Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-26
MUST IMPRESS FlLIPINOS
Reasons Why the Big Battleship Oregon is
Wanted by Admiral Dewey,
NO FOREIGN COMPLICATIONS FEARED
Admiral Dewey VIII Not BE Asked by
the Department to Explain what
He Meant as OmcinIs Are
Confident They Know.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25,-The dispatch
from Admiral Dewey speaking of political
reasons for sending the Oregon to Manila
at once is still the subject of general dis
cussion here. But apparently the admins-
traton is satisfied that it understands ex-
! actly what the admiral meant when he used
the term political reasons" for 1t was
stated positively at the Navy department
| today that no inquiry had been addressed to
the admiral on the subject and that he
| would not be called upon for a further ex-
planation.
This means that the Interpretation placed
upon the phrase by the administration is
exactly that conveyed by Secretary Long
yesterday, namely, that the big ship is re-
garded as necessary to impress the Filipinos,
not only on Luzon but those on other islands
OF the group, with the overwhelming power
of the United States navy for it is said
at the department, In the dense ignorance
in which these people live, they can be i'm
pressed only by personal observation.
| Admiral Dewey cabled the Navy depart
ment today that he had sent the gunboat
Petrol from Manila to Cebu. 1t is the pur-
| pose of the admiral to establish the SOW
! ereignty of the United States at the capital
of the island, which is a populous town of
| any serious difficulty will attend this under
| taking, as the insurrection has never OBJ
| tained any strength in that quarter. The
| War department reports say the island of
| Cebu is the most important province of the
| Vizcayas group, its area being 1000 square
| miles and its population more than a half
million. Under the Spanish regime the
| capital was city of considerable CONNER
cial and political Importance.
| The admiral made no mention Of anything
save the Petrol in this mornings advices so
the officials here are convinced that nothing
of Importance at Manila has happened over
night.
| A suggestion that found currency In naval
| circles today to account for the admiral's
dispatch relative to the Oregon yesterday
was that he had just received some of the
newspapers of date month back from the
United States. These conveyed the impress
sion that the department was contemplating
cancelling the Oregon's orders to Manila, in
| view of the then roseate outlook for an easy
settlement of the trouble at Manila. 1t was
| therefore with a view of impressing the de-
partment with the fact that the same neces-
sity existed for the Oregons presence at
Manila now as when he first made the re-
quest for the ship that induced him to cable
the department as he did yesterday
1t may be noted in this connection that
should the admiral be confirmed before the
expiration of the present congress as ad-
miral of the United States navy he will out
rank any of the foreign naval officers on
the Asiatc station. Even the British navy
there is commanded by vice admiral. The
British government, it is said, does not
send an officer of the high rank of admiral
| to sea at all. In this view of the case it
would seem only proper that. being the
| ranking of n nptira station DaUay
should have in the Oregon ship second in
fighting qualities to no ship in the combined
fleets in Asiatic waters.
Searching for Suspects.
MANILA, Feb. 25.-2:35 p. m.-The mill
tary police have raided several suspected
houses in various districts, capturing small
bodies of twenty or thirty prisoners in each
place. This and the o'clock ordinance Is
effectually dispeling the fears of a threat
ened outbreak of the natives, who do not
dare, singly or collectively, to appear on
the streets after dark The feeling in the
city has decidedly improved.
The Chinese, however, are still timorous.
Hundreds Of applicants for cedulus besiege
the registers office, the natives apparently
being under the impression that their pos
session insures them from interference and
the ignominy Of being searched for arms on
1t is generally believed that the disastrous
attempts to attack the city and destroy prop
erty, the Filipnos themselves being the
worst sufferers, will prevent their recur-
renee, but every precaution is being taken
to deal with an emergency if 1t arises
The insurance agents refuse to entertain
any claims on account of Wednesday night s
fires They intimate that General Otis, hav-
ing guaranteed the safety of life and prop
erty of the inhabitants, is responsible for
their claims.
Outside of the city the sharpshooters about
Caloocan are very annoying Six men be-
longing to the brigade commanded by GEN
eral Harrison Gray Otis have been wounded
since midnight. All is quiet elsewhere.
The German first-class cruiser Kaiserin
Augusta has arrived here.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-The War de-
partment today received the following:
MANILA, Feb. 25-Adjutant General,
Washington: Condition OF affairs quiet;
progressing fayoraby. Anxiety need not
be felt in regard to the situation. Will
send a small body of troops to Cebu, where
navy took quiet possession
| (Signed), OTIS.
Members Exchange Witticisms.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-The house con-
tinued work on the army appropriation bill
| tnIa hIt faila 10 a.