The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-25
Would be Good Move for PoIid-
icaI Effect
THE CAUSE OF THE REQUEST
Is Not Exactly Clear to the Navy
Department.
WAR CLOUD MY- Sc GATHERING
ST
On Account e ssiecent Fires in
c''s Manila
THINGS Fl NOT aUIHFED YET
Despite the Threats of the Rebels to
Destroy the Business Part of Manila
the Inhabitants Were Not -I
Disturbed.
THINGS H 6 NOT oUIETED YET

Washington, February A-The following
department:
Manila, February A-For political reas
sons the Oregon should be sent here at
once. DEWEY"
manila, February 24-Yorktown arriv-
ed. Charleston and Petrol cruising around
the Philippine islands. Affairs more quiet.
DEWEY"
"San Francisco, February A.-The Ore
gon arrived at Hilo February 4 and at
Honolulu February s. Iris and Scindia ar
rived on the 18th. GRIFFIN"
Mr. Griffin is dispatch agent of the navy
department.
The cablegram from Admiral Dewey ask
ing for the Oregon was received with sur
prise by the officials here No one knew,
or at least would acknowledge he knew,
of the political reasons which the admiral
says demand the immediate presence of
the peerless battleship.
The Cablegram Discussed
The cablegram was taken to the cabinet
board and fully discussed there. The ad-
miral, it is said, possibly feels that the
moral effect of the presence of the big
ship upon the insurgents themselves, and
particularly upon the large element among
the Fipinos, that is believed to be re-
strained with difficulty from joining for
tunes with Aguinaldo, with whom their
sympathies lie, would be good.
But there is an underlying doubt whether
or not the admiral may not be keenly
sighting a gathering cloud in the east and
is looking to the prevention of any posst-
intpryantiOp Eurn-
pean powers in the struggle now in prog
ress in the neighborhood of Manila. 1t Is
believed that in the big fires much prop
erty of foreign residents and business con-
Germs was destroyed.
Caused by the Rebels
That these fires were caused by the in
surgents cannot be Denied and 1t. may be
that some of the foreign naval command
ers in the East are disposed to seize upon
the pretext that their interests demand
protection, which we cannot afford them,
to make landing or do something obnox-
ious to the United States and likely to en-
courage the insurgents.
With such strong naval force as would
be afforded by the reinforcement of
Dewey's fleet by the Oregon, there could
not be any sound reason, nor even a p,aus-
ible reason. for any such action on the part
of third parties.
The cabinet gave some attention to
Dewey's cablegram relative to the political
Importance of sending the Oregon at once
to Manila. The conclusion reached was
that too much Importance should not be
attached to it; that Dewey wants the big
ship to influence the Filipinos through fear.
Secretary Long said when asked for an ex-
PLANTATION of the reference to political rea-
sons in the dispatch said
II am sure that 1t has no International
significance. You may state that positive
ly. Probably he wants a fine ship there, as
the American commissioners are about
due, and 1t will give weight to the Ameri-
can representations"
To Release Smaller Ships
1t 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 other islands than Luzon
with the purpose of establishing the au-
thority of the United States among them.
1t is also necessary to establish a 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 en-
sure the protection of the entire harbor In
conjunction with the two big double-tur.
retted monitors, Monterey and Monadnock.
While these three armored ships are lying
in Manila Bay there is no fear any force
can enter or pass out without their con-
sent.