Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1898-08-18
GENERAL MERRITT MAKES FULL REPORT
President nstructs Merritt That There Must Be No
Occupation With Insurgents.
ENGLISH ACCOUNT HOW BATTLE WAS FOUGHT

New YORK, Aug. ia dispatch te
the Herald, from Camp Dewey, Angus,
8, via Hong Ksng, says: The Spaniards
renewed the attack on the American
outwsiks last night. The trenches
were occupied by battalion each OF
the Fourteenth and Twenty Third Reg.
ulars and Nebraska Volunteers, the
latter holding the extreme right and a
company OF Regulars the extreme left.
They returned the Spanish fire, and a
hot firing lasted for half an hour. The
American losses, chiefly frem shells,
were killed, three; wounded, eleven,
four seriously. There was heavy ar
tillery duel this morning. the Utah ar
tillery replying with spirited fire to the
Spanish guns, finally landing a shell
near the power house. This must have
disabled the guns as the Spanish fire
ceased -
DELAY DIDN'T DO WITH DEWEY. y
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18.-The War
Department has received the following:
Hong Kong, Aug. l8.-Adjutant Gen :
eral, Washington: Manila, Aug. H.
On the 7th inst. Admiral Dewey joined
me in forty EIGHT hours notification
to the Spanish commander to remove
non combatants from the city. The
same date reply was received ex-
pressing thanks for the humane SEN
timents and stating that the Span
ish were without places of refuge. for
the non-cOmbatants now within the
walled town. On the 9th inst, we sent
q joint note inviting attention to the
suffering in store for the sick and nom
combatants in case it became our duty
to reduce the Iefenses, also setting
forth the hopeless conditions of the
Spanish forces, surrounded on all sides
with the fleet in front, and with no
prospects of reinforcements. We de-
manded the surrender as due to every
consideration of humanity. On
the same date we received
reply admitting their situation, but
stating that the council of defense de-
clared the request for surrender could
not be granted. However, they offered
to consult their government II
time was granted necessary for
communication via Hong Kong.
We sent joint note in reply declining
such grant of time. On the 18th the
army Joined with the navy in the at
tack with the following result: After
about
HALF AN HOURS ACCURATE sHELLING
Of the Spanish lines. McArthur's brl-
gade on the right. and Greenes on the
left, under Genl. Anderson, made Wig
orous attack and carried the Spanish
works. Our loss is not accurately
known, but is about fifty in all. The
behavior of the troops was excellent,
and the cooperation of the navy valua-
BILE The troops advanced rapidly upon
the walled city, upon which the white
flag was shown, and the town capitus
lated. The troops occupy Malate, Bin
ondo, and the walled city of San Miguel
All out centers are protected. The In
surgents are quiet. No disorder or
pillage has been committed.
MERRITT.
DEWEY CONSENTED.
BERLIN, Aug. 18 "A dispatch from
Hong Kong, dated August IS and evil
IDENTIFY official says = The Kalserin
Augusta, which left Manila with dis
patch from Admiral Won Dledrichs,
after the fall of the city, will return
there today. General Augusti and
family arrived on board the cruiser.
Admiral Won Diedrichs at the request
of General August, gave them passage,
by arrangements with the American
commander. General Augusti has left
Hong Kong en- route for Spain.
JssTRUcTIONs TO MERRITT.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1S. The War
Department today made public an order
sent General Merritt. last evening. re-
garding the occupation of the city of
Manila by the American forces, as fol-
lows: Adjutant Generals Office, Wash
fngton, D. O., Aug. n. Major General
Merritt, Manila. The President directs
there must be
NO JOINT OCCUPATION
with the insurgents. The Americans
are In possession Of Manila city, Manila
bay and harbor, and must preserve
peace and protect persons within the
territory occupied BY their military and
naval forces. Insurgents and all others
must recognize the military occupation
and authority of the United States and
the cessation of hostilities proclaimed
by the President. Use whatever means
In your Judgment are necessary to this
end. All law abiding people must be
treated alike. BY order of the Sec
retary Of War, III. Q. CoRBIE, Adjutant
General.
CONDITIONS AT THE PHILIPPINES.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1s.-Dispatches
of Importance were received and con-
sidered at the War Department today
Immediately after the arrival OF Secre-
tary Alger at the Department be had q
consultation with General Corbin and
denied himself to visitors. The confer.
encs was a protracted one. They were
considering dispatches received from
General Merritt and from Santiago. II
is understood that General Merritt's
dispatches were not Of disquietIng ma
furs. although the conditions to be faced