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ployed in the conveyance of troops to the Philippines.
RETURN OF THE HUGH MCCULLOCH TO MANILA.
ADMIRAL DEWEY GIVEN A FREE HAND.
Replies to Admirals Dewey's despatch baving been received, the Hugh McCulloch left the har bonr shortly after two o'clock on Sunday after- noon for Manila, she being seen off by Consul. General Wildman, Commodore Holland, and Harbour-Master Rumsey. Had the replies not been received within 24 hours of her arrival the despatch boat would have had to await them in other waters. The Admiral having destroyed the Spanish fleet asked for further instructions as to his future actions, particularly as regards Manila. The Admiral did not wish to take over this great city on his own re- sponsibility, seeing that the rebels have stopped the supplies. Cavite is in a simi-
lar position, provisions being so scarce there that even those at the hospital had been plundered, and in consequence when in posses- themselves sion of the city the Americans
When landed food, for the Spanish wounded. the Admiral offered to pay for the coal which be shipped at Cavite he was thanked for doing so, but was informed that provisions would be more acceptable than money, but of course he could hardly see his way to acting upon this suggestion. The instructions which came to hand yesterday give him a free hand to take what course ho thinks fit. He is thus placed in a very delicate position.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The Admiral's despatch was sent from Hong- kong in naval cipher. Yesterday close on 100 congratulatory telegrams were received for him from the United States. They included tele- grams from the President, the Assistant Secre- tary for the Navy, from the clubs of which he is a member, and from the big American news- papers. There is no doubt he will also receive the thanks of Congress, an honour which car. ries with it a gold medal and which is the only decoration the Americans have. We believe it has only been granted in thirteen cases pre- viously.
Speculation is rife as to how it was that the Spaniards were found cooped up in the Bay of Cavite. Private papers captured in the Arsenal at Cavite show that it had been arranged that the Spaniards should intercept the American fleet at Subic Bay on Saturday, April 30th, and no explanation is forthcoming as to why this ar rangement was not carried out. The authorities seem to have been most undecided as to what action they should take, and in consequence the fleet was in a state of unpreparedness at the time of the attack, as was evident from the fact that a general inspection had been ordered for the very morning of the battle.
The officers of the Hugh McCulloch bore
Mr. Wood voted to the chair. Mr. Warner proposed-
That application should in the first place be made by H.B.M. Consul at the request of the British community to the authorities for the immediate despatch of further naval assistance, in view of the critical position caused
i. by a probable immediate scarcity of food. ii. by the actual scarcity of funds for the
payment of troops and employés, iii. by the threatened firing and looting of the business part of the town so that British interests-life and property-may be effectually protected, also that any action taken should be taken immediately. Seconded by Mr. Jones and carried un- animously.
Manila, 4th May, 1898. This was signed by the representatives of the leading Corporations and Companies. It will be seen that this request was forestalled by the despatch of H.MS. Immortalité to Manila on the same day that this meeting was held. There, was also there at the time H.M.S. Linnet, the French man of war Bruiz, aud❘ it is understood that the Gefion, German man- of-war, was also at Manila.
COMMODORE DEWEY PROMOTED.
In view of his successful operations against the Spaniards at Manila Commodore Dewey has been made an Admiral.
A STIRRING CAREER.
Referring to the commander of the American squadron at Manila, an American paper says:- George Dewey is a veteran who needs no new service to give him a place in naval history. He was a lieutenant when the civil war began, having just been graduated from Annapolis, and be first came to the front with the destruc tion of the old Mississippi, which had served on stations all over the globe, bore Perry's pennant at the opening of Japan to the world, and was enshrined in the affections of many an officer who had sailed in her. The Mississippi was des- troyed in the river whose name she bore and her loss was the result of a gallant action. Capt. Smith and his chief subordinate, Lieut. Dewey,
conducted themselves with fine courage through
out and they were the last to leave the ship. "It is in such trying moments." said Admiral Porter, in commenting on this incident. that men show of what metal they are made, and in this instance the metal was of the best." Dewey was at both attacks on Fort Fisher and since the war he has seen distinguished service.
MORE NEWS FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
ARRIVAL OF THE “LINNET.”
FEARED ATTACK ON BRITISH
FACTORIES.
testimony to the bravery of the Spaniards, | ANTI-BRITISH FEELING IN MANILA. but they mentioned a case of treachery for which the Spaniards paid dear. The vessels in Cavite harbour included one somewhat in the nature of a store ship. She, however, joined in the fight until four or five large shells cooled the ardour of those on board and they hauled down their flag. Accordingly a boat's crew went off to receive their surrender and when close up to the vessel they were fired upon without, however, any fatal result. The outcome was that the American guns were immediately brought to bear on to the vessel, which was soon sunk with all aboard.
Telegrams from New York state that when the news of the victory was received there through the Spanish telegram the wildest excitement prevailed, demonstrations attended by as many as 100,000 people taking place in two of the great squares of the city.
