Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-19
. MERRITT'ssR Re REPORT
On the Fall Of City Of Ma
! Mia as He Saw It.
We viii Certainly Hold All Territory
We Have Captured.
Cabinet Meeting, Today, Expected to Deal
With This Question.

Washington, Aug >1S.-The war de-
partment made public, today, the dis
patch of Gen. Merritt giving the Off
cial story of Manila's fall and also the
text of the significance of the instruc-
tons sent Gen. Merritt requiring the
insurgents and others to recognize the
authority of the United States in the
territory occupied by our forces. These
dispatches were about the only positive
development of the day. Nothing has
been heard from Gen. Merritt as to the
casualties. last Saturday. except that
he estimated. the killed and wounded
TO be 6gimen. a5lt 80. ti4c,
Another point on which officials are
without definite information is the ex-
tent of our present authority in the
Philippines. Under the protocol the
United States was given the occupation
of Manila with the bay and harDor,
until permanent disposition of the
Philippine question was reached. But
according to press dispatches which
are SO circumstantial as to be credited
in most official quarters, Gen. Merritt
and Admiral Dewey received the capt.
ulation Of the entire Philippine Arch
ipelago.
There appears to be some doubt
therefore, even among officials as to
whether our present authority and
jurisdiction cover Manila only as pro-
vided by the protocol. or cover all tn
Philippines as provided by the report
ed terms of capitulation to Merritt and
Dewey. There is disposition to await
fuller official information before lay
ing down policy as to the event of
our jurisdiction in the islands.
Secretary Alger said, today, that he had
heard nothing of the surrender of the en-
tire Philippine group. At the same time
the secretary did not deprecate the accu-
racy of the press advices stating that the
capitulation had this far-reaching effect.
Pending more definite information, the
attitude of officials is to assume that our
authority covers Manila city. Manila bay
and harbor, and also such other territory
as may be occupied by the military and
naval forces. The latter phrase is elastic
enough to cover any or all of the Philip
pine islands that may have been brought
under our authority by the recent sur
render.
The instructions sent to Gen. Merritt
have in view the expansion of our pos
sessions beyond the texms stated in the
protocol, as they distinctly state that this
government is in possession of Manila
and that its authority to preserve peace
and order will be exerted within the ter
rltory occupied by their military and ma
val forces
The oabne: meeting, tomorrow, is eX-
pectei to deal with,sthe many detailed
questions concerning the Philippines,
Cuba and Porto Rico which have arisen
since the peace protocol was signed.
Tie state department received another
International congratulation on the res
toration of peace, today, this one coming
from the British ambassador Sir Julian
Pauncefote, who is now sojourning at
New London. Ct. The Ambassador COM
municated the expression of profound
qualification with which Her Majesty's
government learned Of the signature of
NAAS VI pSdCt DCtWCSA lHC
United States and Spain and sincere con-
CALCULATIONS to the President and the gov
eminent of the United States upon the
termina ton of the war
Acting Secretary Allen had a busy day
making final arrangements for The naval
review at New York. Saturday. He ex-
tended to the French ambassador. NJ.
Cambon. the courtesy of going on the
battleship New York, during the review.
The ambassador had already arranged,
however. to witness the review from the
tug Of the French transatlantic Line.
In reference to a report that Sur
geon General Sternberg had asked the
secretary of war for a court of in
quiry, the secretary stated that Aug.