The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-10-01
GENERAL MERRITT REPORTS.
Troops at Manila Commended For Their
S0ldierly Qualities.

Troops at Manila Commended For Their
soldierly Qualities.
WASHINGTON, Oct. THE report
Of Major General Wesley Merritt Of
the operations about Manila has been
made public at the war department..
It is dated on board the transport
ChWa, Aug. 81. After giving briefly
tho story of his embarkaticn and ar.
rival at Manila, and the disposition of
the troops there, he says:
II found Genera | Green's command
encamped on q strip of sandy land run.
ming parallel to the shore Of the bay
and not far distant from the beach, but
owing to the great difficulty Of
landing supplies, the greater portion
Of the force had shelter tents only and
were suffering from many discomforts,
the camp being situated in q low, fat
place, without shelter from the heat Of
the tropica! sun or adequate protection
during the terrific downpours of rain
SO frequent at this season. I was at
once struck by the exemplary spirit Of
patient, even cheerful endurance
shown by the officers and men under
such circumstances, and this feeling Of
admiration for the manner i'll which
the American soldier, volunteer and
regular alike, accept the ne ,essary
hardships OF the work they have IN.
dertaken to do has grown and in.
creased with every phase of the diff.
cult and trying campaign which the
troops of the Philippine expedition
l h0V,o 1~D,1~h< - .,oI - h~;11:A-A ,,,J
successful conclusion.
Work If the Insurgents.
1.-The Filipinos, or insurgent forces
at wal with Spain, had, pricr to the
arrival of the American land forces,
been waging q desultory warfare with
the ~Spaniards for several months, and
were, at the time Of my arrival, in con.
siderable force, v%ariously estimated
and never accurately ascertained, but
probably not far from l25, 900 men.
These troops were supplied with small
arms, with plenty of ammunition and
several field guns, and had obtained
positions of investment opposite to the
Spanish line of detached works,
throughout their entire extent"
General Merritt thea Speaks of
Aguinaldo's accomI lishments previous
to his arrival, and continues:
DID Not Offer HIS SERVICES.
"As General Aguinaldo did not visit
me on my arrival nor offer his respects
as a subordinate military leader, and
as my instructions from the president
fully contemplated the occupation of
the islands by the American land
forces, and stated that the powers of
the military occupant are absolute and
supreme, and Immediately operative
upon the pol t cal condition Of the in.
habitants,' l did not consider it wise
to hold any direct communication with
the insurgent leader until l should be
In possession Of ths city of Manila, es.
pecially as l would not until then be
IN q position to Issue a proclamation
and enforce my authority, IN the event
that his preteDsions should clash with
my designs.
"For these reasons the preparations
for the attack on the city were pressed
and military operations conducted
without reference to the situation OF
the insurgent force. The wisdom of
this course was subsequently fully es.
ia blished by the fact that when the
troops OF my command carried the
Spanish intrenchments, extending
from the sea to the Pasay road, on the
extreme Spanish right, we were under
no obligations by prearranged plans of
mutual attack, to turf to the right aud
clear the front still held against the in.
surgen,s, but were able to move for.
ward at once and occupy the city and
suburbs.