The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-25
Dewey Wants the
Oregon at Once.
POLITICAL REASONS
Cause Assigned for Presence
of Peerless Battleship.

Washington. Feb. 24.-The foilowina
dispatches have been received at the
navy department:
Manila. Feb a.
For political reasons the Oregon
should be sent here at once. Dewey.
Manila, Feb. "a
Yorktown arrived. Charleston and
Petrei cruising around the Philippine
islands. Affairs more quiet. Csigned)
Dewey.
T The cablegram from Admiral Dewey.
asking for the Oregon, was received
with surprise by the officers here. No
one knew the nature of the political
reasons which the admiral says de-
mand the immediate presence of the
battleship, The cablegram was taken
to the cabinet meeting and fully dis
cussed there. No other subject was
considered by the cabinet
1t Is thought that a request for fur
Their details will be made. The ad-
miral, it is snid, possibly feels that the
effect of the presence OF th9 big ship
upon the insurgents themselves would
be good bat there is also underlying
doubt whether or not the admiral may
not be sighting a gathering cloud in
the east, and Is looking to the proven
ton Of any possible intervention or in
reference by European powers In the
struggle now in progress near Manila
II il believed that in the big fires much
property of foreign residents and bust
ness concerns was destroyed That
these fires We're caused by the insurR
he IL ma he
that some Of Che foreign naval com
manders i'm the east are disposed to
seize upon the pregXt that their in
terests demand protection to make Il
landing or do something obnoxious to
the United States. and likely 10 en-
courage the insurgents With such a
strong naval force as would be afforded
by the reinforcement Of DeMeY's feet
by the Oregon, this could not be any
reason for any such action on the part
OF third parties.
Taa cabinet after considering Dewey's
message relative 10 the political import
ance Of sending the Oregon at once 10
M 2 n8la, reached me conclusion that too
much hnpotance should not be at
tacled to IT. that Dewey wants the big
snip 70 influence the F'ilipinos through
feRr Secretary Long said when asked
for an explanation OF the reference to
political reasons IN the Dispatch
II am sure that IL has no information
81 significance. You may state that posi-
lively Probably he wants a fine ship
there. as the American commissioners
are about due and IL VIII give weight 10
the American representations
It is suggested from other naval
sources that Dewey wants the Oregon
to release a number OF the smaller ships
of the fleet for other work He has been
planning a tour among the islands
other than Luzon with the purpose of
establishing the authority OF the United
Suites among them.
1T is also necessary to establish
close blockade to prevent the Insurgents
from receiving supplies. These projects
require for their execution a number Of
ships Dewey cannot spare them at
present but when the Oregon gets into
Manila harbor she will be sufficiently
formidable TO Insure the protection OF
the entire harbor in conjunction with
the two big double turreted monitors
Monterey and Monadnock The remain
der of the fleet then will be free to carry
out the projects While these three ar
mored ships are lying in Manila bay
there is no fear that any force can
enter or pass out without their consent.