Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-02-26

EY'S REFERENCE TO POLITICS
IN HIS MESSAGE CONCERNING
THE OREGON.
Manila, February 25.--3:45 p. NJ
The military police have raided several
suspected houses in various districts.
capturing small bodies of 20 TO 80 pris-
oners in each place. This, and the
seven o'clock ordinance is effeetually
dispelling the fears of a threatened
outbreak of the native. who do not
dare. singly or collectively. to appear
on the streets after dark. The feeling
in the city has decidedly improved.
Washington. d. c., February 20.
Secretary Long said at 1880 to-day
that the only despatch he had received
to-day from Manila was brief an.
nouncement from Admiral Dewey that
the Petrol had sailed for Cebu.
The War Department to-day received
the following:
Manila, February 25..
To Adjutant General, Washington:
Condition of affairs quiet, progress.
ing favorably. Anxiety need not ba
felt in regard to the situation. VIII
send small body of troops to Cebu,
where navy took quiet possession.
(signed) OTIS.
In view Of the apparent disparity be-
tween Admiral Deweys report OF tho
sailing of the Petrol from Manila for
Cebu, and Gen. otiss announcement %
the surrender 70 that city to the naval
forces, which had taken quiet possess
sion" further inquiry was made by the
Navy Department and Il was learned
that Admiral Dewey had been misquot-
ed and that what he had rep],ed Wa
that the Petrol had receiveYtne' 80
render OF Ceba.
Cebu is a populQls city of $4,000 IN
habitants. The urrection has never
gained any strength there. War De-
partment reports say the island oe
Cebu is the most important province OF
the Visayas group, its area being 1000
square miles and its population more
than a half million. Under the Span
ish regime the capitol was a city OF
considerable commercial and political
Importance.
The Admiral made no mention OF
anything save the Petrol in this morn
ing's advice. so that the officials hero
are convinced that nothing Of imports
anee at Manila has happened oven
night.
A suggestion that found currency in
naval circles to-day. to account for. thu
Admirals dispatch relative TO the oAN-
gon yesterday, was that he had just
received some OF the newspapers Of a
date a month back from the United
States. These conveyed the impress
sion that the department was eontem-
plating cancelling the Oregon's orders
TO Manila in view Of the then roseate
outlook for an easy settlement Of tho
troubles at Manila. IL was, therefore,
with a view to impressing the Depart
ment with the fact that the same nsc-
essity existed for the Oregon's pres-
ence at Manila now as when he first
made the request for the ship that in
cuced him to cable the department IA
he did yesterday.
1t may DO noted in this connection
that should the Admiral be confirmed
before the expiration Of the present
Congress as Admiral Of the United
States navy be viii outrank any Of tho
foreign naval officers on the Asiatic
station. Even the British navy thera
Is commanded by a vice admiral The
British government. II Is said, does nos
send an officer Of the high rank Of adj
miral 70 sea at all. In this view Of
this case It would seem only proper
that, being the ranking officer Of the
entire station, Dewey should have In
the Oregon a ship second In fighting
Qualities 70 no ship ia the combined
fleets Ia Asiatic waters.
Colombo, Island Of Ceylon, February
2s.-g: 80 a. m.--The United States
transport Grant, which called from