THE BRITISH COMMUNITY AT
MANILA.
A REQUEST FOR FURTHER NAVAL ASSISTANCE.
The Commodore has forwarded to us the following communication which be received from Manila yesterday, it having been sent through the British Consul with the conseut of the Spanish Anthorities and forwarded by the U.S.S. Hugh McCulloch by the courtesy of the American Commodore.
Minute of a meeting held at 10 a.m. on the 4th May, 1898, in Smith, Bell & Co.'s office to discuss the present situation. Present the undersigned.
13th May. Yesterday afternoon the British gunboat Linnet (Commander R. C. Sparkes) arrived in the harbour from. Manila with both the Spanish
and American mails.
Commodore Holland authorises us to state:- Affairs at Manila remain the same. The Ameri- can Squadron is at Cavite, the Irene (German), Bruix (French), and a Japanese mau-of-war are off Manila, besides the Immortalité. Food is dear but yet obtainable, and all foreigners were so far safe when the Linnet left at 1.30 p.m. on Monday, the 9th inst. Both the Spanish authorities and Commodore Dewey are most courteous in permitting communica- tion and in sanctioning letters and documents being forwarded by such opportunities as may occur. The Linnet brought from Manila both American and Spanish mails.
We may add that the Japanese vessel at Mauila is the Akitsushima, which left Japan last week with the Naniwa. The latter came on to Hongkong and will probably relieve the other vessel before long.
The Linnet, which went from Hongkong, did not reach Manila until the Tuesday after the fight, since when practically no further action has been taken by Admiral Dewey, the latter wishing to communicate with his Government and get instructions before doing anything else.
[May 14, 1898,
As the Hugh McCulloch left here on Sunday afternoon she would reach the American squadron on Tuesday, and there is every reason to believe that since then the situation has altered.
When the Linnet left Manila things were at a standstill. The Americans had not yet at- tacked the town, which was still in the hands of the Spaniards. Many of the shops were closed and business was at a complete standstill.
The Esmeralda was still in the Bay, being anchored near the American squadron. There is a strong anti-British feeling in the town among the Spaniards, as the opinion is general among them that it was the captain of the Esmeralda who piloted the Americans into the Bay. What is feared is that the Spanish soldiers, who have had no pay for some time, will attack and loot the British factories, The English ladies and their families have left Manila and gone to reside in a country place about four miles off. The rebels are about ten miles from the town,
Altogether there are about 25,000 Spanish
in troops the city and about 10,000 volunteers have been enrolled. It is therefore difficult to see how the American Admiral could hope to retain Manila if he were to take it The only Spanish vessel there is a gunboat up without the assistance of troops from home. the river. She cannot be got at, as the month
of the river is obstructed with sunken vessels. Numbers of steamers cannot get out of the river for the same reason.
The Americans do not allow any Spanish vessel to enter the harbour or go out, but we understand that there is no restriction placed
on neutral vessels.
It is said that the Swift will return to Manila instead of the Linnet.
Consul-General Wildman, upon whom the war has thrown an enormous amount of work, informs us that the Admiral has forwarded him as a trophy the flag of the Spanish Admiral's ship, the Reina Cristina.
The white flag of truce floats over the city of Manila.
the ships. This is very trying to the Americans, People are allowed to come and go freely to however, who have to be on duty night and day in consequence of the large number of small boats which endeavour to run the blockade in or- der to obtain food supplies.
The Americans have still the management of the hospitals at Cavite, every care being be- stowed on the wounded there.
The Spaniards in Manila are boasting that their big ship the Paloya is coming out, and that she will demolish the Americans in ten minutes.
THE UNITED STATES AND THE PHILIPPINE REBELS.
THE ARRANGEMENT WITH AGUINALDO,
Singapore, 4th May. Just before the actual outbreak of hostilities between Spain and the United States Singapore has been the scene of a secret political arrange- ment by which General Emilio Aguinaldo y Fami, the supreme head of the revolutionary movement in the Philippines, has entered into direct relations with Admiral Dewey, Com- mander of the American squadron in China waters, while that officer was still at Hongkong.
In order to understand and appreciate this interesting historical incident properly it will be necessary to allude to the canses leading to the second appearance of the rebellion in the Philippines, which was almost coincident with, though not instigated by. the strained relations between Spain and the United States.
In December last General Primo de Rivera, who above all other Spanish Generals has an intimate knowledge of the country and its inhabitants, found the position unten- able for both parties. Neither of these had the remotest chance of terminating the rebellion decisively, the rebels secure in their mountain fastnesses, the Spaniards holding the chief towns and villages on the coast. Primo de Rivera therefore sent two well-known Philippine natives occupying high positions in Manila to propose terms of peace to General Aguinaldo in Biac-na-Bato. A conncil of the revolutionary government was held in which it was agreed to lay down arms on condition of
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