombard
merit itself begin Monday afternoon.
Presuming that a dispatch boat sailed
at the earliest moment after the bonn
bardment, Monday evening, and allow
Ing three days for passage, the ship Is
not due ut Hong Kong or Mrs Bay un-
til Tonight It Is already Tonight by
our time in either place and possibly
the McCulloch or some despatch boat
Is. Just entering the harbor. Other de-
lays ther would occur before the re-
celpt Of u cable here through the many
relay stations. SO that 1t Is thought
there Is little chance OF official news
coming in during the daylight hours.
part OF the public that any news that
is received from Commodore Dewey will
be withheld from 1t. Secretary Long
hns stated In the most positive manner
that he regards It as his duty to make
the people acquainted with the facts ns
soon as he knows them himself. He be-
leves this Is only just to the relatives
and friends OF the sailors OF Dewey's
fleet. Therefore, the elmany statements
and rumors that are constantly clrcu-
latlnS to the effect that the navy de-
partmert has received mysterious ca
Diagrams from Hong Kong which 1t has
sedulously concealed may be set down
rs pure moonslrlne. y