The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-19
BEFORE THE CAPTURE.
A Belated Dispatch Gives Interest
ing News From Manila.
GEN. AUGUSTUS INDIFFERENCE

As to the Fnte of the One Hundred
Thousand Nntives-The Foreign Con-
suls, Excepting the German Consul,
Urged the Wisdom of surrenderlng.
Hong Kong. Aug. ia dispatch
from correspondent at Manila, con-
frmng the capture of the town. says
the American troops now occupy every
position formerly held by the Span.
iards. of whom 6,000 are prisoners. Not
single shot was fired at the feet.
The dispatch also says that Admiral
Dewey picked up the end Of the sew
cred cable on Friday. but that the line
Is not yet in working order. Merchant
men are leaving Hong Kong daily for
Manila A great rush of trade is ex-
pected.
A belatcd dispatch from Manila,
dated Aug, 8. explains that Governor
General Augusti had not quite abdi-
Gated" and says:
1.-THE governor general only declined
to be responsible for the consequences
when he found that Spain was not
sending him help. He retreated his
position. but practically washed his
hands of the fighting. A Madrid dis
patch construes '.lis as INSTRUMENTATION,
and The Gazette will now publish an
order to supersede him.
"It is rumorcd that confidential in
structions have been given to his sue
cessor to resist to the utmost. hoping
to gain the worlds admiration and,
possibly. assistance in securing ia,
vorable termination.
"a telegram arrived Sunday ordering
the Americans to proceed Immediately
to cxtremities, whereupon General Mer-
ritt and Admiral Dewey Issued an ul-,
timatum allowing 4S hours for the re-
moval of non -combatants, but declar-
ing that they would begin the bonn
bardmcnt earlier if the Spaniards made
any attack. The governor replied i'm
mcdiately, thanking the American
commanders for their humane scnti-
mcnt, but saying they were useless,
because he was surrounded with rebels
and had no place of refuge for the
great number of sick and wounded and
women and Children
'The governor tiereunon convened
the consuls, begging them to use their
influence with the Americans TO get
them to grant him time and facilities
for the removal Of the refugees and
suggesting the use of the American
troopshirs, but he was unwilling to
allow them food from Manila. He
seemed Indifferent to the fate Of the
1C0 600 natives.
"Thc British consul made a powerful
appeal to the governor to surrender.
glorifyine the heroism hitherto shown
by the Spanish, but demonstrating tn"
hopelessncss Of further resistance. The
other consuls indorsed his appeal, with
the exception of the German consul,
who said that, as a military officer, he
Should hesitate to say that the Span
iards had dope enough yet.
"A Spanish commercial deputotion
waited upon the governor and be2g d
him to surrender. saying that otherwise
they would be utterly ruined. The civil
members Of the council of war favor II
surrender but the military members
do not care to indOrse such a request.
Officers say they realize the futiliy
Of resisting the Americans who, with
their superior guns, can keep at long
range and kill everybody without loss
to themselves. with probably a dozen
shells.
"The British consul promptly ar
ranged for four launches, under white
flag, to remove British subjects nd
also for one launch for the Chinese.
Swarms of Spanish and native half
caste women and children are begging
to be provided with means of escape"