The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-21
The Fate OF Manila.

The most striking statement in the last
despatch published from Admiral DEWEY
was that, while the insurgents had prac-
tically surrounded Manila, "they do not
intend to take the city at the present time"
This was not put as opinion, but as fact I;
and it seems a fair inference that Admiral
DEwEY had assurances on this point from
AGUINALDo, the insurgent leader. 1t has
been said also that they, lack the field
uns they ought to have fo- taking the
city; but Admiral DEwEY's words suggest
that even with such guns they would not
attempt it.
The surmise follows that the insurgents
may have refrained from %assaulting the
city because they had agreed that its sur
render should be made to Admiral DEWEY.
1t will be recalled that, many weeks ago,
when AGUINALDo's cooperation may not
have promised results so great, the Ad-
miral notified our Government Of his
ability to take Manila at any time,
the implication being that he did not
take it simply because he had no troops
to hold land govern it. In that circum-
stance there would be adequate foundation
for an agreement with the insurgents
that If the latter should drive the Span
iards within the walled town the final
blow should be struck by cooperative eff
forts, and that our superiority in the ability
to reduce it should be recognized by our re-
ceiving the surrender.
At that time the American Admiral NAV
have supposed that troops would be hurried
out to him sooner than they have been. But
the very fact that the presumed understand
ing with AGUINALDo. reached when the in
surgent leader was taken back to the Philip
pines under our auspices, holds good in spite
of this delay, and even after the success of
the insurgents had allowed them to pen
the Spaniards in the town, Is promising
for our interests. 1t Is true that If, after
all, the insurgents, no longer to be re-
strained, should have captured Manila just
before the arrival of our troops, there might
be bitter comments upon the procrastina.
tion that made this possible; but Admiral
DEWEY has maintained from the first q
serene confidence In his ability to manage
the affair. and if he has manifested any i'm.
patience or expressed any anxiety lest his
reinforcements should come too late, it does
not appear in his published dispatches.
Perhaps Manila is now ours. Ourfirs expe.
dition may have arrived there, and Admiral
DEWEY'S dispatches indicate that land
forces are all he has been waiting for In
order to secure the surrender of the city.
This event, it is true, would not be the end
of our anxieties. There would still COM
the question as to how far the announced
purpose of the insurgents to establish
a republic in the Philippines will interfere
with our purposes. But at least tho i'm,
mediate danger, that of a landing of forces
from the European warships to protect the
foreign residents In case of the city't
surrender to the insurgents, would be
removed by its surrender to us. There
would then be no ground on which
such a landing could take place. With
the problem of the ownership of the
Philippines reduced TO the claims of the
insurgents and ourselves, we shall doubt
less reach a satisfactory result. 1t ha'
been intimated that the Spaniards, Il
forced to give up Manila, will make noilC