The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-03

attached 70 the spanish fortunes. with
this material on one hand and the in
surgents on the other, the latter stimu-
lated by the overthrow OF the spaniards
at Manila. II II probable that civil war
may rage In the islands for sometime
outside OF Manils proper
1t Is believed that officials here have
not decided what TO DO with the islands
at the end OF the war but In their pos
session the United States will have q
powerful weapon In enforcing terms OF
peace with Spain. Supposing Porto
Rico shall next be seized: IL would seem
that Spain VIII have little 70 encourage
her In further resistance. particularly
as the fall of Porto Rico would mean the
loss TO her OF her ironclad fleet, should
II csoss the Atlantic.
There IL no talk yet OF European in
tervention. but one OF the most bene-
ficial results Of Dewey's victory Is that
q deep impression has been made upon
European Statesmen who can now no
longer blind themselves to the fact that
man to man the American navy Is equal
to any In the world. There was no ex-
hibition, such az was sneeringly pre-
dicted in the European press, OF weak
ness I'm the American fleet caused by the
fact that IL was OF heterogeneous COM
position. The impression produced Ia
likely TO deter the Europeans from hasty
Intervention and the present indications
are that we shall be left to settle our af-
airs with Spain at our own pleasure.
providing we do not set involved In the
astern question through obtaining
possession OF the Philippines.
The war department is bending all it's
energies 10 the mastering In OF the vol
unteers and the recruiting OF the regular
army 10 it's full war strength of 81 .O00
men. The officials feel confident that
within reasonable time both the voiun-
teers and the regular army will be ready
for practical military duty. Secretary
Alger and General Miles had long con-
ference with the president yesterday,
presumably In regard TO the appoint
ments In the volunteer service. In few
days all the troops ordered o. Tampa
are expected TO reach that place. and the
eight large transports which are to con-
duct the first expedition to Cuba have
been ordered to proceed to Tampa. The
officials, however, decline to make public
any information regarding the expedi-
zion. or the place la Cuba where IL is to
land. The quartermasters department
has begun negotiations with railroad
companies for che transportation of the
volunteers TO their mobiizing points.
md il is expected arrangements will be
made for uniform rates on all the lines.
The late reports that Manila was being
oombarded caused much uneasiness at
he foreign headquarters. 1t was said
hat IL the town Itself was under bonn
)ardment serious complications might
arise. as non-combatants and the foreign
colonies should have been entitled to at
least "a hours notice of an attack upon
the town proper. II. however. Commo-
dore Dewey is conflnng his lombard
ment TO Cavite and other forts, no such
questions can arise.
The Spanish reverse seriously de-
pletes the Spanish navy at time when
II is most in need OF ships. With the
burning OF the Reina Christina and the
Castillo, Spain has lost two of her best
second-rate cruisers. The Christina was
q single screw, bark rig ship $50 feet