The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-11
OFer the Persistent Reports That He
Wants TO Be ReiieVed.
AS LONG AS THE ADMIRAL DESIRES
He Will Retain Command of the Fleet
At Manila, as the Questisn of
His Successor Has Not
Been Considered.

Washington, March 10.-The statement
can be repeated on the authority of he
detail Office of the navy department that
Admiral Dewey will not be relieved at Ma
Mia until he chooses to make applica ton
for such relief. So far he has not given
any intimation of purpose to apply for
relief in the immediate future, and from
the few declarations he has let fall the
department has every reason to believe
that he does not contemplate any such
action. Consequently there Is no founda-
ton for the story that Admiral Schley or
any other admiral has been selected to take
command of the Asiatic situation. So far
as the navy department is concerned the
directing officials are not only willing but
anxious that Dewey shall complete his
task, and they deprecate the regularity
of those stories as those that he was to
be relieved for the reason that by constant
reiteration the impression might be con-
veyed to the admiral that the department
would like to relieve him. In the case of
a man OF Deweys punctillious feeling they
suggested that If he had the slightest rea-
son to believe it had an official foundation
would be sufficient to induce him to apply
Immediately for relief rather than embar-
rass the department
Dewey Fixed the Limit
AS Dewey himself fixed the Limitation of
his stay by the length of the task before
him. it may be matter OF interest to
record the belief of many naval officers
that after all the end is almost in sight.
Dewey has established himself in Manila
he has assisted In the taking of Iloilo Re
has sent forces to Cebu in connection With
the army, also to Negros; the principal
ports of the Philippines have all been taken
over into American possession, largely in
part with his cooperation with the army.
There remain only few ports OF import
ance, notably Zamboango, in Mindaoa,
and perhaps one of the towns in the Zulu
archipelago to be occupied. Expeditions
are now moving in these directions and
that branch of the work will soon be closed
up.
There will remain only two more phases
of the campaign to require Dewey's as
sistance. First, and near at hand, is the
driving off of the TagalS under Aguinaldo
near Manila.
Forward Movement Expected
With Lawton landing this morning at
Manila with his reinforcements and the
other reinforcements expected soon, Gen.
eral Otis movement in force Is near at
hand. The navy will aid in this. Ships
can be placed in proper position on the
shores of the bay of Manila to command
the country for miles and by cooperation
with the army through the agency of the
signal corps the insurgents can be shelled
out of the jungles many miles inland by
the warships. The next and last feature
of Dewey's task will be the establishment
OF a close blockade to prevent munitions OF
war or supplies from reaching the insur-
gents. providing there are any insurgents
remaining after Otis and Lawton have
made their forward movement. When thls
is done and there is nothing further In the
way of fighting for the warships to do
Deweys task will probably be regarded as
finished by him, and it Will be time Tor the
navy department to consider the question
of a successor of the commander of the
Asiatic station.