Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-11
LET HIM ALONE.
Dewey Not to Be Interferred
With by Washington.
Will Be Allowed to Finish the Great
Work He Has Started.
When II Is Gone Will Be Time Enough 10
Consider Successor.

Washington. March 1o.-It can be
stated ON authority that Admiral
Dewey will no; bc relieved at Manila
until he chooses to make application
for such relief. So far he has not CIV
en- any intmation of a purpose to APP
ply for relief in the future and the de-
partment has every reason to believe
that he does not contemplate any such
action. Consequently there is no foun-
dation for the story that Admiral
Schley or any other admiral has been
selected to take command of the
Asiatc station. So far as the navy de-
partment is concerned the directing Of
ficials are not only willing. but anxi-
Gus. that Dewey shall complete his
| task and they deprecate the circulation
of such stories as. those alleging that
he is TO be relieved. for the reason
! that the impression might be conveyed
to the admiral that the department
would like to relieve him.
In the case of a man of Dewey's
punctilious feeling the mere suggestion
If he had the slightest reason to be-
lieve it had an official foundation,
would be sufficient to induce him to APP
ply Immediately for relief rather than
to embarrass the department. AS
Dewey himself fixed the limitation Of
his stay by the length of the task be-
fore him. it may be a matter of inter-
est to record the belief of many naval
officers that after all the end is almost
within sight.
Dewey has established himself in Ma
Mia, he has assisted in the taking of Ilo-
lilo. he has sent forces to Cebu in con-
nection with the army, also to Negros;
the principal ports of the Philippines
have been taken over into American pos
session in large part through his CO.
operation with the army. There remain
only Il few ports of Importance, notably
Zamboango on MindanaO. and perhaps
one of the towns in the Sulu archipelago
to be occupied. Expeditions are now
moving in these directions and thar
branch of the work will soon be closed m.
There will remain only two more phases
OF the campaign to require Dewey's as
sistance. First and near at hand, is the
driving off of the Tagalos under Agui-
naldo near Manila. With Lawton land
ing. this morning, at Manila with his re-
Inducements and the other reinforce
ments expected soon, Gen. Otis move
mcnt in force is near at hand. The navy
will aid in this.
Ships can be placed in proper positions
on the shores of the bay of Manila 20
command the country for miles. and by
corporation with the army through the
agency of the signal corps, Tie insurgents
can be shcllcd out of the junglcs many
miles inland by the warships.
The next and last feature Of Dewey's
,..1, ,,,i1iI .., 81
blockade to prevent munitions or SUP
plies from reaching the insurgents, pro-
viding 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, it is
believed that then Dewey's task possibly
will be regarded as finished by himself
and it will be time for the navy depart
ment to consider the question of sue