The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-10
is ADMIRAL DEWEY FAILING?
BELIEVED HE Is SHOWING SIGNS
OF PHYSICAL STRAIN.

President Wired Him Permission to
Come Home Some Time Ago, But
He Desired to Remain and COM
pIete the Work He Had begun mt
ManiIa-Dewey Is Now 62 Years
Old and Is Not Strong Physically.
Underwent an Operation.
Washington. March s-When his at
tention was called to the statement COM
ing from various sources to the effect that
Admiral Dewey is breaking down and can
not last month longer, Secretary Long
said that he had no information whatever
on this point.
The stories of the admirars i'll health
have been in circulation with more or less
persistence for the past four months. They
are all traceable to private reports, and
though officers of the navy who have re-
turned from Manila state that Dewey's
health so far as it could be gagged from
his appearance. seems 10 be about the
same as it has been for the past year.
they agree that the private reports prob
ably have fair basis of fact.
1t is not denied by these officers that
the admiral has aged in appearance no
tably within the past year, his hair is
undoubtedly whittier and his figure shows
signs of that weakness which might be
expected to come with advancing years.
Dewey win be 90 years old next Deem
Der, and for many years has not been a
strong man physically. Meantime he has
had imposed upon him the most severe
and eXacting duties, so that it is but ma
tural that his frail physique should show
the effect of tine tremendous strain 1t
is said by persons familiar with the Phil
ippine climate that the second year is the
hardest to bear for Caucasian, and
Dewey soon will begin his second year
there.
Must Have Good Liver.
In addition to this he labors under the
drawback of having undergone a most Sc
we're surgical operation for the relief of
his liver man needs a sound liver ia
the Philippines of all places. These facts
lead naval officers to believe reports that
Dewey is showing signs of physical strain.
On the other hand, as already stated,
there is absolutely no official evidence on
file at the department to show that this
Dewey is among the records Of the bureau
of medicine and surgery. They show every
ailment that he has experienced since he
has been in the navy as wen as the re-
suits of the physical examinations he has
undergone when he has been promoted
from time to time But these do not dis
close any complaint at this time, and the
admiral has not been made the subject of
sick report since he went to Manila.
Dewey Refused to Return.
Some time ago the President feared that
the great strain he was under might over
tax him, so he cabled Dewey, through Sec
rotary 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 opin-
ion duty required that he should finish the
task he had begun at Manila.
The President accepted this statement.
and Dewey remains by his own wish He
is free TO return to the United States
whenever he cares to do So and the de-
partment will relieve him by cabled or
ders. In that case. Capt. N. Fl. Dyer. the
commander of the Baltimore, who is the
senior captain on the Asia6c station,
would be relieved later by one of the rear
admrals recently created, near.y all OF
whom are anxious to assume active flag
rank before retirement.