The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-28

ASHINGTON, Feb. a7.--It
= n 4 seems to be assumed in official
NM circles here that the arrival of
the German cruiser Kaiserin
Augusta at Manila is the cause
Of the puzzling. message of Admiral
Dewey asking for the Oregon, which
the department was so indiscreet as to
make public This is the flagship Of
Admiral Won Diedrich, with whom there
was trouble in the early days Of our
occupation of Manila Bay. 1t is known
to the Berlin Government that the
Washington officials have had reason
to suspect German agents at Hongkong
of lending encouragement and even
material support to the Filipino rebels
It is clear, too, that the coming OF the
-Kaiserin Augusta at this time Will De
considered favorable to their cause by
the rebels. For these reasons the Berlin
authorities, if they are as anxious to
convince America that they are frlendly
as ambassador White represents them
to be, should not have detailed this
particular commander TO watch events
at Manila at close range.
Evidently Admiral Dewey believes
that trouble may grow out Of it. He
has had too much experience with this
German admiral to feel comfortable in
his presence.
War Department officials are gener-
.. aIIv satisfied with conditions in the
island as indicated in the press dis
patches. Everything tends to show
that no more trouble need be feared In
the Vfsayan Islands, where the Ameri-
can flag floats over Iloilo Cebu and the
island of Negros.
Around Manila, however, apart from
the difficulties which are thought to be-
set Admiral Dewey in the harDor
through the attempted interference by
other powers, the conditions are not so
favorable and a dispatch announcing
more disastrous battle than has yet
bAen fought would not be received as
q surprise at the War Department, not
~E,tthstanding reports that many insur-
cents have shown a disposition to sur
render. =.
II is thought probable here that Agui-
naIdo's leaders are desirous of making
a last desperate effort to get within the
American lines, burn Manila and do
whatever other damage they can before
the arrival of reinforcements which
they know to be on the way. The
Grant. according to yesterdays dis
matches from General Lawton, will
reach Manila about March II. She will
he followed by the Sherman and Sheri-
dan and by April 10 all Of the troops
now on the way to the islands will have
landed. according to the calculation OF
the officials here.
The medical force now or the ISLANDS
IS believed to be sufficient for ordinary
purposes and 10 meet any demands OF
the future. The hospital ship Relief
which will sail from New York direct
for Manila by the Suez route in day
sor two. will carry 100 picked men from
the hospital corps and about ten doc
tors viii also be aboard This is in ad-
dition to the regular equipment or doc
tors and nurses of the Relief. The yes
sci will be placed at the disposal OF
General Otis. either as floating hos
pital or for use in transferring the sick
and convalescent to the Federal nos
pitaI now under way at San Francisco.
The Relief is loaded with all the medl-
cal supplies that she can carry, though
there has been no official call from the
Philippines for such supplies. The au-
thorities there have full authority TO
obtain all supplies Of any character
that are wanted wherever they can be
bought. Lieutenant Colonel woodruff,
deputy surgeon general, is now en-
route across the continent for duty as
chief surgeon at Manila