The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-03
THE SITUATION IN MANILA
\r - Altza1A
The Town Short of Food
and Ammunition.
MENACED BY NATIVES.

Fears That the Town Nia He A.
tackled and Sacked by Insurgents oa
appearance of Our Fleet-Tse Hsr-
obor Forttheations Weak -Spanish
DRun,or~ Of sinking Our Wa<~hip~.
iINauve> I'm the, Back Country uarder-
ing Spaniards aud Looting ProVcrty.
Shanghai. May 1.-Dispatches re>eiy-
ed from Manila by The Shanghai Ga
zette say the capital ~ the Phiiirssne
islands is short Of food and ammlIni-
ton. and that the conditions prevail
ing have been made worse by the
tiocking into Manila Of the Spaniaris
from the provinces. II is added that
the natives are already looting and
killing in the provinces. Spanish
women and children being included in
the victims. l. is further asserted that.
the natives vengeance, about a dozen
priests having been killed during the
past week.
Famine prices for food are said to
prevail at Manila and, it is claimed,
the Spanish authorities are maintain
ing order with difficulty. People are
burying their valuables TO prevent
their seizure by the insurgents or
Americans. tn military authorities
are endeavOring 10 put a bold front on
the situation, but the Manila GORE
spOndent of The Shanghai Gazette, as
sertS il is considered certain that the
insurgents viii sack the city when the
IT. 49, a. At
eliminating between ~Spaniards and
other foreigners.
The dispatches OF The Gazette allege
that the Spaniards at Manila are al
most u~nprepared to Withstand an at
tack upon the part OF the United states
fleet, claiming that no defenceS exist.
in addition to the recently laid harbor
mines. except obsolete artillery.
The natives are gathering on the
Bulacan coast, expecting the arrival of
the insurgent leaders, Aguinaldo and
Alejadanore, who are expected with
American arms and supplies.
When these are distributed. it seems,
Manila Will be attacked on the Lana
side.
An idea of the tactics adopted by the
Spanish authorities to keep up the cour
age of the fighting forces of Spain.
can be gathered from h fact that
they nave issued a placard stating
that a Spanish cruiser, on Monday last
engaged and sank W. American war
ships. 1t is asserted that the Spanish
cruiser Castillo, of 3,342 tons d~isplace-
| ment and 4,40O indicated horse power
recently grounded near the entrance
of Manila bay, and was afterward
scuttIed in shallow water. 1t is added
that the intention of the Spaniards is
to use her as a stationary battery, al
though some of her guns have been
| landed and mounted on the fortifica-
| tons at the entrance of the harbor,
where other guns have also recently
been
1t is generally believed here that
| Commodore Dewey has arranged with
the Philippine insurgents to seize a
harbor, near Manila, which is antici-
] pated unless the American commander
can induce the Spanish fleet to come
out and accept a general engagement
Copyright by associated Press.)
Hong Kong, Mayn.-Letters to the in
surgent junta here which were SNUG
| gled on board the British steamer
| Memnon at Manila which arrived here
| yesterday from the capital Of the Phil
| ippine islands, asert that the Phil
| ippine insurgents are all the
| hills surrounding Manila, in a radius
/ OIL Ten u wv ~ HIiIlCS WV
| arrival of the United States fleet un-
| der command OF Commodore Dewey
| which was expected off Manila at any
! when the Mexnnon sailed. The
| insurgents say that il the United
States fleet blockades Manila, they
| can starve the place into submission
in about two weeks. CorroDora1lon
has been received OF the report that the
| British residents Of Manila expected
-. r1-:.:-A -.aona Maral6n uhinh
went Their to take on board the specie
belonging TO the Hong Kong banks
would have a full cargo Of o stun
as usual, but this was not the case and
much distress is anticipated IN conse-
auence, If the fnsurgent land blocka
and the United States blockade are
enforced.
According TO the insurgent leaders
the forces Of the Philippine insurgents
propose, when the right moment ar
rives. to make a feint attack upon the
CITY Of Manila, to make a strong and
determined attack upon the seawarc
forts. This plan, however, may be UP
set by the Spanish authorizes. VINO
are we'll aware OF the intentions % tne
! insurgents 20 cooperate with the Unit
ed States fleet.
Little definite Information a Deer
ascertained regarding the ~whereabout
of the -Spanish fleet as a whole; but
it is said by the insurgents. tina war
ships Of Spain are in hiding. watching
outside the entrance Of the haroor FOL
the coming Of the American ships.
The real danger appears TO De IRON
internal causes. al Manila where a
massacre Of the foreign population Il
apprehended. The British consul, VT
r. H. Rawson Walker, has caoled h-.s
for the dispatch TO Manila mmeuLa.e'.
L. D-z.s-L Gr~- class cruiser FAEgil
- orotect British interest there.
Red Springs Municipal IiekeI