davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28
Admiral Deyvey'a Future.

tfrom the minneapolis iflbune-)
The Washington Times is astonished that
the Government, having made George
Dewey. the victor of Manila. Admiral OF
the Navy, is at loss to know what 10 do
with him, and advises thus:
The very conditions which are VIGOROUSLY prev
alent in the Navy Department ought to answer
that question automatically The thing to do
with the Admiral is 10 place him in general mil
tary command of the Navy as General Miles Is of
the Army Let the labor OF the staff departments
be performed by their respective heads and details.
but let it be done under the supervision and au-
tkorty of the Admiral. II Mr.. Mckinley Will
order this, we think he will find that the move.
ment will rebound to his popularity rs well Is
his credit Certainly il would greatly tend TO
restore public confidence in the efficiency aud ia
tegrity OF the Navy Department. which has been
nearly destroyed by the sptcs and c0DspirIcie5 in
the Bureau of Navigation by offensive Simpson
i'm. by the appearance Of false Navy registers,
leading TO miscarriage Of justice in mistaken
combinations by the Senate and by other things
equally lamentable aud too numerous 10 mention"
The suggestion that Admiral Dewey be
placed in command Of the Navy is a good
one-but the suggestion that he be placed
in command of the Navy as General Miles
is of the Army" is someNhat ambiguous.
General Miles is nominaliy, but not really.
in command of the Army. The real com
mander appears to be General Corbin. 1t
would hardly be in keeping for Admiral
Dewey to play Miles to some naval Corbin.
II would seem 10 the average citizen
that the strictly military functions Of the
COMMANDMENTS Chief of the Army and
Navy should be exercised by the highest
ranking officer in each, and that the Presi-
dent through his Secretaries of the Wa
and Navy. should issue all military orders
to such commanders for execution. There
are civil functions pertaining TO both
branches Of the service which properly
belong to the Secretaries. But under the
present practice the Secretaries are 1.-The
whole thing" and the Commanding Cen
eral and the Admiral are mere figrlreheads
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28
rAE INFLUENCE OF GERMANY.
II Is Now Being Exercised Exten-
siyeIy in Persia
(From Ainslee's Magazine

While no one ran prophesy with GER
tainty what great power is some day 10
occupv Constantinople, it is Significant
that the Germans are exploiting CONNER
cialiy not only Turkey. but also the Balkan
states German capital has taken advan-
tage Of the personal friendship existing
between the Kaiser and the Sultan to Sc
cure concessions in Turkey for the build
ing OF railways and the Introduction OF
steamship lines The influence that France
once exercised in the Levant has been SUI
perseded by German influence.
In Persia German and English inter-
ests are opposed 70 Russian interests.
When the Germans build to Bagdad. the
railway for which they already have a con-
cession. and which the Sultan is eager to
have constructed. it can be made 70 pay
only by extending it through Persia 10
connect with the English railway in India.
This would complete the overland route
from Berlin and the West to Bombay. and
would make Persia to q considerable ex-
tent commercially subsidiary to German
merchants in Turkey. On the other hand.
IL Russia seized Bender Abbas. on the Per-
sian Gulf and connected it by rail with
tho Russian railway systems to the north.
Russig would have in Persia another vassal
state and would be in position to weaken
German influence in Turkey. Alone, Eng
land would find 1t difficult to prevent Rus
sig from becoming predominant IN all
Persia as she now is in Northern Persia.
Together, England and Germany can TO
their mutual advantage open Persia 10 the
commerce of the world. and, while main
tanning its nominal independence, intro
duce modern civilization.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28
NAVAL VESSELS FOR SALE.
Several Auxiliary Cruisers May BE
Disposed of Soon.

