The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-25
Otis Cables That Five Hundred Re-
beIs Have Been Killed.
DEWEYS MESSAGE A SURPRISE.
The Department DO Not Understand
What It Means-May BE That lie
Thinks the Effect Will BE Salu-
tary on the Insurgents or
May Fear Foreign
Complications.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 24-General Otis
to-day cabled tho War Department as
follows:
Manila, Feb. "a.
"scandia arrived last night On nights
2st and 22d and yesterday morning in
surgent troops gained access TO outskirts
OF city behind our lines. Many in hiding.
and about 1 o'clock entrenched them
selves.
completely routed yesterday, with loss
OF killed and wounded about 500, and
2o0 prisoners our loss very slight. City
quiet. confidence restored. business pro-
stss55 siHn"5, Otis"
WASHINGTON, February 2L-The fol-
lowing dispatches have been received at
the Navy Department:
Manila. February a.
For political reasons says Dewey.
"the oregon should bee sent here az once.
lsignedl DEWEY.
Manila, Feb. "a.
Yorktown arrived Charleston and Petrol
cruising around the Philippine Islands.
Affairs more quiet.
,SigneO DEWEY
San Francisco. February ..
The Oregon arrived at Hilo February
am and at Honolulu February 9Th. Iris
and Scandia arrived on the 18th.
,Signed) GlFFEN
Mir Glnen is dispatch agent Of the de-
partment.
REQUEST WAS A SURPRISE.
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 they
knew the nature of the political reasons
which the Admiral says demand the inn
mediate presence Of the peerless battle
ship.
The cablegram was taken before the
Cabinet aud fully - ussed. The Ad-
mral. it s said. possibly feels that the
moral effect of the presence Of the big
ship upon the insurgents themselves. and
particularly upon that large element
among the Fuipinos that is believed 10 be
restrained with difficulty from jolnins
fortunes 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 I'm the East and Is look
ing to prevention of any possible Inter-
vention or Interference by European pow
ers In the struggle now I'm progress In the
neighborhO0d of Manila.
10 is believed that I'M the big fires much
property of foreign residents and busi-
ness concerns was destroyed. That these
fires We're caused by the insurgents can
not be denied. and # may be that some
of the foreign naval commanders are dis
posed 10 seize upon the preteXt that
their interests demand protection, which
we cannot afford them. 10 make a land
O. r.t t...
United States and likely TO encourage the
insurgents.
with such % strong naval force rs
would bo AFFORDED by the reinforcement
of Doweys fleet by the oregon. there
could NOT be amy sound reason, nor even
plausible reason for any such action
0n the part of third parties.
80 CLAIMS FILED
10 is said here that up tO this moment
there has been no intimatiOn of pur-
pose ou the part of any foreign govern
ment TO file amy claims for pecuniary re-
muneration for the property Of their cit
izcns destroyed in the fires. Just what
disposition would De- made Of any such
claims is not indicated here There IS
ground for the belief that II it can be
shown that our military and naval Off
GERS uracficed the precautions required
bv international law i'm the matter OF
giving due notice % foreigners of any
action bon tho way OF bombardment that
might njurc their property. or other
wise did everything that could be done
20 protect tine foreign interests equally
with our own. thoE there Is little iounda-
tlon Tor sound claim for damages.
The Oregon arrived at Honolulu 0n The
dh instant according 90 the teieeraphic
ron0rt that came 20 the Navy Depart
mcut this morning 40 mention was
made OF her being in need of repairs as
has been stated boz press dispatches
Assuming that the battleship really
needed ten days repairs she should have
started away from Honolulu ou her trip
10 Manila on the 18th instant Allowing
for detention on account of cOaling at
Guam or some other point between Homo
lulu and Manila. n is estimated that the
oregon will reach Manila about the loth
OF March
FOR MORAL EFFECT
The Cabinet gave some attention 20
Dewcy's cable message relative 10 the
poiiticai importance of sending the
oregon at once Co Manila. The Depart
ment reached the conclusion that too
much Importance should not be attached
10 n. rfat Dewey wants the big ship 10
influence the Filipinos through fear.
Secretary Long when asked for an
explanation OF the reference 10 political
reasons in the dispatch. said.
81 am sure thar has no International
Significance. You a. state that posi-
lively. Probably be- wants a fine ship
there as the American commissioners are
about due. and IL will give weight TO the
American representatives.
IL * suggested from other naval
sources that Dewey wants the oregon 10
release a number OF the smaller ships OF
the feet for other work He has been
planning a tour among the islands. other
than Luzon. with the published purpose
Of establishing the authority OF the United
states among them.
IL Is also necessary to establish a
blockade 20 prevent the insurgents from
receiving supplies.
MADE GOOD TIME
The war Department officials were
greatly surprised this morning that Gene
raj Otis has received the first OF his re-
Inducements. half OF the Twentieth
United states. nearly six davs before
they were due. They arrived on the
scandla They sailed from San Francisco
IN company with the steamer Morgan
city on January 18th and as they were
both at Honolulu together the Morg.h