The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-05
WARSHIPS FOR MANILA.
RESULT OF ADMIRAL DEWEE's IN
TKRVIEW WITH THE PREsTDENE

Oncs-The Naval Force In the Philtp-
nina. In Be Increased by at Least Seven
ves.els-A vigorous Blockade of the
Island of Luzon to BE Instituted.
WARRINGTON. Oct 4.-Admiral Dowey's in
tsrvi.v with the President at the White House
to.d,v re.ulted in imme diate action OF very
important character concerning the military
animation In the Philippines. On the ad-
yjce OF the Admiral the President
determined to institute vigorous
blockade OF the Island OF Luzon. and at
the Admiral's earnest solicitation tho nec-
sssary directions for increasing the naval force
under Rear Admiral Watson. Commandor-in-
Chief OF tho Asiatio station. were issued before
the Navy Department ceased business for the
day. The action OF the President is explained
in the following official statement obtained by
THE SUN reporter this evening:
The President had an extended interview
with Admiral Dewey to-day. who earnestly
recommended that the Brooklyn and some
other vessels be at once sent to the Philippines.
BY direction OF the President the Secretary OF
the Navy has issued an order to that effect
and such vessels will be put In readiness at
once Among others. probably the Marietta
and Machias will be designated"
This statement Is. like most official an
nouncements. very conservative and. does not
indicate the extent Of the policy which the
Government. following Admiral Dewey's ad-
vice. has determ In ed to carry out. As matter
OF fact. 1t has already been decided to increase
the naval force in the Philippines by at least
seven regular war vessels II others can
be spared they will be sent. In addition to
the Brooklyn. the Marietta and tho Machias.
four other ships are on the list for servise In
the islands. These are the English built
cruiser New Orleans, her sister. the Albany.
NJ. hail. IL.
scribed as a light-drauEht gunboat. The work
Of preparing those ships for service in the
Philippines will begin at once. ALI OF
them are in commission except tho Albany.
which is rapidly nearing completion at the
Armstrong works. Newcastle-on Tyne.
England. The Monocaey 10 in Chinese waters.
The others are all attached to the North At
lantic squadron.
Before going to tho White House. Admiral
Dewey had an interview OF about twenty
minutes with Secretary Long. His talk with
the President was more extended. He dis
cussed the situation in the Philippines with
both the President and the Secretary. and was
emphatic in his declaration that strong block
ade was necessary to bring the insurrection to q
close quickly and effectively. tits understood.
also. that the Admiral urged that the re reinforce
msnts for Gen. Otis be hurried to the Philip
pines. He evidently believes that with tight
blockade and a large army the instruction can
be suppressed in q short. vigorous campaign.
That the President and Secretary Long were
greatly impressed with the Admiral's views
and convinced that he had thorough knowl-
edge OF the situation in the islands, 10 proved
concusively by the prompt orders for tho
preparation OF the Brooklyn and other vessels
for service there. What else he said to
the President has not been disclossdssbsst
the officials who know something OF to-days
conference do not deny that they expect some
important Developments soon concerning tho
Philippines and the conduct Of tho campaign
there. The Sun reporter obtain cd tho impress
sion from what was said by prominent official
with whom he talked early in the day that
Admiral Dewey believed that more troops than
those already In the islands and designated for
service there were needed. The official was
reticent when questioned on that point
With the addition OF the seven ships men
toned. the naval force In the Philippines
will consist Of about nifty vessels of
all descriptions. most OF them, how
ever. regular warships. The thirteen lit
tie gunboats purchased from Spain by
Gen. Otis and transferred to the navy have
been doing excellent service. The blockad
force will soon be augmented by the gunboats
Don Juan de Austria, Isla de Cuba and Isla dc
Luzon. taken by Dewey in the battle OF Manila
Bay and now under repairs at Hong Kong.
There will be no formal blockade declared
for diplomatic reasons nation cannot block
ade its own ports A declaration by the United
States Of blockade Of ports In the Philippines
would presuppose that another government
10 in control OF these ports. and would furnish
asufflcient reason for a recognition OF the So
called Filipino republic. But the blockade
which the Government to-day decided to es-
tAblsh will DO Just as effective under another
name.
For several months the smaller vessels OF
Admiral Watson's command have been en-
gagged In preventing the landing Of supplies for
the insurgents. but the Gordon drawn around
the islands has not been as strong as 1t should
be. owing to lack OF vessels Last December
Admiral Dewey tslegraphed the Navy Depart
ment that small gunboats were urgently
needed
The Department was unable to comply with
the request. and on Jan. 2. 1899. a second and
more emphatic despatch on the same subject
came from the Admiral. In response to this
demand. for it amounted to that. all the small
Gunboats on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts Of
the United States that could be spared were
ordered to Manila.
Some Of the little converted yachts which did
good service in the Spanish American war
were prepared for duty in the Philippines. but
1t was subsequently decided that too great a
risk would be run In sending them on tho long
and dangerous voyage to the far East.
With the departure OF tho Marietta. the Ma
chas and the Nashville the naval force on the
Atlantic coast will be nearly stripped OF gun
boats. There are no Gunboats now attached
to the Pacific station. which includes the Pa
cinc Coast of the United States.
The seven ships designated have a com bin ed
complement OF about 100 officers and 1.500
~ d. IL ~. 4
sci in the group. With her arrival at Manila
Admiral Watson will have four armored ships.
the others being the battleship Oregon and the
monitors Monterey and Monadnock. Admiral
Dewey. it Is understood. suggested that the
Brooklyn be sent to the Philippines. In the
recent punitive expeditions sent out by Ad-
mira Watson to Fill9no ports, the lack OF bat
teshps and armored cruisers has been felt.
In tho bombardment OF the insurgent fortihca-
tons on Subic Bay the Monterey
and the Monaanock could not use
their guns on this FIRST day on &C.