Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-06-30
MANILA IS SURELY DOOMED
The Spanards Cannot Hold Out
Very Much Longer.
THE SPANlARDS ARE HOPELESS
First Fleet of American Transports Arrives
Insurgents Win Many Nietories-
Aguinaldo Wants the philippines To be
"A Republic or an American Colony.


arrival of the American transports at
Manila. there is no disposition TO dis
credit the private reports OF their
reaching their destination with 5000
soldiers to assist Admiral Dewey in
taking the city. 1t is questioned
whether with this force TO back him
Dewey will feel justified in assaulting
Manila, or even accepting its surren-
der Either course would involve heavy
RESPONSIBILITIES for the admiral, and il
is extremely desirable that no protext
be afforded jealous European powers
for Intervention at Manila under guise
of protecting the interests of their sub
iects Therefore it may be that the
admiral will wait for another 10 days
until the second installment of troops
reaches Cavite. In this case he prob
ABLY will land the troops that arrive in
the town of Cavite, which is now com
pletely under the control OF himself
and the insurgents. and employ the
time in accustoming them to Manila
methods and climate.
The latest dispatches from Admiral
Dewey and other sources say that the
insurgents are daily gaining victories
over the Spaniards. They have cap
tured 5000 prisoners, including 5000
regulars, the prominent generals, Gar
cia and Cordoba, and the governors of
the provinces of Cavite, Balacan and
Bataan. They have also captured
1000, 600 rounds of ammunition in the
fortified cathedral at old Cavite, whose
large garrison surrendered, giving the
insurgents the entire bay shore. They
also captured on June IA, the town of
Oalanga, the place next in Importance
to Manila on the bay, and now control
the Manila waterworks. The insur-
gents on land and the American squad
ron on the water completely surround
Manila. All foreigners have fled to
the ships in the harbor. while the
Spanards have placed the women,
children and priests in the forts for
safety. The family of Gov.-Gen.
August fled to the interior for safety.
Owing to their lack of field guns, the
insurgents are unable to take Manila,
even if Admiral Dewey permitted.
which he will not do.
Gen. Monet, coming southwark with
1900 troops from Balacan. 30 miles
north of Manila, found the railway
| line blocked and was attacked by N
surgents in ambush. Fierce fighting
ensued for three days, during which
Monet was killed. The native troofs
Joined the insurgents and the Span
iards who were left, about 500, surren-
dered. This is but u sample of the VIC
tories won by the insurgents.
Gen. Filipino, military leader of the
insurgents, officially proclaimed pro-
visional government in old Cavite.
There were great ceremonies. and a
declaration of independence was read,
renouncing Spanish authority. Gen.
Aguinaldo was elected president. lie
has informed L. s. Consul Williams OF
the formation of provisional govern
ment, merely for cohesive purposes
and notified him of the desire of the
insurgents that the Philippine islands
become an American colony, and alsC
declaring that if this cannot be he viii
insist upon republic being formed
If any other country than the United
States wants to secure possession o.
the Philippines it will have to fight fol
it. The insurgents now have 1O,5Ot
rifles and eight field pieces. Some cor
respondents think that Aguinaldo viii
become intoxicated by his success
and will become intolerant of Ameri
can control. The insurgents are, how
ever, keeping their pledges to Admira
Dewey.
A Madrid dispatch says: Capt. Zen
August telegraphs that he has gon
into the walled city and that he vii
be unable to communicate further witt
the government. The belief is ex
pressed in government circles tina
Capt. Gen. August will ask the foreigl
warships to land detachments TO oc
cupy Manila, on the ground that he j
no longer able to resist the insurgents
All the papers say the government
satisfied with the prospect of Capt
Gen. August being able to act in cor
cert with the commanders of the Euro
pean war vessels for joint occupatio
of Manila.
Admiral Dewey sent the cruiser
Boston and Concord to attack IloilC
and they captured that point withou
resistance, taking possession in tn
name of the United States. The Amel
lean coal laden ship Saranac, whic
was seized by the Spanish gunboat I
Cano. was recaptured. She was al
chored in the stream without perso
on board, the prize crew left aboard b
the Spaniards having deserted he
when the Americans warships hove
sight. Col. San Miguel, of the Spanis
artillery, after making an inspectio
: of the small stock of ammunition {
his disposal, committed suicide in III
7 plaza
1t is now asserted that the dynami'
cruiser Vesuvius while skirmishin
about the mouth of Santiago harbt
: discovered ample room in which to pa
! the wreck of the Merrimac. She wen
: made observations along the inner ha
d 1 n. "A. A.