The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-17
Gunners of the War Ships and the
Field Batteries Instructed to Spare
Everything but the Defenses.
LOSSES OF AMERICANS SMALL
BUT NO ESTIMATE MADE OF THE
CASUALTIES ON EITHER SIDE.
Bombardment OF the City Watched
with Interest by the Foreign Fleets
Street Fighting in the Suburbs.

HONG-KONG. Aug. 16-Further details
of the capture of Manila show that Admiral
Dewey gave General August an hour in
which to surrender, at the time of the last
demand. made on Saturday. General Au-
gusti refused to comply. The bombardment,
which began at $50 a. m, was continued
for two hours and then the Americans
stormed the trenches, sweeping all before
them. Those within the walls attempted no
resistance. The First Colorado Volunteers
stormed the outer trenches and drove the
Spaniards into the second line of defenses.
Then the American troops swept on driv-
ing all the Spaniards into the inner fortifi-
cations where the Spanish commander, see
Ing that further resistance was useless,
hoisted the white flag and surrendered.
The losses, American and Spanish. are
not yet known. The spaniards in the
trenches probably numbered three thousand
men. The American attacking. force num-
bered ten thousand and the Americans were
better armed, better trained and in better
condition.
The foreign fleets watched the lombard
ment with acute interest.
The American war ships engaged were the
Olympia, Petrol. Raleigh. Mcculloch. Bos-
ton. Monterey. Charleston and Baltimore.
The Spaniards assert that the fire of the
Americans for the most part fell short, the
only effective fire being from small gum
boat armed with quick-dring guns that was
close in shore. 1t is also asserted by the
Spaniards that ''The Americans lost heav-
lily in the storming. owing to the faulty
construction of their entertainments, which
the Spaniards could command from the
heights and upon which they poured a gall
ing fire"
The Spanish trench extended around Ma
Mia at distance of from two to four miles
from the walled city. forming circle ten
miles in circumference, and it was impos-
sible. the Spaniards said, to hold so long
a line against the American attack
Admiral Dewey and General Merritt, 1t is
reported. had issued orders to spare all ex-
cept the armed defenses of the city, and
consequently the town is understood to have
been but little damaged. Some street fight
ing between the insurgents and the Span
iards occurred on the outskirts. but order
prevailed within the walled section.
The American version of the battle is not
yet obtainable.
General August, former captain general
of the Philippines. will start for Madrid to-
morrow by the German mail steamer
Consul General Wildman to-day received
a report from Admiral Dewey. saying that
It was intended, after the capture OF Ma
Mia. to dispatch cruisers on Aug. IA to Iloilo
and Cebu to accept the surrender of those
ports, and also to send cruisers to Port
Royalist. in Talawan. to capture the Span
ish gunboats hiding there. Another ship
was detailed to capture the Spanish steam
ers plying between Labaun and Iloilo Four
Spanish gunboats at Bataan, in Panay were
also to be captured. Consul Wildman cred
Its the report. and says that should the yes
sels have left before the arrival at Manila
OF the British steamer Australian, which
was chartered to carry the news of the
signing of the protocol and the cessation
of hostilities to that place. 1t will also be
an impossibiity to recall the vessels IN
three weeks
General Augusti said to-day he did not
know that the Kaiserin Augusta was to sail
for Hong-Kong. He was informed that
launch was awaiting him. which he boarded
and was taken to the Kaiserin Augusta,
which Immediately started for this place
This statement is considered an equivoca-
tion. as General August evidently knew his
destination and his escape was prearranged
Yesterday a deputation of Hong-Kong
Philippines. headed by AgoncilIo. high COM
missioner and ambassador OF the Philippine
provisional government. waited upon Cen
sral wildman ana congratulated him on be-