Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-08-19
A PULLING QUESTION
Where Does Our Authority in
the Philippines Extend?
AUTHORITIES IN DOUBT
Dewey and Merritt. Said to Have Receivea
the Capltulation of the Entire Ar
chapelago- What the Peace
Protocol Provldes.
!fl>,ah&
(By Telegraph,)


WASHINGTON. Aug. 1s.-The War
department made public today the dis
patch of General Merritt, giving the of.
fetal story of Manilas fall and also the
text OF the significant Instructions sent
General Merritt yesterday requiring tho
insurgents and all others to recognize
the authority of the United States i'm
the territory occupied by our forces.
These dispatches We're about the ONLY
positive developments of the day. Moth
lnE has been heard from General Mer-
ritt as to the casualties last Saturday.
except that he estimated the killed and
wounded at fifty. Another point on
which the officials are without definite
information is as to the extent of our
present authority in the Philippines.
Under the peace protocol the United
states was given the occupation OF Ma
Mia. with the bay and harbor. until q
permanent disposition OF the Philippine
question WAS reached. But according
to press dispatches, which are so cir
cu.nstantiai as to be credited in most
official quarters. General Merritt and
Admiral Dewey received the capitula-
ton of the entire Philippine Archipela-
So There appears to be some doubt
therefore. even by officials. as ia
whether our present authority and ju-
risdiction covers Manila only, as pro-
vidcd by the peace protocol, or covers
all the Philippines. There is DISPOSE
ton TO await fuller official information
before laying down Il policy as to the
extent OF our jurisdiction in the Islands.
Secretary .Nlger said today that he had
heard nothing official of the surrender
Of The entire Philippine group. At the
same time the secretary did not dis
credit the accuracy Of the press advices
| stating that the capitalization had this
far reaching effect.
Pending more definite information,
~, Il f,s.,
| that our authority covers Manila city,
| Manila bay and harbor, and also such
| other territory as may be occupied by
| the military and naval forces. The lat
ter phrase is elastic enough to cover
any or all OF the Philippine Islands that
may have been brought under our au-
| thority by the recent surrender. The
| instructions sent to General Merritt
| have in view the expansion of our
| possessions beyond the terms mention
| ed in the protocol as they distinctly
state this government Is in possession
OF Manila and its authority TO preserve
peace ana order will be exerted within
the territory occupied by their military
and naval forces"
The cabinet meeting tomorrow is ex-
pected To deal with the many detailed
questions concerning the Philippines.
Cuba and Porto Rico which have arisen
since the peace protocol was signed.
| The State Department today received
another international congratulatlon on
| the restoration of peace. this one com
ing from the British ambassador, Sir
Julian Pauncefote, who is now sojourn-
ing ut New London Conn. The ambas-
sador communicated the expression OF
profound qualification with which Her
MajeSty's government learned OF the
signature of the preliminaries Of peace
between the United States and Spain.
and the sincere congratulations to Pres
dent Mckinley and the government OF
the United States upon the termination
Of war.
Acting Secretary Allen had a busy
day making final arrangements for the
naval review at New York on Saturday.
He extended To the French ambassad dor.
NJ Cambon the courtesy of going on
the flagship New York during the re-
view. The ambassador had already ar
ranged, however, to witness the review
from the tug of the French Transact
lantic line. I.H