The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-07-21
TO STORM MANILA.
Thousands Of Insurgents Surro1,d IN.
City and Can Enter at Any Time
AuEusti Advised TO Surrender.

MANILA, Jr'y l3, via Bong Kong
July l9.-An important interview ba,
just been held between Gen. Arui
naIdo's secretary, Legarda, and 8
prominent native white man. and tho
Spanish commander, Capt. Gen. An
gust. The insurgents representatives
urged Gen. August TO surrender the
city, asserting that 10000 insurgent.
surrounded Manila and were abl.
TO enter it at any moment. Thus
FAR, they added, the insurgents had
been restrained with difficulty; but if
the Spaniards continued stubborn, the
result would be that the insurgents
would be compelled to BON bard and
storm the city with the inevitable
slaughter, unparalleled in history, be.
cause in the excitement of battle they
can not discriminate"
Continuing, the captain generals
visitors advised him to disregard the
official fctions regarding alleged
Spanish victories in Cuba and rein
forccments coming to the Philippine
islands, and propose a reconciliation
between the Spaniards in the Philip.
pines, under republican flag, and Il
joint cndeavor to persuade the Amer.
leans to abandon hostilities in the
Philippine islands. Finally the repre-.
scntatives Of the insurgents proposed
an appeal to the powers to rccogniz,
the independence of the Philippine
islands.
The captain general replied that he
must fight, however hopeless the Span.
ish cause.
Lcgarda then returned to Cavitc,
taking with him the native who is
paroled prisoner.
The natives inside the city say they
received. fortnight ago concerted
signal to prepare for storming the
walls. A second signal, fixing the
date OF the assault, has not yet been
issued, and they are tired % waiting
and arc losing faith in Aguinaldo.
The latter, it is alleged, finds it ex.
tremely difficult to capture the town
fortifications His previous successes, !
it is pointed out, were easy, because Of
the nature Of the country, which suit
ed his skirmishers. 1t is further al
legged that the principal points cap.
tured by the insurgents were obtained |
possession Of through treachery
The insurgents are now bringing
artillery around by sea from Mala.
bon, which is tedious and trouble
some work. They are also obtaining
detailed reports OF the condition Of
affairs from the inside of the city.
Adm Dewey is establishing a more
strict blockade, lest it be invalidated
by permitting neutrals to visit Cavite
and Malabon, and send and receive
mails inclosing surreptitious Spanish
dispatches. He has threatened to sta
ton warships opposite the city, which
night precipitatc hostilities, as the
spanish officers declare they will GER
ainly fire on any American within
'ange, regardless of the consequences.
The second installment of American
roops is expected here daily and the
asst detachmentS are booked TO arrive
lere early in August Probably mill
airy operations will be deferred until
he September dry season, when it is
ooler, and, possibly, then bloodshed
nay be unnecessary
A Spanish steamer, the Filipinas,
as just been brought in here in the
ands of the insurgents. 1t appears
hat she was on the northern coast
nd escaping to China with native
rev on board, when the latter revolt
d, killed the Spanish officers and
rought the vessel to Cavite.
Spaniards are daily employing con-
lets to fell trees and burn huts on the
utskirts Of the town. Fusiiades con-
nue., but otherwise the position is
The stock of houri is prac- :
cally exhausted, but the supplies of
zee and buffalo meat will last for
iOnths longer.