Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-25

tSlgned) CITIZEN.
Mr. Giffen is dispatch agent of the
department.
Washington, D. c.. February pa
Cen Otis to-day cabled the War De-
partment as follows:
Manila, February "a,
Scandal arrived last night On
nights of 21st and 22d and yesterday
morning insurgent troops gained ac-
cess to outskirts of city behind our
lines. Many in hiding and about one
thousand entrenched themselves. Com
pletely routed yesterday with loss of
killed and wounded about 500 and 200
prisoners. Our loss very slight City
quiet. confidence restored, business
progressing.
(Signed) OTIS.
Washington, February 24.-Tbe
cablegram from Admiral Dewey ask
ing for the Oregon was received with
surprise by the officials here. No one
knew, or at least would admit that he
knew, the nature of the political rea-
sons which the Admiral says demand
the immediate presence of the peer
less battleship. The cablegram was
taken to the cabinet board and fully
discussed there. The Admiral, it is
said. possibly feels that the moral eff
feet OF the presence of the big ship
upon the insurgents themselves and
particularly upon that large element
among the Filipinos that is believed
to be restrained with difficulty from
joining 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 in the east, and is looking to
the prevention of any possible inter
vention or interference by European
powers in the struggle now in prog
/ ress in the neighborhood of Manila.
y is believed that in the big fire much
\perty of foreign residents and bus
concerns was destroyed. That
Be fires were caused by the insur-
Its cannot be denied and it may be
At some of the foreign naval COM
handlers in the east are disposed to
/seize upon the prospect that their in
terests demand protection which we
cannot afford them, to make landing
or do something obnoxious to the
United States and likely to encourage
the insurgents. With such strong
naval force as would be afforded by
the reinforcement of Dewey's fleet by
the Oregon, there could not be any
sound reason nor even a plausible rea-
son for any such action on the part
of third parties.
1t is said here that up to this moment
there has been no intimation Of pur-
pose on the part of any foreign govern
ment to file any claims for pecuniary
remuneration for the property of their
citizens destroyed at either Ma
would be made of any such claims is
not indicated here. though there is
ground for the belief that if it can be
shown that our military and naval Of
ficers practiced the precautions required
by international law in the matter of
giving due notice to foreigners of any
action in the Way Of hmm ba ri mani tbat
might injure their property and 9TH
erwise did everything that could be
done to protect the foreign interests
equally with our own. then there is
little foundation for sound claim for
damages.
The Oregon arrived at Honolulu on
the 5th instant, according to the tele-
graphic report that came to the navy
department this morning. No mention
was made of her being in need of re-
pairs as is stated in the press dis
patches 1t is not known either why
the battleship arrived at Honolulu
week before the Scandal and the Iris,
Francisco. The two tenders were sup
posed to attend the Oregon to help her
out with a tow in case she ran short
Of coal or was otherwise in distress.
Probably one of the boats broke down
and the other was left to take her in