The sale of two and probably thres
auxiliary naval vessels, purchased for rse
in the war with Spain. may be expected as
a result of consideration given the subject
by the Board on Naval Construction>Gt
meeting yesterday The vessels are the
Mayfiower, a fine yacht, purchased from
the estate of the late Ogden Goelet; the
Supply, formerly the steamer Illinois. OF
the international Navigation Company. and
the Huntress, small yacht that was
owned by F. c. Fowler.
The names Of the Mayflower and the
Huntress were not changed when they
were transferred to the Navy. All three
vessels are at the New York Navy Yard.
and Constructor Francis T. Bowler who
has charge of the construction department
there recommended that they be sold.
The Construction Board did not take final
action on the recommendation, but II was
evident from the opinions exchanged that
the Board is in favor OF disposing OF them.
All the decisions of the board are ad
referendum. and the Navy Department may
not. according to what said said yesterday,
consent to sell the Mayfower. She proved
TO be very useful ship and did good serv-
ice as a gunboat Her high speed makes
her particularly valuable. Another con-
sideration in favor of her retention is that
the Government will probably not be able
TO secure a price approaching her cost to
the Navy. $4SO600.
The Supply. as her name indicates. was
used as a provision ship. She cost the
Government 1926 coo. The Huntress cost
the Government S21 500.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28

The decision of the Court of Claims in
the matter of the naval bounty earned by
Admiral Dewey and the officers and men of
his fleet, in sinking the Spanish vessels
commanded by Admiral Montojo in Ma
Mia Harbor. was handed down on Monday
Subject to an appeal to the Supreme Court
of the United States 1t settles a question
of great interest TO people in the service,
especially to those who were engaged
under Admiral Schley in the destruction OF
Cervera's squadron off Santiago.
II the court had held that Admiral
Dewey's force. engaged in the action, was
inferior in guns and numerically to that
of the enemy, then he and his men would
be entitled to divide two hundred dollars
for every man on board the Spanish ships
at the time. IT, on the other hand. the
American naval force was the superior,
then the naval bounty would be one hun
dred instead OF two hundred dollars for
each enemy, as aforesaid. The contention
on the part of the claimants was that the
nominal complement of Montojo's vessels
was greater than the number of people In
Dewey's fleet, and that Montoio had the
assistance of land batteries and torpedoes
TO add 10 his superiority. But the court
found that the statute did not make any
provision justifying the inclusion of land
forts and batteries or submarine tor
pedoes IN the calculation Of an enemy's
strength: also that the evidence showed
that while the American force engaged
amounted to eighteen hundred and thirty
six men, that CT the Spaniards was nine
teen hundred and fourteen. But the gun
power on the American side more than
equaled the difference; so the court de-
clded that Dewey's squadron was superior
TO that of his antagonist.
Most Iaymen will be apt TO regard the
decision as Just and sensible. 1t is true
that the weakness OF the Spanish naval
resistance in Manila Bay. as well as at
Santiago. was an agreeable surprise to
this country. and a very dizasreeable one
to Continental Europe 1t is also a fact
that great courage and aarir.g were dis
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28
CONDITIONS IN CUBA.
General Ludlow Confers With the
President Concerning Them.

Before leaving the city for New York,
from which port he expects TO sail for
Havana on Saturday. General Ludlow,
Military Governor of Havana, called upon
the President at the White House. and
was in close conversation with him for
some time yesterday morning. 1t has
been the wish of the President to become:
thoroughly familiar with the conditions
of the military and civil life in Cuba, and
this information the general was amply
able 10 give MIN. He told the President
that matters there were, to great extent,
shaping themselves. and that absolute in
dependence was a mattr of time only.
He said that there was a strong element
for Independence, and that il was this fac
ton that would be heard from in the cleo
tions in May. These elections are to be
held on the LIST Of that month, and will
include the choice OF mayors and city
councils for all the cities. 1t is under
stood that there are to be twelve tandi-
dates for the Office OF mayor of Havana.
..Ali the officers whom l appointed will
be succeeded by men elected by the peo-
pie" said General Ludlow, and the hight
will be between the independence party
and the arnexationists. The former are
gaining strength every day. and do not
want to be hampered in their government
of the island by any outside influence. l
believe that they are rapidly growing into
condition when they can assume the
reins of government satisfactorily, and as
the majority should rule. and the people
OF the independence party are in the ma
jority. l hope that they will gain their
ends.
The Cubans have been for so long a
time under the rule of Spain that their
ambition to adopt self government is only
natural, and while they have taken kindly
to the training offered them by the Ameri-
can people. the influence OF the masses is
being used toward eventual freedom in
every particular. The President expressed
himself as pleased with the conditions rs l
explained them to him, and l have reason
to believe that he will be glad when the
people of Cuba are in position 10 adopt
self-Soyernment. The coming elections
will show which way the wind blows
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28
HEL1oaRAPH coaMuN1cAT1oN.
A s,gnaI System which Is Operated
by Sun Flashes.

