Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-10
Is BREAKING DOWN UNDER TIL:
STRAIN At MANILA.
HE REFUSES TO COME HOME
PERMISSION TO Return WAS CA
BLEED TO HIM.
lie Replied That lie Preferred to Fin.
iSh the Job Nc Had NcEun-NO
Oaicinl Evidence That the
Hero of Manila IL
AilinE.

WASHINGTON March o-When his at
ton;ion WAS called to the statement com
ms from Vancouver {" the effect that -Ad-
nli!al Dewey IS breaking down and can
rot last month longer. Secretary Long
said That lie h"d 10 information whatever
on this point. The stories OF The admiral
illhsalth have been in circulation with
more or less perSisiercy for tile past four
months. They are al! traceahlo TO privat,
reports and though officers OF the navy
who have returned recently from Manila
stale that Dcwey'S health. so far as il
could he gaured from his appearance ap-
pears TO be about tie same as IL has hser.
'or Tho rast wear. th.v agre. that the pri-
waite reports probably have a fair basis of
fact.
Il is not denied by these officers that the
admiral has aged in appearance notably
within the past year: his hair IS undouit
edly whi;er and his figure shows signs of
that weakness which might be expected
L" come with advancing years. Dewey will
bc &, years old next December. and for
many years has not been strong physically.
Meantime. he has had imposed 1Ipon him
The most severe and cXacting duties. SO
that it Is but natural that his frail
physique should show the effect of the
tremendous strain.
IL is said by persons familiar with the
Philippine climate that the second year is
the hardest to bear for Il Caucasian. and
Dewey will soon begin his second year
there. In addition to This. he labors under
the drawback of having undergone a mos:
severe surgical operation for the relief OF
his liver 4 man needs Il sound liver in
the Philippines. of al! places. These facts
lead naval officers TO believe reports that
Dewey Is showing signs of physical strain.
h.r all Sfafp ed
there is absolutely official evidence on
HE at the department TO show that this is
true. The fun medical history of Admiral
Dewey is among the records of the bureau
| of medicine and surgery. They show every
aiiment that he has experienced since he
has been in the navy. as well as the results
| of the physical examinations he has UNDER
gone when he has been promoted from time
TO time. But these do not disclose any
complaint at this time. The admiral has
not been made the subject of a sick report
| since he went to Manila.
Some time ago. the president feared that
| the great strain he was under might over
tax him, 50 he cabled Dewey, through Sec
retary Long, permission to return to the
United States. The admiral declined to
avail himself Of this permission and asked
permission to stay. saying that. in his
opinion. duty required that he should finish
the task he had begun at Manila. The
president accepted this statement and Dew
ey remains by his own free wish: he is
free TO return TO the United States when
ever he cares TO do So and the department
will relieve him by cablrd orders. In that
case, Captain n. II: Dyer, the commander
of the baltimore. who is the senior captain
on the Asiatic station, would have COM
mand of the American squadron tempor-
arily. and probably would be relieved later
by one of the rear admraIs recently Gre
ated nearly all of whom are anxious to
assume active flag rank before retirement.