The record-union., 1898-07-29
Is Very Poorly Equipped to Resist Attack
by a Formidable Enemy.
Guns as a Whole Are Relics of An
tiquity, and Would Not Have
Been Even Modern in Nelson's
Time-Views of an Associated
Press Correspondent Who Vis-
tied the City and It's Surround
ings.
Correspondence of the Associated Press
COpyrighted. 1

COpyrlSnleO
MANILA (via Hongkong), July 81
Rear Admiral Dewey, always courte
Gus and always cordial to press men,
was good enough to assure this corre-
spondent that he could go just where
he liked, when he liked and how he
liked. For the present, the Amer
lean commander said accommodation
might be found on one of the American
transports at Cavite, or, if so desired,
the correspondent could go ashore, on
which ever side he chose, and take his
chances with the Spaniards or rebels.
1t was, however, one thing TO say Go
everywhere you please" and quite
different matter to say how.
Admiral Dewey, with all good will,
had no information at his disposal to
indicate which place was likely to be
best for news and communicating it to
the outside world.
The correspondent finally fixed on
Manila itself, not entirely deprived of
mail facilities,' thanks to the courtesy
of Admiral Dewey and the American
naval authorities. Moreover, Manila
was bound to be an exciting place 70
live in. Even without a bombardment,
a besieged city must be center of eX-
citement. Sooner or later the food sup
ply must run short The Spaniards had
declared that they would fight to the
last, and even an overwhelming force
cannot capture a stubbornly defended
town without a severe struggle Then,
what would the native population DO?
The native troops would probably keep
up fierce fighting on the Spanish side,
so long as the Spanish troops kept
lookout on them, and then they would
1n Of +1af
actuated chiefly by desire to save the
island.
OF the non-combatant natives with
the Spaniards now, it is impossible to
predict anything when the town falls
if it is to fall They may at the last
moment take arms on either side, but
it seems just as likely that they will
maintain an attitude of calm indiffer-
ence and sit still. looking on in mere
idle wonder as the Chinese did in many
villages when invaded by the japanese
in 1894.
Manila consists of an ancient walled
citadel, large, struggling business
town and a wide fringe Of suburban
townships, where the business men have
their private residences.
The 'Intremuros'' quarters contain
now only officialdom in all its glory,
the Government offices, the Governor
Generals palace, the treasury and army
and navy headquarters, and more po-
tent than all others, the head estab-
lishments of rival religious orders, the
Cathedral and the proverbiaI few re-
manning bricks with which the Arch
bishop has erected palace more i'm
posing and more magnificent than any
building in Manila.
The citadel was built in the early
days of Spanish colonization, when
there were frequent alarms and assaults
from all sides, from the sea by the
British and Dutch, and sometimes by
the pirate fleets of Mahommedan Ma
laws from the southern islands, while
the natives of Luzon have never been
Quiet for long at a time, and the present
Is nv no means the first time the city
has been threatened from the surround
ing hills.
The old walls. armed with guns as
old would be very we'll to keep out an
enemy in those days, but Of all the
scores Of guns have seen in the walls
doubt If there is even one which
would have been even modern in Mel
sons day. AS ornaments, relics of
antiquity or picturesque features OF the
old city, they are very appropriate, put
as a hope of salvation, against q pow
erful modern fleet, they are pitiful ana
ridiculous. There are indeed some bet
ter batteries along the sea front. under
the walls; two, I think, or lo-lhch can
her. and about a dozen smaller, all ap-
narently modern breech-loaders. O1
the other guns / cannot say much, as
the Spaniards are so bitter against
the British, and so suspicious that 1t
;s unsafe to be seen looking much
about But it is palpable that, even with
GOOD guns. there is absolutely no nope
of saving the citadel If Admiral Dewey
chooses to lombard He has squad
ron full OF guns that are good up 70
6OOO yards easily and at that range
walled city Is a good enough marx %
insure that every shot would tell.
on the other hand, the Spanlaros
have not more than a half dozen guns
that can do anything at 5000 yards
and they would not have whole city 10
aim at, only six small gray specs, very
easy TO miss and not easy to hurt even
when hit.
Courage Is a fine thing, but to shut
ND a crowd of women and children in
side a stone wall Is not courage-it is
CHASTITY homicidal mania.
The walled city is in the angle of
land south of the rivers mouth. Along
the sea front, facing westward, is a
narrow strip of low land, on which rec
1amation works We're started some