The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-30
FATE OF MANILA
STILL In DOUBT
REPORT SAYS THAT
1T HAS SURRENDERED.
This Story Lacks Confirmation from
Official Sources--It Is Believed at
the War Department That General
Merritt Has Arrived - General
August May Have Been Directed
to Surrender a Portion of the ISL
ands.

Paris. July ga despatch from
Madrid to the Paris edition of the
Herald says the Spanish government
has received a cable message announc-
ing the surrender of Manila to Rear
Admiral Dewey.
Washington. July 29.--The war de-
partment would not he surprised to
learn that Manila had surrendered to
Dewey, but it has no such information.
The report from Madrid that Manila
has surrendered, it is believed, may be
due to knowledge that Spain has au-
thorized Captain General Augustin TO
yield up the city.
1t is believed at the war department
that Major General Merritt has arrived
at Manila. He sailed on June ., Just
a month ago today. His vessels were
faster than some of the others, and
ought to have reached his destination
by this time. If General Merritt has
arrived he is in command of the de-
partment of the Pacific, which is the
designation given the Philippines and
the military territory in that part of
the Pacific.
Next in command to General Merritt
is General Anderson. who was in COM
lllHnu OF tne IiGSI eNDculllOn.
There have been six expeditions for
the Philippines as follows: May 25,
under Brigadier General Anderson, ar
rived June 80: June Is, under Briga-
der General Greene, arrived July II;
June 20, under Major General Merritt,
accompanied by Brigadier General Nc
Arthur, supposed to have arrived by
this time; July Is. under Major Cen
eral Otis; July IS, under command Of
the colonel of the First Montana; July
%. under command of Brigadier Cen
eral Harrison Gray Otis.
Suspicious interest attaches to a pub
lished statement in one of the Spanish
semi official organs to the effect that
Captain General Augustin has been
shorn of jurisdiction over the Philip
pines beyond Manila and its immedi-
ate environments. the cautain gener-
alley of the Philippine group being
transferred to the commander of the
Vizcayas Islands. 1t is lust possible
that there is an important connection
between the two items Of news, one
the surrender of Manila and the other
Augustin's replacement, boti coming
from Spanish sources. AS to the lat
ter, il was said frankly in the Spanish
dispatch that the purpose was to pre-
vent Augustin from surrendering the
entire Philippine group, so that it is
conceivable that having arranged the
matter so as to protect thci; interests
in the remaining islands so far as uos-
sible, and having placed themselves in
a position to deny that the United
States government has made the con-
quest of the Philippines, the Spanish
ministry may have directed General
Augustin to surrender the small juris-
d'cticn remaining to him to the United
States to prevent ii from falling into
the hands of the insurgents.
AS that matter would nave de-
cided bearing on any programme the
United States may outline respecting
the acquisition Of a coaling station in
the Philippines, or the requirement of
the entire group of islands. official re-
porte as to the exact state Of affairs
are awaited anxiously.