, 1898-09-21

FOOC'A AAAoANNNl VI HI6CfkIlIh1
There is u lack. Of detail in describing the
clp'ure Of the city which is very unsatisfno.
tory ant the government is at "A loss T.,
Know whether Gen. M4rIiLt lost any men or
NOT Much less is :here anything in the
d'NP'tnlrN thus Tn received to Indicate the
al rot OF the lnsurgent forces, although
p.">S reports are to the etf, ct that Gen
MrrrI is army came into actual conf ct
w.t.! NS Iinaldo's ia i've troops.
Inc matter OF most vital Interest TO the
Government III regard to tha capture Of
VI m'IH Is ths statement in. press dcsp .tchos
that som" of Admiral Dewey's ships have
gone south f'r the pnrp $50 of raising til,
American flag over other islands in the
Philippines. The Administrati N c,elIs
thus report, althou 5h there is nothing in tn,
oficI'I dispatches to confirm it..
II The ships sale | Immediately after the
capture of 'nil4 on Saturday last they
would certainly get far beyond the easy
reach OF "A despatch boat 10y the time tn,
new OF The armistico WAS brought from
il''$ Kong to NJ mia, which was probably
M'!t"y night or Tuesday morning TAe
SIN dI"r i,lands of tho Philippines archipelA.
g. are poorly defended, and it is believed
That 'h9 vessels of he American squadron
woaId encounter little opposition upon their
approach. There is m,re til IN a possibility
that several OF the islands Iesides Luzon
were under the American flag before news
on The armlstIce proclamation could reach
Manila.
q 1t is a rule accepted by all nations that
III the case OF declaration of an 0rmiStise tho
SuSpenslo OF h0stiIitieS Sh Ill not take effect
until such time as the news il received by
the commanders of the land and naval forces
e III the held. The benefits Of all the victories
won subsequent to the HrmiSIice aud before
the knowledge Of The armislice has been con.
veyrd to the contcnding forces belong un.
qnestlonAbly to the yictOrs. In the ease of
Admiral Dewey, not only does tho CITY OF
Maulla belong to The United States by virtue
OF It's capture, although an armistico was in
force at the time, bat any Of the other islands
IN the Philippines which may be acquired
before the news can Ur sent to the Ves sells
at the front will ba ours by right Of conquest.
This fCt is likely 10 affect materially tho
work of Inc Paris PoLce Commission. for tin It.
tribunal Will have to lake into confederation
the acq lisitiOn Of J|erritory by the UmiteI
States which was not expected to be acquired
at'th3 time III arm Stlce WAS promulgated
last Fliday.
The treatment Of tho 1000 Spanish pri,
sonars Is 81 subject which is now engaging
tn attention of HE Washington authorities.
1t is possible that Inc prisoners, in consider
alton of th' existence of an armistice, may
be set at liberty, upd-r certain general re-
stric'ions, in tn city of Manila. II necos-
sary, however, the American commanders
will b. Obliged to provide subsistence for tho
SPANS 5 'ldiors, for they have all the rights
which bolong t" prisoners of war.
One important matter in regard TO the fall
of NJ mIla has yet to be explained. II Aomi-
raj Dewey sent any information to the Navy
Department in regard to the reported action
OF the Germans in taking The Spanish Captain
General on board one of their warships, the
fact IL suppressed by the authorities. The
question is an important one to the Govern
ment, for the opinion is general among
administration officers that such action by
the German naval commander must be regard
oil as. a serious International offence.
The Inconvenience and delay caused by the
lack of cable communication with The Philip
pines have been sharply felt at amy aud
navy headquarters since the declaration Of
an armistice between the American and
Spanish forces. but there seems to be no way
in which TO mend matters under present
conditions. Notwithstanding the signing of
the protocol, the sovereignty and jurisdiction
of Spain over the cable are still supreme.
and viii remain 80 until The settlement Of
the whole matter Of the Philippines is