Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-31

D1SDatch from MeFr1tt.
WASHINGTON, July 3O.-The following
has been received by the War department:
HONG KONG, July 30.-Adjutant Gen
eral U. S. A. Washington. Cavite, July 25.
Arrived today about IL. Health of COM
mand is good. Remainder of fleet about
four days. All troops assigned me will
probably be needed. MERRITT,
Major General Commanding.
The Navy department has made public the
following;
CAv1TE, July 26.-Secretary of the Navy:
Merritt arrived yesterday on the Newport.
The remainder of the expedition is expected
within the next few days. DEWEY
A dispatch received from Admiral Dewey
announces that Aguinaldo has assumed a
bold attitude of defiance and that it would
take a large force from this country to
subdue the insurgents.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 30.-A special
from Manila bay, July 26, via Hong Kong,
July 80, says: General Wesley Merit: AMI
the transports and troops under his com
mand, arrived at Manila on the morning of
July %. All are well. General Merritt will
at once assume command"
General Merritt's expedition included the
transports Ohio, City of Paris, Indiana and
Morgan City, which left here June 81, carry
ing $500 officers and men under Brigadier
General Macarthur; the steamer Valencia,
which sailed on June %, with 900 men, and
the flagship Newport, which sailed on June
20 with 800 men under the immediate com
mand of General Merritt. Altogether there
were 5000 officers and men in the third
party. The first expedition carried 2,5O1
men, and the second carried 3,515 men, SO
that General Merritt now has under his
m 11,O16 men.
Spanish at Manila Hopeless.
MANILA, July 25.-(ViG Hong Kong, July
30.)-The Spaniards are gradually realizing
that Spain has not been victorious, that The
expected endorsements are not coming and
that the contest is utterly hopeless. The
insurgents are in overwhelming numbers
and the Spaniards can only obtain the bare
necessaries of life.
Only a fortnight ago Spanish national
pride was rampant, but 1t Is now merging
into Indignation at Spain's feebleness anc
regret that they were born Spaniards. While
they will never surrender without a fight
the Spanish officers will jump at the tirs'
honorable opportunity to surrender. They
fear national disgrace too much to give
in without a fight. The lighting in Tho
suburbs is desultory and the Americans are
lults lhlo lao " tISb ~ 81 'Ni'' ''N
they had determined to suspend operations
until September, and by that time peace
will probably be concluded. Then. it 1:
asserted here, the Americans may perma
nently annex the Caroline islands end the
Ladrone islands, and possibly abandon thu
Philippines with the exception OF keeping
a coaling station here.
Although the insurgents have redoubleC
their efforts, they have hitherto been unable
to capture the citadel. On the other hand
the Spaniards are not able TO re-establisi
their suzerainty. Under the circumstance
it seems evident that somebody must inter
fere in the name of humanity, Some in
surgent shells have been thrown into tb'
citadel, but they do not appear TO hav'
done much damage. The natives arc sup
posed to be starving by thousands. TIL
Europeans are also hard pressed for food.
Character of zap Island.
WASHINGTON. July 3O.-In view of tn,
possibility that among the coaling stationI
which the United States will acquire as
result of the present war is zap island
one of the Caroline group, a report jus
published by the State department contain
ing a detailed description of the a~rchipel
ago is of interest. From the report it ap
pears that zap is surrounded by a cora
reef thirty-fye miles long by five broad
There. are hardly any %riyulets, but exten
sive swamps. The island is full of relic
of a vanished civilization, old embankments
council lodges, and other traces of a ancien
cultivation. The natives number 5000, ar
kindly, industrious and peaceable, very darl
in color. Copra is largely exported, mostl.
through German traders who have spent
vast amount Of money and labor there 70
a great many years. Tomil harbor is tn
place of European settlement, the seat o
the Spanish government OF the western
Carolines and would be a good coaling sta
ton. zap is rich in beautiful scenery, tn
groves OF bamboo. croton, cocoanut an
areora palm being most impressive. Hug
iguanas are found In the bush and tn
nights are brilliant with frefies. Bird lif
is scarce and there are few horses aud cat