The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-25
REASONS POLITICAL-EUROPEAN
COMPLICATIONS SUGGESTED.
Secretary Long Says, However, it Has no Po-
litical Significancs-Meanwhle the
insurgents Are Active.


dispatch has been received at the Navy
Department.:
Manila, Feb. 24th.
.'For political reasons the Oregon
should be sent here at once.
tSignedl DEWEY.
Manila, Feb. a.
.sYorktown arrived Charleston and
Petrel cruising around the Philippine
Islands. Affairs more quite.
(Signed.) DEW EA.
.San Francisco, Cal, Feb. %.
1.-The o, egon arrived at IlJilo February
4th and at Honolulu February 9th. Iris
and Scandal arrived on the 18th.
tSigned.) "GRlFFEN.
Mr.. Griffen is dispatch agent of the
Department
The cablegram from Admiral Dewey
asking for the Oregon was received with
surprise by the officials here. No one
knew. or at least would admit that he
knew, the nature of the POLITICAL reasons
why the Admiral demands the immediate
presence of the peerless battleship.
The cablegram was taken before the
Cabinet and fully discussed. The Ad-
miral, it is said, possibly feels that the
moral effect of the presence of the big
ship upon insurgents themselves, and
particularly upon the large element
among the Filipinos that is believed to
be restrained with difficulty from join
ing fortunes with Aguinaldo, with whom
their sympathies lie, would be good. But
there is an underlying doubt whether or
not the Admiral may not be keenly
sighting a gathering cloud in the East,
and is looking TO the prevention of any
possible intervention or interference by
European powers in the struggle now in
progress in the neighborhood of Manila.
1t is believed that in the big fires much
property of foreign residents and busi-
ness concerns was destroyed. That these
fires were caused by the insurgents can
not be denied, and il may be that some
of the foreign naval commanders in
the East are disposed to seize uoon
the pretext that their interests demand
protection which we cannot afford them,
TO make landing. or do something OBJ
noxious to the United States and likely
TO encourage the insurgents.
With such a strong naval force as
would be afforded by the reinforcement
of Dewey's fleet by the Oregon, there
could not be any sound reason, nor even
plausible reason. for any such action
on the part of these parties. 1t is said
here that up to this moment there has
been no intimation of a purpose on the
part of any foreign Government to file
any claims for pecuniary remuneration
for the property of their citizens destroy
ed in the fires and fighting at either
Manila or Iloilo. Just what disposition
would be made of any such claim is not
indicated here, and there is. ground for
IL AZ . ..1r 4 tlnf
military and naval officers practiced the
precautions required by international law
in the matter of giving due notice to
foreigners of any action in the way Of
bombardment that might injure their
property, and otherwise did everything
that could be done to protect the foreign
interests equally with our own. then
there is little foundation for sound
claim for damages.
The Oregon arrived at Honolulu on
the 9TH instant, according to the tele-
graphic report that came to the Navy
Department this morning No mention
was made of her being in need of re-
pairs, as has been stated in the press
dispatches.
Assuming that the battleship really
needed ten days repairs, she should have
started away from Honolulu on her
long run to Manila on the 10th instant
Allowing for detention on account OF
coaling at Guam or some other point
between Honolulu and Manila it is es-
fimated that the Oregon will reach Ma
Mia about the 10th of March.
The Cabinet gave some attention tc
Dewey's cable message relative to the
political Importance of the sending Of tht
Oregon at once to Manila. The Depart
ment reached the conclusion that too
much Importance should not be attacheo
to it; that Dewey wants the big snip U
influence the Filipinos through fear.
Secretary Long when asked for an ex
PLANTATION of the reference to poiitlca
reasons in the dispatch said:
II am sure that it has no information
al significance. You may state thai
positively Probably he wants fine
ship there as the American commission
ers are about due and it will give weight
TO the American representatives"
1t is suggested from other naval sources
that Dewey wants the Oregon 10 re-
lease a number of the smaller ships oi
the fleet for other work He has been
planning a tour among the islands other
than Luzon, with the purpose of estab
fishing the authority of the United
States among the islands.
1t is also necessary TO establish a close
blockade to prevent the insurgents from
receiving supplies. Meanwhile the Wai
Department officials were agreeably sur
prised this morning to learn that Gen
eral Otis Mt Manila had received the
first of his reinforcements nearly siN
days before they We're expected. The,
came on the Scandia, which BROUGHT
half Of the Twentieth infantry. She
sailed from San Francisco January 26tl
in company with the Morgan City, which
has aboard the remaining half of th,