The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-01
Gen. Merritt's Report on Operations
In Philippines.
PRAISE FOR SOLDIERS
FoRTITUDE AND HERoIsM OF
VOLUNTEERS AND REGULARS
General Expresses His Admiration
For the American Soldier = Elk
plains His Relations, With the In
surgents and Why He Did Not
Treat Them as Allies.

Washington, Sept. 3O.-The report of
General Merritt of the operations about
Manila was made public at the war de-
partment today. 1t is dated on board
the transport China, Aug. 81.
After giving briefly the story of his
embarkatIon and arrival at Manila
and the disposition of the troops there,
he says:
Il found General Greene's command
encamped on strip Of sandy land
running parallel to the shore of the
bay and not far distant from the beach,
but owing to the great difficulty of
landing supplies the greater portion OF
the force had shelter tents only and
were suffering many discomforts, the
camp being situated in a low fiat place
without shelter from the heat Of the
tropical sun or adequate protection
from the terrific downpour of rains fire.
duent at this season. l was at once
struck by the exemplary spirit of pa
tient. even cheerful endurance shown
by the officers and men under such cir
cumstanceS and this feeling of adTnira-
ton for the manner in which the
American soldiers, volunteers and reg
Ular alike, accept the necessary hard
ships OF the work they have undertaken
to Go, has grown and increased with
every phase OF the difficult and trying
caElpaign which the troops of the Phil
ianine expedition have brought to such
a brilliant and successful conclusion.
'"fEe EilippinoS. or ins':rgent forces
II war with Speir had, prior to the
arrival of the American land forces,
been w2ginS a deSuitory warfare with
Tie SDaniards for several months and
at the time of my arrival We're in con
siderable force. variously estimated but
never accurately ascertaineG, but prob
ably not far from 125,00e men. These
troops, well supplied with small arms,
with plenty of ammunition and several
field guns. had obtained positions of
investment opposite to the Spanish line
OF detached works throughout their en-
tire extent"
RELATIONS WITH INSURGENTS.
General Merritt then speaks OF
Aguinaido's accomplishments previous
to his arrival and continues: General
Aguinaldo did not visit me on my ar
rival or offer his services as a subordi-
nate military leader As my instrGc-
tions from the presid anU fully contem-
plated the occupation of the islands by
the American land forces and stated
that the powers of the military occu-
pant are absolute and supreme and i'm
mediately operate upon the political
condition of the Inhabitants, I did not
consider it wise to hold any direct COM
municatiOn with the insurgent leader
until I should be in possession of the
City of Manila, especially as ! would
not until then be in a position to issue
a proclamation and enforce my au-
thority in the event that his pretensions
should clash with my designs.
For these reasons the preparations
for the attack on the city were pressed
and military operations conducted
without reference to the situation Of
the insurgent forces.
1.-The wisdom of this course was sub
sequently fully established by the fact
that when the troops of my command
carried the Spanish intrenchments, ex-
tending from the sea to the Pasay road
IN the extreme Spanish right, we were
Under no obligations by prearranged
I plans of mutual attack, to turn to the
right and clear the front still held
against the insurgents, but were able
TO move forward at once and occupy
the city and suburbs.
ITO return to the situation of General
Greene'S brigade as ] found it, on my
arrival. it will be seen that the diff
Guilty in gaining an avenue of approach
tc the Spanish line lay in the fact of
my Discrimination to ask General
ACuinaldO to withdraw from the beach
and the Gale real so that Greene
could move forward. This was over
come by instructions to General Greene
10 arrange, if possible, with the in
sUrgent brigade commander in his i'm
mediate vicinity to move to the right
and allow the American forces unob-
structed control of the roads in their
immediate front. No objection was
made. and accordingly, General
Greene's brigade threw forward 2
heavy outpost line on the 'calle real
and the beach and constructed a trench
il which a portion of the guns of the
Utah batteries We're placed.
THE NIGHT ATTACK.
1.-THE Spanish, observing this activity
on our part, made a very sharp attack
with infantry and artillery on the night
OF July 81. The behavior of our troops
during this night attack was all that
could be desired. and 1 have in cable
grams to the war department taken oc-
casion to commend by name those who
deserve special mention for good con-
duct in the affair. Cur position was
extended and strengthened after this
and resisted successfully repeated night
attacks. cur forces suffering, however,
considerable loss in wounded and kill
co. while the losses of the enemy, ow-
ing to the darkness, could net DE as
certained."
''The strain OF the night fighting and
the heavy details for outpost duty
made il imperative to reinforce Cen
eral Greene's troops with General Mac
Al saur's brigade, which had arrived in
> a. I..1-