The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-25
DEWEY WANTS WARSH|P
Says the Oregon Should Be Sent at
Once.
FOR POLITICAL REASONS
FEARED THAT FOREIGN POWERS
MAY INTERFERE.
Destruction of Foreign Property May
Serve as a Pretext For Some Ma
ton to Mix Up In the Situation
Scandia Reaches Manila With
Reinforcements.

Washington, Feb. 24.-The following
dispatches have been received at the
navy department:
Manila, Feb. 24-For political rea-
sons, the Oregon should be. sent here at
once. DEWEY"
Manila, Feb. 24-Yorktown arriv-
ed Charleston and Petrol cruising
around the Philippine islands Affairs
more quiet. DEWEY"
The cablegram from Admiral Dewey
asking for the Oregon was received
with surprise by the officials here. No
one knew, or at least would admit that
he knew, the nature of the political
reasons which the admiral says demand
the immediate presence OF the peerless
battleship. The cablegram was taken
to the cabinet board and fully discussed
there. The admiral, it is said, possibly
feels the moral effect of the presence
of the big ship upon the insurgents
themselves, and particularly upon that
large element among the Efllpinos that
is believed to be restrained with diff
ficulty from joining fortunes with
Aguinaldo, with whom their sympa-
thies lie, would he good But there IS
an underlying doubt whether or not
the admiral may not be keenly sight
ing a gathering cloud in the east, and
* looking to the prevention of any pos
shle Intervention or interference by
European powers in the struggle now
in progress in the neighborhood OF Ma
Mia.
PRETEXT FOR INTERFERENCE.
1t is believed that in the big fires
much property of foreign residence and
business concerns was destroyed. That
these fires were caused by the insur-
gents cannot be denied. and it may he
that some of the foreign naval COM
manderS in the east are DISPOSED 70
rise upon the preteXt that their inter
ests demand protection which we can
not afford them, to make a landing or
do something obnoxious to the United
States, and likely TO encourage the in
surGents.
With such a 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 Il plausible reason, for any such
action on the part Of a third sarty.
1t is said here that ~ to this mo-
ment there has been no intimation of
purpose on the part of the government
to file any claims for pecuniary remun-
GRAFTON for the property of their citi-
Zens destroyed in the fires and light
ing at either Manila or Iloilo. Just
such demand is not indicated here,
though there is ground fc. the belief
that if it can be shown that our mill
tary and naval officers Dracticed the
precautions required by interna tional
law in the matter of giving notice to
foreigners of any action in the way of
bombardment that might injure their
property, and otherwise did everything
that could be done to protect the tor
eign interests equally with our OWL,
then there is little foundation for a sec
ond claim for damages.
OREGON ON THE WAY.
The Oregon arrived at Honolulu on
the 9Th inst, according TO tbs tele-
graphic report that came TO the navy
department this morning. No mention
was made of her being in need of re-
pairs, as is stated in the press dis
patches. Assuming that the battleship
really needed ten days repairs, she
should have started away from Homo
lulu on her long run TO Manila on the
10Th inst. Allowing for detention en-
account of coaling at Guam or some
other point between Honolulu and Ma
Mia, it is estimated that the Oregon
would reach Manila about the 10th Of
March.
Meanwhile the war department ollie
ials were agreeably surprised this
morning TO learn that General Otis at
Manila had received the first of his re-
Inducements nearly six days before
they We're expected. They came on the
Scandal, which brought half of The
Twentieth infantry. She sailed from
san Francisco Jan. IS, in company with
the Morgan City, which has aboard he
half of the Twentieth n
fantry, and as both ships were at Hon
olulu at the same time, the Morgan
City will be expected in Manila within
twenty-four hours, unless she has been
detained which is not expected. The
transports Ohio and Senator, with the
Twenty second infantry aboard, sailed
from San Francisco only four DAYS
later than the Scandal, so that within
a week General Otis will have $500
fresh men TO relieve those who have
been fighting on the outposts.