The United States Asiatic Squadron left Mirs Bay in the afternoon of the 27th for the Philippines. It was previously arranged 4 that the fleet should hare loft on Tuesday, but the departure was delayed to avait the arrival of Mr. 0. F. Williams and seve officers who had stayed behind for di arches. As we have already intimated, Mfr. Williams and the officers were stormnstayed on Tuesday and had to return to Hongkong and Ensign H. H. Caldwell, Flag Secretary to Commodore Dewey, and another officer started on an overland journey to Mirs Bay to deliver itnportant telegraphic dispatches which had been received. After a dreadful journey, the result was to find the wind too high and the sea too rough in the Bay to get a sampan to journey to the fleet. The officers had, therefore, to make their way back to noe kong. Meanwhile Mr. Rounsevelle Wildman, U.S. Consul at Hongkong, and Mr. Williams had had interviews with several of the Philippine Rebel chiefs who were deported to Hongkong, and arrangements were made that one of their number, J. Alijandrino, should accompany the squadron, and act as the intermediary between the Americans and rebels Yesterday morning, about eight o'clock, Mr. Wildman, Mr. Williams, the U.S. officers, newspaper representatives and J. Alijandrino, accompanied by two rebel friends, started in the Fame to make their way to the fleet.
'A stormy passage was made, and shortly after their arrival, a meeting of the commanders of the different vessels was convened by Commodore Dewey on board
operations of the feet were discussed. the flagship Stympia, and the plans for the "he bombastic proclamation of Governor-General Basilio Augustin y Davila was read over to the commanders, and occasioned much merriment. It was resolved to have copies made of the proclamation, to be read out to the men on the different ships. Mr. Williams' narration of the position of affairs in Manila, and the hasty but ineffective measures for the defence, more especially the extinguishing of lights on the coast and the instruction issued to neutral vessels entering Manila harbour to take a pilot at Corregidor Island to avoid dangers from mines, torpedoes, ete., were somewhat lightly regarded, the latter instruction being received with much laughter as an antique dodge to frighten the enemy.
GREAT ENTHUSIASM IN THE FLEER, The conference concluded, the commanders departed to their respective vessels, with orders to get ready to steam off immediately. Mr. Williams, late U.S. Consul at Manila, went on board the Baltimore and the rebel leader Alijandrino was berthed on the transport Zajivo. Consul Rounsevelle Wildman and the two re-dels who accompanied Alijandrino to the fleet then boarded the Fame. The commanders having made known their orders, the ships were cleared for action, the anchors were weighed, and amidst great enthusiasm the fleet steamed out of Mirs Bay. The ficer left in double line, the Olympia and Baltimore leading, the transports Zyiro and Nanshan bringing up the rear, and as they steamed out, the bands of the different ships struck up lively airs and cheers were again and again raised. Commodore Dewey has received telegraphic orders to expture the Spanish fleet, in order to secure the safety of American trading vessels, On reaching Manila, he will demand the capitulation of the city within half-an-hour, and in the event of refusal of his request the bombardment will commence almost immediately. After witnessing the departure of the fleet, the Fame steamed back to Hongkong, and reached here about six o'clock.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.