Heiiographing is ..sun writing" By the
use of the Photograph the suns rays are
flashed over long distances The letters OF
the Morse Geographic code are used. and
communication is comparatively easy on
bright days. = ~
The instrument that is now used to
transmit Photograph messages is exceed
ingly simple. 1t consists of tripod carry
ing a horizontal rod at the top. On this
rod is a mirror on ore end and on the other
a small upright rod with movable but
ton This mirror is usually four-and-a-
half inches in diameter. and is SO arranged
that 1t can be~rotated both on a horizontal
and on a vertical axis. In the middle is
small unsilvered spot The mirror is
sighted by means Of this unsiiyered spot
and the button on the rod in front, exact
" as rifle would be aimed. IL the button
is raised so as to cover the destination or
the message which can be found by COM
PISS il it cannot be seen, and the shadow
thrown by the unsilvered spot in the mid
die of the reflection covers the button. the
instrument is in position. There is con-
trivance by which the shutter is operated.
opening and closing over the mirror by
means of key. which is pressed like the
key of a telegraph instrument long
finish stands for a dash; short one for
dot in the Morse system.
The greatest distance overcome by the
heliograph was that operated over by the
United States Signal Corps. between Mount
Uncompahgre, in Colorado. and Mount
Ellen. in Utah. This was 1873 miles. The
flashes came and went as regularly as
though the distance had been much
shorter
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28

Frun the San Francisco chronicleJ

CFro,n the san Francisco Chronice.)
II the Porto RicIns foreigners. any tariff
rate less than the full duty paid by other foreign
c-s is an abandonment OF the protective system.
Ii they are citizens of the United safes. any in
equality Of national taxation is forbidden. not
only Jy the Constitution, but by every principle
OF homer and justice. The lawyers may, perhaps.
cui,ule over the meaning of the words Of the Con
sttu;ion, although We believe the legal meaning
to he clear. but neither lawyers nor anybody else
can bubble with justice make the American
people believe that any American citizen should
he derived Of his just rights
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28

premises today would be that Che issue
might be delayed until they could succeed
in having the Supreme Court packed in
their interests. Otherwise it is as sure
as fate that within another year the right
OF all parts OF the United States. whether
on the mainland or on islands. whether
within State or Territorial boundaries, TO
unrestricted free domestic trade with one
another, will be judicially declared and
forever settled.
A great regard for the eternal laws of
justice. for the laws of his country. and
for his oath of office must compel every
sane and upright man in the House of
Representatives to vote against the Payne
hill
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28
OTIS HEALTH FAILING.
RumOrs sbffFears mt Manila of His
liter Collapse.

