The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-10
SPANISH OUPLlCITy.
Hoisted the hit FIag but Refused 10
Abide BY IL.

Hoisted the White flag nut netuseo 10
Abide by II.
New York. May "a dispatch to the
Herald from Hong Kong y
day after the battle In Manila bay,
Commodore Lamberton and the Herald
correspondent were ordered TO go 10 the
Cavite arsenal and take possession. The
Petrol took us within 500 yards OF the
landing, when we were surprised to see
that the arsenal was still occupied by
about 800 seamen. armed with Mauser
rifles. As a white flag had been hoisted
on the arsenal the day before, COM
modore Lamberton could not under
stand what the Spaniards Intended TO
do, and before leaving the Petrol he
ordered Commodore Wood TO keep his
men at the guns. with directions that
IL we were not back In n hour ne
should open fire on the arsenal.
On landing we were met by Captain
Sostea OF the Spanish army. next in
rank at this station to Admiral Monte
80. Commander Lamberton, Lieutenant
Wood OF the Petrol and your correspon-
dent, with Captain Sostea, went to the
the arsenal headquarters, which was al
once surrounded by an armed guard.
Commander Lamberton told Sostea
that he vas surprised TO see his men
armed after they had SURRENDERED
the day before. Captain Sostea replied
tina they had not surrendered, but had
merely hoisted the white flag in order
TO enable them to take their wives ana
children to places OF safety. Com
mander Lamberto said that when the
Spanish flag came down and the white
flag went up, no other Interpretation
could be put upon ii thar that II was
an unconditional surrender, and the
women and children ought not 10 have
been there, anyhow.
Captain Sostea replied that we came
so early in the day that they had not
had time to remove. III we a not
started fighting so soon the women
would have been out of the way. Cap
tain Lamberton reminded him that the
Spaniards had fired the first shot. How
ever. he added. he was not there to dis
cuss past events. He had come as
Commodore Dewey's representative. to
lake possession OF the arsenal. All the
men there. he said, must surrender their
arms and persons as prisoners OF war,
otherwise our ships would ope fire on
them.
Then Captain Sostea said he could do
| nothing, not being I'm command. and
would have to consult his superiors.
Commander Lamberton refused TO
recognize any one but the senior officer
| actually present, who. he said, must
comply with Commodore Dewey's con-
ditions.
Captain Sostea asked to have the
terms of the surrender put down in
writing. which was done. these being:
Without further delay, all Spanish
| officers and men must be withdrawn,
and no buildings or stores must be in
jured. As Commodore Dewey does not
wish further hostility with the Span
ish naval forces. the Spanish officers
will be paroled and the forces at the
arsenal will deliver all their small
arms"
Captain Sostea then pleaded for more
time. Consequently Commander Lam
berton gave the Spaniards two hours
more time. IL the white flag was not
rehoisted over the arsenal at noon, he
said. we would reopen fire. We returned
TO III Petrol just in time, and started
back across the bay the report TO the
commodore.
At a quarter to III O'Clock the white
nag was rehoisted. but when we went
TO AXE possession OF the arsenal In the
afternoon we found that every seaman
had marched off to Manila. carrying his
Mauser rife with him.