Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-03-16
DEWEY TO REMAIN.
The Admiral Will Not Be Relieved
Until He Makes Application.
his TASK IN The PHILIPPINES.
0ans Naval Ofhcers believe ths End Al.
most In Sixht-A CiOse B,Ocxwde to
Prevent ManitiOn. NJ War
Reaching Insurgsnts.

Washington, March 1.-THE state
ment can be repeated on the authority
Of the detail of the office of the navy
department that Admiral Dewey will
not be relieved at Manila until he
chooses to make application for such
relief So far he has not given any in
timation Of purpose to apply for re-
lief in the immediate future and from
the few declarations he has let fall
the department has every reason to
believe that he does not contemplate
any such action. Consequently there
Is no foundation for the story that Adj
miral Schley or any other admiral
has been selected to take command OF
the Asiatc station. So far as the
navy department is concerned the
directing officials are not only willing
but anxious that Dewey shall
complete his task and they de.
precate the circulation OF such
stories as those alleging that he is to
be relieved because by reason OF con.
slant reiteration the impression might
be conveyed to the admiral that the
department would like to relieve him.
In the case Of man Of Dewey's pune
tilious feeling the mere suggestion, II
he had the slightest reason to believe
II had an official foundation, would be
Sufficient to induce Hill to apply i'm
nediately for relief rather than to EN-
bsrrass the department As Dewey
himself fixed the limitation OF his stay
by the length of the task before him,
itmay be matter Of interest to record
the belief OF many naval officers that
after all the end is almost within
sight.
Dewey has established himself In
Manila; he has assisted in the taking
Of lloilo; he has sent forces to Cebu in
connection with the army also to
Negros; the principal ports OF the
Philippines have all been taken over
into American possessions in large
part through his cooperation with the
army. There remain only II few ports
Of Importance, notably Zamboango or
Mindanao, and perhaps one of the
towns in the Sulu archipelago to be
occupied. Expeditions are now NOV
ing In these directions and that branch
Of the work will be soon closed up.
There will remain only two more
phases Of the campaign to require
Dewey's assistance. First, and near
at hand, is the driving off Of the To-
gals under Aguinaldo near Manila.
With Lawton landing yesterday morn.
Ing at Manila with his reinforcements
and the other renforcements expected
soon, Gen. Otis movement In force Is
near at hand The navy will aid In
this Ships can be placed in proper
position on the shores Of the bay of
Manila to command the country for
miles, and by cooperation with the
army, through the agency Of the sig
nal corps the insurgents can be shelled
out Of the jungles many miles inland
by the warships.
The next and last feature Of Dewey's
task will be the csta blishment of
close blockade to prevent munitions
Of war or supplies from reaching the
insurgents, providing there are any
Insurgents remaining after Otis and
Lawton have made their forward
move. When this has been done,
when there is nothing further In the
way Of fighting for the warships to
do, 1t Is believed that then Dewey's
task probably will be regarded as fin.
ished by himself, and 1t will be time
for the navy department to consider
the question of u successor to the COM
mand Of the Asiatic station.