Press DISPATCHES received from Manila
via Hongkong state that General Otis
health Is failing, and that his physicians
fear an stefseolapse, which may account
for the fact that no reports OF any mo-
nent have been received by the war De-
partment from him for nearly two months.
Private letters received in this country
from officers in the Philippines state that
General Otis has weakened under the stran
OF directing the campaign against tne-in-
surgents. and at times he is not himself
War Department officials deny that they
have received any official information re-
garding the health of the commanding OH
Ger at Manila.
press despatch received from Manila
yesterday states that officers serving with
the Army in Luzon say that N will be I'M
possible to quell the instruction in that
island this season. and all agrcs that at
least another years campaign VIII be
necessary. and some of them state thai II
will require five or six years to establish
peace. 1t is also stated that~the reports
OF casualties and prisoners taken by the
enemy are being suppressed General Otis
still has hopes OF capturing Aguinaldo, and
Mrs Aguinaldo is being closely watched to
obtain clews of the whereabouts OF her
husband.
To further complicate matters in the
Philippines, it is reported that General Oti;
and Archbishop Chapelle are at outs over
the Spanish friars. The Archbishop is said
to favor the friars returning to tneir par
ishes, while General Otis is opposed to this,
and the question has been appealed to
Washington
1t was announced at the War Depart
ment yesterday that no news had been re-
ceived from General Otis in reply to the
cable from Secretary Root asking for re-
ports OF recent operations of the army
AT the Secretarys Office it was stated that
nothing had been heard from General Otis
for several days, and that nothing was
known OF the movements of the troops.
AdJutant General Corbn said that no bul e.
tins had been received. and that SO far as
he knew the operations of General Otis
would be contained in the report sent to
the Senate by the President. The reports
to the Senate, however, are several weeks
old. and are said to contain nothing but
what was given to the public some time
ago.
Exactly what disposition General Otis
has made of the large forces at his com
mand, Army officers say it is impossible to
tell. The reports during the latter part OF
December. which are the latest of any
moment received from General Otis
showed that in the northern part of Luzon
the insurrection was well in hand. and ex-
petitions were then being sent against the
insurgents south of Manila. Two OF the
expeditions were highly successful. but
nothing has been learned as to what has
been done in western Luzon and in the
mountain regions of the island. where the
enemy is said to have retreated A re-
ply from General Otis to Secretary Roots
cable is expected any day.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28
THE DANISH WEST INDIES.


No Progress Made Toward Their
Transfer to the tatted states.
No progress has been made in the efforts
OF the United States to strike bargain
with Denmark for the sale to this Gov
eminent of the Danish West Indies ISL
ands. The first official overtures. 1t was
learned yesterday. were made by the
United States after it had been informed
officially that Denmark was willing to dis
pose of the group. 1t is understood that
the United States made an offer for the
islands, said to be 81. SOC. 600. but Denmark
has not committed herself in regard to the
matter
Now comes the news from Copenhagen
that business men there are protesting
against the sale of the group and the
United States Government is inclined to
believe that the Danish Crown will first
test the sentiment of its subjects on the
question by having the Parliament express
itself in regard to the offer of the United
States.
This is a reversal of the plan which was
contemplated. 1t was intended that the
American Government should first make
sure That the money necessary for the pur-
chase would be appropriated and that the
treaty providing for the transfer would be
ratified According to the views of persons
here who are interested in the matter it
was not until this was accomplished that
Denmark was to act
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28

played by Admiral Dewey in rushing q
harbor generally supposed to be well COW
cred by land works. and more or less
completely mined. We must. admit. also,
that the American squadron which sailed
by the fort on Corregidor Island to the
attack did not represent the cream of our
Navy even as it existed at that time.
Nevertheless, no one can read the history
of the startling event without reaching the
conclusion that Dewey's ships were inf
nitely superior in every respect to those
they overcame. When the Court OF Claims
comes to adjudicate the claims of Schley's
squadron We shall expect it to find that
Cervera, although he doubtless had better
vessels than his colleague at Manila. still
was not a match in sea fighting power for
the gallant Marylander who overcame him.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28
THE CABINET MEETING.
Matters discussed by the President
and the Secretnries

and the Secretaries.
AT the meeting of the Cabinet yesterday
morning there was little business trans
acted. For. more than half the time of the
session the full Cabinet were posing for
their pictures. which were taken for
stereoptieen views. 1t is very seldom that
a full meeting of the Cabinet and sunny
weather can be secured coincidentally. and
the photographer took advantage of the
double fortune and secured eight views
from various positions.
Secretary Gage reviewed the condition
of trade as he had found it in the West
Secretary Long said that the meeting was
SO devoid of business that 1t was like a
social affair, but ii is known that the
Porto Rican bill was considered for some
time. The President is said to have re-
ported that he had been Informed by the
Ways and Means Committee of the
result OF the caucus in the House.
at which it was agreed to re-
duce the proposed tariff from % to 10
per cent of the present rates. and to
place time limit on the operation OF the
measure. General satisfaction was ex-
pressed at this amendment of the bill and
it was hoped that it would pass the House
IN that form. CUBAN aHairs were not dis
cussed. further than that the President in
formed the Cabin ct of the call of General
Ludlow and of his satisfactory calculation
of the situation in the island.
After the formal meeting had adjourned
Secretary Root remained with the Presi-
dent for some time, discussing the state
of affairs in the Philippines. and it is
understood that much chagrin was ex-
pressed by the President at the unfortun-
ate trend matters had taken with the
operations OF the army there. The Secre-
tary of War declined to disclose the de-
tails of his conversation with the Presi-
dent. but it is known that the Philippine
situation was its burden.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28
SECRETARY LONG PROTESTS.
He Wants His Department to Retain
Control of photographic Work

