The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-25
DEWEY'S PUZZLING CABLE.
OFFICIALS DISAGREE As TO WHY HE
SENDS FOR THE OREGON

That He Refers to Foreign Complications.
WASHINGTON. Feb. PA telegram received
at the Navy Department to-day from Rear
Admiral Dewey at Manila has excited the
greatest interest In official circles. 1t was q
very brief message. but the phraseology en-
ployed by the Admiral justified the significant
Interpretation which was placed on It by many
officials. The message. dated Manila, Feb, "a,
was as follows:
For political reasons. the Oregon should be
sent here at once"
1t was read at the Cabinet meeting and dis
cussed at some length. and while the Cabinet
officers do not disclose the details of the dis
~cussion. those who were seen by THE U re-
porter expressed the positive conviction that
the political reasons" to which Dewey refers
did not concern any foreign interference. but
that the term was used as n synonym OF
moral effect" In connection with the Filipino
uprising.
The text OF the message became public just
before the Cabinet met. and obtained general
circulation in official quarters while the Piesi-
dent and his advisers were holding their regu-
lar session. There appeared to be one view
only held by those officials who cared to
express an opinion. They interpreted
the words political reasons" to mean
that the danger OF foreign complications in the
Philippines had been renewed. Naturally, the
first thought OF those who held that belief was
that Germany was again showing a DISPOSE
ton to hamper the efforts OF the American
representatives at Manila to maintain the ALL
thority OF this Government.
1t was suggested by several officials that the
political reasons" requiring the presence OF
the Oregon at Manila may have arisen from a
desire on the part OF Germany or some other
foreign Government. whose subjects have
property interests In the Philippine capital.
to land marines to guard the lives and be-
~longlngs of those subjects. 1t Ia customary
for the great Governments OF the world to
land armed forces at places in semi
civilized countries, where the interests OF
citizens OF those Governments are In
danger, and also in countries where ade-
quate protection to foreigners cannot be
guaranteed by the constituted authority.
such landings have been made frequently
by marines and bluejackets from United
States warships in Central American and
South American countries during political up
risings. and a force OF marines from the
cruiser Boston is now at Pekin guarding the
United States Legation against any attack that
may como from the revolutionary propaganda
in China: but the United States would not per-
nit foreign warships to land marines or
sailors at Manila, for the reason that such ac-
quiescence would be a practical admission that
this Government could not preserve law and
order and protect the interests of foreign
ers in the islands. An attempt to make
such a landing against the wishes OF the
United States would very likely result In
a conflict between the American fleet and the
foreign ship or ships covering the attempt.
This suggestion gained currency throughout
the executive departments and the capital, and
soon grew to be a full ledged report that Ger
many had landed or would attempt to land
marines at Manila against the protest of Adj
miral Dewey.
ACabinet officer to whom THE Sun reporter
talked about Dewey's telegram after the Cabi-
net meeting. expressed establishment that the
crty. Not that l consider il, Of any i'm
c9ns,ruetIon may be placed on the mean,
the Cabinet. meeting to-day there was
only one opinion held as to the meaning Of the
t dslpa admiral To D S'y SsT Wanted i"' the Oregon 'ays%s
for the moral effect her presence would
l h9se q 4oa the can Pili aRnass., and for %ha Ro 9 ah cf Esei
calming. the beIIigereHt tendencies OF the ma
tives. They will realize when. they see this
wonderful floating structure that the United
States are u powerful nation with unlimited
moraI effect Il viii Be- great. The. fiiipinos viii
nndersta3d that they Ganhh not. WIthfTt 81 s9Gh n
force. huulTal Dewey WITHOUT uOuDJ Wunlb 10
make q display OF the power OF the United
States Navy. Therei S nothing more in Dewey's
telegram than that. He did not use the right
The reporter learned from a trustworthy and
authoritative source that there had been moth
aolnG anytime in the PhIiipPipes that would
pointed out that, in the absence OF any knowl-
edge on the part Of the Government that
Admiral Dawav would haVa aXDlAinnd what hH
meant by political reasons" The State. War
and Navy DEPARTMENTS have not received a
temapIatlng any action in the Philippines
a aIso fHst The 70 ex tpIs cHSh'! 9yAir al wa m6 sHs Sefef.
IN another telegram received from Admiral
lR on Tsgt to;%6 6oI;ti saH rd ins Q fsPtr Tith to th ioT 1piln,
Willie these opinions are, expressed by Cabi-
net officers. they are not shared by other Off
those holding the view opposed to that u
that do not convey his meaning. In SAYING
that for political reasons the Oregon should
hat r. se the 3 5is :if battios a. 9n wss ne wanted anti i0 BECAUSE taS@e
Of the moral effect she would have, on the ma,
tives. The, Oregon is too big q, ship to be OF
use in the lagoons and rivers that approach
tho present lighting line. and her big guns are
practically the same Is those in the forward
pretty generally outside the Cabinet circle,
| secretary Long, Wntn luebtlOltu ubOuI
Dewey's despatch. made a statement tnat may
be regarded as significant, He said that no in
quiry had been sent TO Admiral Dewey IN re-
gard to the meaning OF his message. and that
none would be sent, as tho administrator
thoroughly understood that Dewey meant that
he would need the Oregon for the moral effect
her presence would have on the Filipinos.
The Oregon arrived at Honolulu on Feb, 3.
She was under orders to proceed thence, to
Manila, accompanicd by the distiIling ship Iris
and the collier scindia; WHICH. acc9rdlng to 9
to-day from the United states despatch
lulu on Feb. II. Prior DISPATCHES from
supply vessels would leave Honolulu. in ten
days or two weeks after their arrival there.
and 1t is therefore reasonable, 10 SUPPOSE.
as the NAVY, Department does. that Al these
are now well on their way TO the Philippines,
The despatch from San Francisco did moi
say that the Oregon was obliged to remain at
Honolulu longer than, would be necessary or;
dinariiy 70 make repairs to her machinery: II
Manila. barring accident. about March 10.
The battleship Iowa; which accompanied the
Oregon from New York TO Callao, proceeding
thence 70 San Francisco. is at the Mare Island
Navy Yard undergoing repairs 10 her ma
chinery, which will take about another month