Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-08-24

der and Dewey began the bombardment
and the Spaniards hoisted a white flag.
The Spanish consul at Hong Kong had
not notified the Spanish authorities at
Manila of the signing of the peace pro-
tocol. 1t Is believed that the reason why
the Spanish consul did not send the news
of peace to Manila was to give the Span
ish authorities there II chance to play for
time by denying the authenticity of the
news sent from here by the American
consul by the steamer Australian.
The surrender of Manila coming as it
does, furnishes a fitting conclusion of the
drama of war, which began witt the de-
struction of the Spanish fleet ia Manila
harbor on the 1st of May last. Like the
battle of New Orleans, fought by Andrew
Jackson on the Sth of January, 1915, it
came after the suspension of hostilties
between the contending powers. but this
does not invalidate the surrender. Dewey
and Merritt simply anticipated the pro-
tocol, which provided for the occupation
of the city by the Americans during peace
negotiations. No formal turning over Of
Manila to their forces is necessary now.
Details of the taking of the city by
American forces. so far as received, show
that Admiral Dewey gave Gen. Augusti
an hour in which TO surrender at the time
of the last demand, made on Saturday.
Gen. Augusti refused to comply. The
bombardment, which began at 9:3O a. m,
was continued for tv . hours and then the
Americans .tormed the trenches, sweep
ing all before them.
Those within the walls attempted no re-
sistance. The First Colorado volunteers
stormed the outer trenches and drove the
Spaniards into the second line of de-
lenses. Then the American troops swept
on, driving all the Spaniards into the in
ner fortitications, where the Spanish COM
mander, seeing that further resistance
was useless, hoisted the white flag and
surrendered. The Spaniards in the
trenches probably numbered 1900 men.
The American attacking force numbered
10000, and the Americans were better
armed, better trained and in better condi.
tion. The foreign fleets watched the bonn
bardment with acute interest
The American warships engaged were
the Olympia, Petrol, Raleigh, McCulloch,
Boston, Monterey, Charleston and Balti-
more. The Spanish trench extended
around Manila at distance of from two
to four miles from the walled city, form
ing Il circle ten miles in circumference,
and it wac impossible, the Spaniards say,
to hold so long line against the Amef-
can attack. Admiral Dewey and G~n.
Merritt, it is reported, had issued orders
to spare all except the armed dcfenses of
the city and consequently the town is un-
derstood to have been but little damaged |
The Stars and Stripes were raised over
the city at $40 o'clock in the afternoon !
In the bay Admiral Dewey's fleet thun- |
dered a national salute and the formal |
surrender of the Sraniards was complet- |
ed 1'hp surrender includes $500 men, |
1900 sands of arms and an immense |
amount Of ammunition. The Spaniards |
were allowed the honors of war. We cap |
tured Z 900 prisoners, $1,000 rifles and !
unlimited ammunition. Gen. Merritt has |
assumed command. storing the civil |
laws. Eight Americans were killed and |
fifty wounded. The Spanish loss was |
much greater. The ships were not struck.