Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-10
ADMIRAL DENEY'S HEALTH.
Good Ground for the Report He Is
Breaking Down,
WASHINGTON OFF,
GALS SAY THEY HAVE NO
SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON
THE SUBJECTIVE WILL BE
SIXTY-TWO YEARS OF AGE
NEXT DECEMBER = ANOTHER
LIST OF CASUALTIES - THE
NEWS OF THE DAY FROM OUR
FAR OFF COLONY.

Washington, March 9.-When his at
tention was called to the statement
coming from Vancouver to the effect
that Admiral Dewey is breaking and
cannot last a month longer, Secretary
Long said that he had no information
whatever on this point. The stories OF
the Admirals i'll health have been in
circulation with more or less persist
ency for the past four months. They
are all traceable to private reports ana
though oi-cers of the navy who have
returned recently from Manila state
that Dewey's health so far as it could
be gagged from his appearance APP
pears to be about the same as 1t mas
been for the past year, agree that the
private reports probably have fair
basis of fact. 1t is not denied by these
officers that the Admiral has aged in
his appearance notably within the past
/. his hair is undoubtedly white and
his figure shows signs of that weakness
which might be expected to come with
advancing years. Admiral Dewey will
be siXty-two years old next December,
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 natural that his frail physique
should show the effect of the tremen-
dous strain. 1t is said by persons
familiar with the Philippine climate
that the second year is the hardest to
bear for a caucasion, and Dewey soon
addition TO this he labors under the
drawback of having undergone most
severe surgical operation for the relief
of his liver. A man needs sound liver
in the Philippines of all places. These
facts lead naval officers TO believe re-
ports 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 is true. The full medical history
of Admiral Dewey is among the rec
ords of the bureau of medicines sur
gerry They show every ailment that
he has experienced since he has been
in the navy as we'll as the results of
the physical examinations he has I'M
dergone when he has been promoted
from time to time. But these do not
disclose any complaint at this time;
the Admiral has not been made the
subject of a sick report since he went
to Manila. Some time ago the Presl-
dent feared that the great strain he
was under might overtaX him, SO he
3abled Dewey through Secretary Long
permission TO return to the United
States. The Admiral lined to avail
himself of this permission and asked
permission to stay, saying that in his
opinion duty required that he should
finish the task he had begun at Ma
Mia. The President accepted this
statement anu D6WSy lOluolllo W MS
own wish; he is free to return to the
United States whenever he cares to do
so. and the Department will relieve
him by cabled orders. In that case
Capt. N. H. Dyer, the commander of
the Baltimore, who is the senior Cap
tain on the Asiatic station, would have
command of the American squadron
temporarily, and probably would be
relievd later by one of the Rear Ad-
mirals recently created. nearly all of
whom are anxious to assume active
flag rank before retirement.