The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-25
Says the Oregon Should be Sent to
Manila at Once.
The AdmlraI's Request Causes Some Sur
prise at Washington.
Yet It is Admitted That the Mere
Presence Of the Peerless Battle
ship in the Philippines Would
Have a Wholesome Effect in Re-
straining the Filipino Rebels.

straining the Filipino Rebels.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-The fol-
lowing dispatch has been received at
the Navy Department:
Manila, Feb. 24--For political rea-
sons the Oregon should be sent here at
once.
yorktown arrived Charleston and
Petrol cruising around the Philippine
Islands. Affairs more quiet.
DEWEY"
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 which the Admiral says de-
mand the immediate presence of the
peerless battleship. The cablegram
was taken to the Cabinet board and
fully discussed there.
The Admiral, it is said, possibly feels
that the moral effect of the presence of
the big ship upon the insurgents them
selves, and particularly upon that large
element among the Filipinos, that is
believed to be restrained with difficulty
from joining 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 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
business concerns was destroyed. That
these fires We're caused by the insur
gents cannot be denied, and it may be
that some of the foreign naval COM
manders in the East are disposed to
seize upon the pretext that their inter
ests demand protection which we can
not afford them, to make a landing or
do something obnoxious to the United
States and likely to encourage the in
surgents.
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 a plausible reason, for any such
action ON the part of the third parties.
1t is said here that up to this moment
there has been no intima ton of pur-
pose on the part of any Government to
file claims for pecuniary remuneration
for the property of their citizens de-
stroyed in the fires and fighting at
either Manila or Iloilo. Just what dis
position would be made of any such
demand is not indicated here, though
there is ground for the belief that if
it can be shown that our military and
naval officers practiced the precau
tons required by international law in
the matter of giving due notice to for
eigners of any action in the way of
bonn bardment that might injure their
property, and otherwise did everything
that could be done to protect the for
eign interests equally with our own,
then there is little foundation for a
second 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 is stated in the press dis
patches. Assuming that the battleship
really needed ten days repairs she
should have started away from Homo
18th instant Allowing for detention on
account of coaling at Guam or some
other point between Honolulu and Ma
Mia, it is estiamted that the Oregon will
reach Manila about the 10th of March.
Meanwhile the War Department Off
Gals were agreeably surprised this
morning to learn that General Otis at
Manila had received the first of his re-
( ;,,fr IL -sx- n
they were expected. They came on the
Scandal, which brought half of the
Twentieth Infantry She sailed from
San Francisco January 18th, in COM
pany with the Morgan City, which has
aboard the other half of the Twentieth
Infantry, and as both ships were at
Honolulu at the same time, the Morgan
City will be expected at Manila within
twenty four hours, unless she has been
detained, which is not expected. The
transports Ohio and Senator, with the
Twenty-second Infantry aboard, sailed
from San Francisco only four days later
than the Scandal, so that within a week
Otis will have $500 fresh men to re-
lieve those who have been fighting on
the outpost.
REBELS SUFFER SEVERE LOSS.
MANILA, Feb. "a, 1890 a. m.-Owing
to the wholesale arrests of all suspect
ed Filipinos yesterday, and the clearing
of the streets at o'clock last night,
the threatened renewal of the scenes of
the previous night did not occur. With
the exception of a few shots fired in
the neighborhood of the penitentiary,
the city was quiet as possible.
Outside Manila the rebels were very
active. Near Caloocan the brigade COM
manded by General H. G. Otis had sew
eral lively slzirmishes with the rebels,
but at daylight the enemy was driven
back with severe loss.
The feeling in the city is much i'm
proved to-day, and business generally
has been resumed. Excellent order is
maintained by General Hughes police
force, which is universally commended.
The United States transport Scandal,
with the Twentieth Infantry on board,
has arrived here from San Francisco,
which port she left on January 26th.
All duties on importations of fresh
fruits, vegetables and meats have been
temporarily suspended.
Orders have been issued to enforce the
provisional customs tariff at Iloilo, and
the following officers have been APP