A protest has been filed by Secretary
Long with the House Committee on APP
preparations in which he opposes the
transfer OF the photographic work Of the
Navy to the Coast and Geodetic Survey
under the control of the Treasury Depart
ment. The Secretary argues that the Navy
should control all the work of surveying
channels. harhors. islands. and coast work,
and that the Navy, with its large feet
of small boats. is in position to perform
this work at a much less expense than the
Treasury Department He says that the
work OF surveying the PHILIP: Ines can be
done by the Navy in ten years. at a cost
OF 81, GOO. 0GO. while the Treasury Depart
ment has been over seventy years at work
on the survey of the coasts of our own
country, and have not yet completed it.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28

Readers OF The Times are already ia
lished by Captain Concas. who commanded
the cruiser Jnfanta Maria Teresa in the
battle with the American squadron of
Santiago and also with his sensational
declaration that the loop which Commo-
dore Schley made with the Brooklyn was
necessary TO save that vessel from being
rammed by the Maria Teresa. AS might
have been expected from one who would
naturally feel anxious to preserve the his
torical unities in connection with a great
event in our naval annals, Rear Admiral
Sampson hastens TO correct the impression
which the Coneas report might create
throughout the country if allowed to go
unchallenged
Admiral Sampson says: THE statement
is incorrect. The Maria Teresa was thou
sands of yards distant at the time-so far
away that the Brooklyn was in no danger
of being rammed. The intervention Of the
Iowa and the Texas precluded. of course,
any possibility of collision with the Brook
lyu.' We wonder what Captain Concas Or
.'Af ohN ItSt ttufu hnb " Gay III .tpis W
this. The presumption naturally is that
an admiral in command of a feet in action
will know a little more about the position
and movements of his vessel. and of the
necessity or propriety OF their evolutions
than mere line captain of the enemy.
This proposition appears doubly undenia--
bic in view of Admiral SIMPSONS asser
.fz,, . hot. ,I,
in the act Of ramming the Brooklyn he was
thousands of yards distant and hence
could not have had personal knowledge of
what was going on in the vicinity of Com
modore Schley's flagship
1t is to be feared that Captain Concas is
not altogether reliable witness. or he also
would have observed the Intervention of
the Iowa and the Texas" which his dis
tiHguished critic is able to describe in
detail and 10 the minute. Altogether the
honors OF the controversy must be held
to abide with the admiral. Coincidently
the affair looks rather blue for Schley and
his loop. The personal observations OF the
COMMUNICATIVE chief are not to be contra
dicted by hostile or sea cook testimony
VI cOulse Sil tHe foregoing Is on tne
theory. that the sweeping and minute state
ments 6 Sampson are based upon what
he actually saw during the battle. He
must have seen Sehley make the loop, and
he must have watched the Iowa and the
Texas with anxious eye as they inter
vened." Equally he must have measured
the distance Of the Maria Teresa from the
scene of the loop, in order to know any
thing about these matters. But if. instead
OF being an eyewitness, Sampson was not
in or near the fight; if he was on the
New York huh down behind the horizon
until after Schley overcame the last Span
ish ship and Ceryera had surrendered
then most people will consider that it
would be more graceful on his part to put
restraint upon his vocal organs, and main
tain silence respecting things of which it
is impossible he could have the slightest
personal knowledge.