The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-17
A HOPELESS STRUGGLE
The Olympia Fired the First Shot
at 0:4O.
SllENCEO MALATE FORT
A Terrible Fire From the Rapido-The
First Colorado Covered Itself With
Glory-The Insurgents in at
the Death.

London, Aug. 16.-The Manila CORE
spondent of the Daily Telegraph, tele-
graphing Saturday, says:
Nothing could be more humane than
the American capture of the town.
General Merritt's and Admiral Dewey's
plan was to spare every object but the
armed defenses and the trenches. Ap-
parently the American losses were ex-
! tremely small. The Spanish entrench-
ments varied in point of distance from
two to four miles from the center of
old Manila.
Defending this long line of at least
10 miles were not over and probably
under 5000 Spanish regular troops, vol
unteers and natives. About half that
number were in the hospital. The at
tacking force numbered from 10000 to
10000 natives and 10000 Americans on
shore.
THE advantage was with the attack.
The American field guns threw heavy
metal and had a larger range than
the Spanish; the craftsmanship of the
United States gunners was much SUI
perior to that Of the Spaniards and the
men were stronger and in better condi-
ton. The Spaniards are a small race
compared with their stalwart oppo-
nents, and worn out by a hundred
days siege and disappointed in the ar
rival of the promised Spanish relief
squadron, they had lost heart. 1t was
a hopeless struggle.
Looking over the bay, it was curious
to notice the foreign fleets arrange
themselves according to their sympa-
thies. The English and japanese were
near the Americans and the Germans
and French on the opposite sides of the
bay. north of the Pasig river. The
British cruiser Immortalie and her con-
sorts kept fairly near the American |
line. The attacking squadron formed |
i'm line between Malate and old Manila,
with the Concord watching the fort at
the mouth of the Pasig. The American |
fleet lay outside the breakwater.
The Olympia fired the first shot at
$40 and a fairly continuous, but by no
means furious, cannonade was kept up
until 11:2O. By that time Malate fort
was silenced and the American troops
hen stormed the Entertainments. The
spaniards who were in the earthworks
ell that the quick-firing guns of he
title gunboat Rapido. which lay close
o the shore, were far more terrible in
heir effects than was the raking fire
# the ships.
Resistance to the American attack
vas impossible. The LIST Colorado regi-
nent was the earliest to charge the
paniards, who retired to the second
inc, but, soon outnumbered, they were
orced into the old city. A part of Ma
lte suffered severely from the lombard
1ent. The vaunted intramures defenses
'ere not tried.
The Spanish commander. convinced
nat further resistance was hopeless,
oisted white flag. and the order to
ease firing was Immediately issued in
ne center of the town, but in the out :
1irts street lighting continued for some /
me afterwards between the rebels and !
The only fear felt in the city c
in regard TO the conduct of the insur- !
snts. As I write this in the house of b
lie German consul a brisk fusiIlade is /,
'ing on between the combatants and ?
usketry fire is rattling all around"