The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1898-08-03
Situation at Manila Regarded as
Dangerous by Merritt.
JONI DEMAND FoR suRRENDER
In order to Anticipate the Insurgents
Admiral Dewey aud General
Merritt WIN Demand Cap
itulation OF spanIards
at MANILA.

departments, and there was visible
waning of interest in the war, atten-
ton being rather diverted to the peace
negotiations now in progress. Secfes
tary of State Day and Assistant Sec
rotary Moore had not returned to the
city.
It was still the understanding that
no word was to be expeeteda until
Tuesday from Spain touching I'll Sci,
ceptability of the United States de-
mands. d2I giee
A number of callers awaited. Secre=
tary Alger at the department., promi-
nent among them being Colonel John
Jacob Astor. 3niis
Colonel Astor is member of Gem
eral Skaters staff, and was sent north
with dispatches. including, it is under
stood, the full articles of capitulation
of Santiago.
He had been very much delayed on
account of quarantine regulations. He
was accompanied by his secretary, who
had in charge the reports from Gen
eral Shafter, which by that officers
direction Colonel Aston was to hand
personally to Secretary A1ger and no
one else.
Colonel Aston will go to New York
to spend a few days before returning
TO the front. 1t is rumored that he is
to be attached to General Miles staff
at Porto Rico, but on this point he had
nothing to say.
General Greedy. chief signal officer,
was able to announce with a great
deal of qualification that he was now
in direct cable communication with
General Miles headquarters at Ponce
When the Spanish forces retreated
from Ponce they destroyed the cable
instruments, and thus communication
was reopened.
The present cable now runs from
Ponce to st. Thomas, thence to Mar
Unique and to Kingston, and so by
one of two routes to New York. The
British officials who control the cable
are perfectly willing to transmit mes
sages for the United States govern
ment over it, providing that our forces
are in possession of the cable terminus.
but they will not allow their cables to
be used If instruments are "cut in" at
any intermediate point.
Thus it happens that the same rule
being applied to the cable from Hong
kong to Manila has prevented ADJ
miral Dewey from using the. cable TO
communicate with Hongkong, al
though he holds one end which he has
cut. When he possesses Manila the
company will recognize his right to
use the, cable. This rule has been
adopted after careful consideration as
one demanded by strict neutrality.
GENERAL MERRITT
Is Not Pleased with the situation at
NIapiIIR.
Washington. Aug. General .Mer-
rift has again cabled the war depart
ment relative to the situation in Ma
nilla, which he finds very unsatisfac-
tory and dangerous. owing to the at
titude of the insurgents. In the opin-
ion of General Merritt the attitude of
the insurgents is similar to that as
sumed by Garcia's Cubans upon the
question of their right to enter and
possess themselves of tho city, al
though, in this case, the insurgents
are a very much more formidable ele-
ment. being not only more numerous.
but better armed and filled with the
arrogance following numerous vic
tories over their Spanish foes. Cen
eral Merritt. however. indicates that
he will do his utmost to protect the
citizens from the savagery of the in
surgents, though his task is delicate
and difficult one, because OF the fact
that he must, while fighting the Span
iards, be ready at any moment to re-
pei the insurgents.
The general gave notice that he was
about to combine with Admiral Dewey
In joint demand for the surrender of
the city to the United States forces.
thus forestalling the insurgents. and
this move may cause rupture.
1t is possible, in view of the fact that
General Merritt's cablegram was sent
from Cavite Thursday, that this move
ment has been made already by the
combined American military and ma
val force. although ti-e-P 3 ,:ae doubt
about this on aca !: - = = -
from Merritt that he may, need all of
his soldiers before attacking. AZ
Still, it is possible that the demand
might be made without being imme-
diately followed by an attack. which
might be deferred until all the troops
have reached Cavite. Up to the date
of the report General Merritt had with
him about 1900 soldiers. So far seven
expeditions have left San Francisco.
carrying soldiers to the Philippines
and 1t is the intention to furnish MeF-
rift at least 5000 men more than his
present. force. If he delays his attack
until all these have reached him Ma
nilla will not be taken in that way
before September, for the last of the
troops have not yet started from San
Francisco.
THE THIRD CORPS
the Front.
chickamauga, Ga, Aug. 1.-The
departure of General Wade leaves
Brigadier General R T. Frank in COM
mand of Camp Thomas, pending the
arrival of General Breckenridge. who
has been assigned to the command. 1t
Is understood here that General Wade
Is to command a provisional detach-
ment of 15 regiments from states that
have the least representation at the
frOnf