New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26

by the Department. and it was learned that
admiral Dewey had been msqucted and that
what Se had reported was that the Petrel hau
received the surrender Of Cebu. American s"N-
ereg3ty bag thus been established at the capl-
tal o. tho island. which is a town Of thir'y-h'e
thousand Inhabitants II was not believed 'hd'
a1v serious difficulty would attend the under
taking as the insurreCtiCn has not obtained any
strength in that quarter War Department OH
Gals regard the island of Cehu as the most I'M
ror,art rroyirce II the Visayas group, lis area
bene TWO thousand square miles, and us p1lu-
s,lon more than half a million Under 'he
sparlsh regime the capital was a city oi CON
saerabe commercial and political importance.
In the absence Of further news from AdnlTal
lswey as 70 the hurrying of the Oregon TO
Manila, the officials Of the War and Navy de-
g,ments adhere 20 their original declaration
he, the political reasons" alluded t. in the
tspatcb mean simply the necessity of having an
l3equete naval force 90 cover the many impor-
znt strategic points in the immense area Of the
archipelago. II Is pointed out that the neces-
aty for strong naval force at Manila is as
great as it was during the blockade of the port
and for the same reasons as existed at that time
Fhen the International situation was tense IN
addition there is pressing need TO cover many
cher points where there are important foreign
interests at stake so as 10 relieve this Govern
rsnt Of the rtproach Of allowing these interests
TO suffer. and to prevent the pretext, which
r,gh, be eagerly seized by some Powers. for
Andlng marines at Manila or elsewhere The
Iesence of the Oregon at Manila would go
far toward solving this problem. She would
nfle than make up for the absence Of several Of
The smaller naval vessels in case Of foreign in
reference in Manila Bay. and would allow the
smaller craft 20 he distributed at important
POINTS among the islands.
A SUGGESTION IN NAVAL CIRCLES.
suggestion that found currency in naval
'Icles to-day. 10 account for the AdmraTs as
Patch relative 20 the Oregon was that he had
just received some ~ the newspapers Of a month
sso iiom the United states. These conveyed
"e Impression that the Department was CON
mnpailng canceNng the Oregon's orders 10
'''aa In view q the roseate outlook for an
'9 settlement If the trouble at Manila. II
~ therefore some officers think with view
Miisssng the Department with the fact
1' me sane necessity existed for the oregon 9
Nes at Manila now as when he first made
's3sest for the ship that induced him 70
's 70 the Department as ne did yesterday.
N may be noted that should Dewey be con-
""eo as admiral before the expiraiio Of the
'eeh' Congress. h. VIII outrank any Of the
sH naval officers On the Asiatc Station.
'" ne British squadron there is commanded
Vlce-admiral. The British Government
Ts not send an officer Of The rank u admiral
=" sea al all In this view ~ the case IT would
m '.em only proper hat being the ranking officer
y 'he enir" station. Dewey should have i'm the
"egon ship second in nghtine qualities to no
''sse! IN tn combined fleets IN Asiafic waters.
was stated positively at The Navy Depart
"'eht today that no inquiry had been addressed
" ADMIRAL Dewey. and that he would nor be
Nl''ea upon for further explanation This
"'""s mat the Interpretation placed on the
e'fas political reasons" by the Adr,intstra-
w" Is exactly that conveyed by Secretary Long
.-''e'oay' namely that the big ship is regarded
necessary 70 impress the Filiplnos. not only
VI Luzon' but Of other islands ~ the oroun ,.i,h
", We overwhelming power Of the United states
Navy ''''u "'a'eS
"hEAT EXTENT or THE GROUP
'"e ofncials Of the Department who are hos,
,iua'h'ed with the situation in the PHILIPPINES
great stress on the fact that the American
.1ohe including Congress, is slow 10 grasn rho
en' ana Importance Of the Philippine group
'"e powerful force that VIII be necessary to