The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1898-08-20
THEIR ACTION HUMANE.

respondent OF The Times says:
Great credit must be given General
Merritt for the capture of Manila. His
plan of attack was successfully carried
out in every detail under usually com.
plicated conditions Nor can commen.
dation be withheld from his chief of
staff, General Babcock, for his expert
cooperation in the admirably conceived
strategy. The conduct of the Spanish
was in few cases reprehensible, such
Us their setting fire to the gunboat
Oebu and the destruction of several
armed launches and boats after the
capitulation had been agreed upon.
1t is impossible to praise too highly
the humanity Of Admiral Dewey and
General Merritt, for bombardment of
the walled city would have inflicted
severe loss on thousands of women and
children. Tho conduct Of the army
and navy alike toward all is highly
oreditable.
Joint Land and Sea Attack.
The plan agreed on for the attack on
Manila was for the land battery to
open fire simultaneously with the feet
and for an advance to be made as soon
as it was considered satisfactory to as.
sault the Spanish trenches. Consider.
able loss of life ensued. General An.
derson placed his division according to
directions from General Merritt. There
were eight battalions Of the First bri.
gade under General Macarthur in the
fighting line, with three battalions re.
cerved. while seven battalions of the
Second brigade under General Green
were in the trenches to the south,
three others forming a reserve. The
troops left the camp at $3.50 in a heavy
thunder storm. They carried 800
rounds of ammunition per man and
two days. cooked rationa
The Fleet Begins Bombardins.
At 9:S5 the Olympia gave the signal
for attack. The Petrol and Raleigh
and the active little Callao opened q
rapid fire directed toward the shore
end Of the entrenchments. In the
heavy rain it was difficult to Judge the
range and the shots at first fell short,
but the fire soon became accurate and
shells rendered the fort untenable
while the four guns of the Utah bat.
terry made excellent practice of the
earthworks to the east Of the bay. The
Spaniards replied feehly with few
shells,
Less than half an hour after the bonn.
bardment began General Green de.
cided that it was possible to advance.
Thereupon II companies Of the First
Colorado leaped over the breastworks
and dashed across the swampy ground
and from behind partial shelters began
a sharp musketry fire at a 30O.yard
range upon the Spaniards. The shells
had made an opening into the fort and
at 1920 this formidable fortifcation
was occupied and
The American Flag Raised
amid formidable cheers all along the
American line. Meanwhile the infan.
try had pushed on. The bombardment
lasted exactly an hour and half. An
hour later General Anderson passed
along the beach, where the infantry
were engaging the enemy, and di.
rected an advance into Malate. The
forward movement was 'hastened and
in few minutes the outskirts of the
suburb were we'll occupied and the
sharpshooters were driven away. As
the Californians under Colonel Smith
came up the beach their band played
the national air, accompanied by the
whistlipg of Mauser bullets, and dur.
ing the sharpshooting continued to
encourage the men with inspiring
music. Each regiment carried its col.
-ors into action. There was consider.
able street fighting in the suburbs of
Malate and Ermita, but the
Battalion OF Californian,
pushed into the Luneta. popular
promenade within 400 yards Of the
moat of the citadel. Then the white
flag was hoisted at the southwest cor.
ner Of the walled town. General
Green, with few members of his
staff, galloped along the Luneta under
sharp scattered fire from the houses
near the beach and parleyed with an
officer who directed him along to the
gate further east. At this moment the
Spanish foxqea retreating from Santa
Ana came into view, fully 1000 strong.
followed by insurgents who had slnded
General McArthur's troop and now
opened fire for o, few minutes. The
situation was awkward if not critical,
both sides being; slightly suspicious of
each other. fearing treachery. The
Spanish forces inside the citadel opened
fire on the California troops, S