The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-15
CABLE TO OPEN.
Communication With Manila Will
Soon Be Restored.

will probably be re-eStaDIlsneu WAlH4l1
the next day or two if the efforts OF
this government sppOrted by that OF
Great Britain and Spain are successful
" directed in order that further blood
shed may be averted and the suspense
relieved 1t is understood that Admiral
Dewey has been in possession OF the
Philippine end of the cable for over
two months, although he was unable TO
secure the legal terminus of the line
which is located within the city of Ma
Mia and, through the strict cOnstruc-
tiOn placed upon the rules OF neutranty
his operators were unable to secure any
response to their signals from the
Hong Kong terminal This restriction
made necessary the frequent sending OF
dispatch boats back and forth from
Manila to Hong Kong and recently the
severed end of the cable has been
buoyed and no attention paid to it. On
the vessel that started from Hong
Kong on Saturday for Manila went or
ders to restore submarine telegraph1c
communication at once and as the
American forces by the terms OF the
protocol are cOnstructively in Occupa-
tion of the Philippine capital from an
international standpoint, whether they
actually hold the municipality or not
and as hOstilities have formally been
terminated and the requirements of
neutrality abolished, all obstacles to the
free use of the cable have been re-
moved.
Until Manila is in closer touch with
the rest of the world than it has been
for the last three and One-half months
officials in Washington will be har-
assed by the gravest anxiety regarding
the occurrences in that vicinity. The
last news from Manila was dated ten
days ago and described the fierce fight
ing at Malate on July 81, when the
Americans held their position, which
had been assaulted. August there
was cannOnading all day. The Mon
terey arrived August 4, with three
transports of the third expedition and
at the time the dispatch vessel left pre-
FGiV7 q or a n i'm
mediate assault on the city. It was
known that General Merritt was only
awaiting these reinfOrcements to de-
mand the surrender and to give notice
of naval bOmbardment.
Under these circumstances every pre-
caution was taken last Friday to in
form Admiral Dewey and General Mer-
ritt with the least possible delay or the
formal signing of the protocol and the
suspension of hOstilities. A speedy YES
sci was held at Hong Kong under steam
ready to carry dispatches as soon as
they should be cabled to Consul Wild
man. 1t had been deemed inadvisable
to send any preliminary warning to the
naval and military commanders on
Thursday or Friday morning, for fear
the notorious dilatOry and prOcrastinat-
ing methods of Spanish diplomacy
nigh result in further pOStpOnement
of peace 1t was reported however that
Sagasta, who knew his own intentions
better than anyone else knew them, had
chartered a vessel and sent instructions
to General Agusti on Thursday to offer
no further resistance and then capltu-
late if compelled TO do so. This, how
ever, has not been verified and as it is
a proceeding utterly foreign to the
meagre exhibitions of fOrethOught here
tofore manifested by the Spanish gov
ernment, it receives no credence from
the anxious authorities in Washington
When the protocol was signed, fol-
lowed Immediately by the sending of
cable dispatches to Admiral Dewey and
General Merritt, it was broad daylight
Saturday morning at Manila. It takes
fully a minute of the most generous
calculations to send a single word to
Hong Kong by cable. Acting Secretary
Allen and Adjutant General Corbin
each sent several hundred words Of in
StructiOnS to the respective command
ers under them, including copies of the
presidents proclamation and it is there
fore unlikely that the vessel was able
to start before Saturday afternoon.
Manila IS 62S miles from Hong Kong
and at Is knots the distance might be
made in 36 hours, which would enable
the dispatches to reach the American
forces Monday morning or, according
to Washington time, Sunday night IN
less General Merritt had taken Manila
by that time the instructions sent him
prevent any further military operations
and the truce will have to be agreed
upon similar in all respects to that i'm
posed upon General Miles in Porto Ri
co. The official messages relate solely
to hOstil4ies and have no bearing up
which provides that the United States
will hold the city, bay and harbOr of
Manila until the meeting of the COM
miSSiOnerS- This is an exceedingly
peculiar feature of the situation but it
gives the authorities less concern than
the fear of further fighting That ar
ticIe was worded in accordance with the
presidents original proposition two
weeks ago which in turn had been made
when there was mOmentary expectaN~
tiOn that the starved out city would
surrender at once and it was evident
that the United States forces would re
main in power in the Philippines until
a final treaty of peace was declared.
1t was therefore considered unnecessa-
ry to stipuIate in the protocol that a
commission should be appointed with
in ten days and arrange the details Of
evacuation as was the case of Cuba.
and Porto Rico.
siegers at Manila had not materially
changed in the last two weeks, when
the leaders of the opposing forces re-
ceiVed their orders establishing an ar
mistice such a military commission
would be essential unless the Spanish
general throws himself upon General
Merritt's protection and compels the
Americans Immediately to assume re-
possibility of the protection of private
property and the inhabitants, as well
as the Spanish garrison, from the insur-
gents under Aguinaldo.
Secretary Alger is confident that the
Spanish general will welcome the news
and cheerfully obey the instructions
cabled to him from Madrid to Law down
his arms and no serious complication
is expected to arise with the insurgents
at the present at least. regarding the
change of government. The chief
alarm relates to the sacrifice of life
which may have taken place since Au-
gust 4, and to the possibility that
AguinaldO and his soldiers may have
entered the city from a point on the
north while the Snaniards were en-
gagged with the Americans on the south