The record-union., 1898-07-30
There Would Be No Surprise TO
Learn the Rumor True.
The Disposition Of the SpanIards TO Give
Up to the Americans in Preference to
the Insurgents Well Known
at Washington.

| WASHINGTON, July 29-The War
| Department would not be surprised to
learn that by this time Manila has
| surrendered to the combined American
| forces gathered on the shores of Ma
| Mia Bay. However, there is no official
| confirmation of the report that was
printed this morning to that effect The
United States Government is in 4 posi-
| ton, it is believed, to receive news Of
50 important an event sooner than the
Spanish authorities at Madrid. Being
hemmed in on all sides, Captain Au-
| gusti will not be able to communicate
with Hongkong, the nearest cable sta
ton. without passing his message
through the United States lines and
securing permission for its transmits
| sion by boat to Hongkong. And even
II boat bearing such message had ar
rived at Hongkong, it is only fair
supposition that the fall of Manila Will
be communicated at that point TO the
United States by means of cable
Consequently, it is believed that this
announcement of the fall of Manila is
an neutrality-suspicious. the strongest
basis may be that the Spanish Gov
| ernmeilt, having sent permission, to
Augusti to surrender, concluded that he
has done So
1t was known to be the disposition of
the Spanish authorities at Manila to
surrender to the American forces in
Sf0 Of 20
town must fall 1t is tolerably certain
that Admiral Dewey might have re-
ceived the surrender at any time within
the past six weeks had he been disposed
to exert Slight pressure in that direc-
ton.
1t is said at the War Department
that at least three of the six military
expeditions that have been dispatched
to the Philippines from San Francisco
are now at Manila, affording an army
of between ten and fifteen thousand
men, backed up by Dewey's ships and
sailors.
Suspicious interest attaches to a pub
lshed statement in one of the Spanish
sem1-official organs to the effect that
August has been shorn of Jurisdiction
over the Philippines beyond Manila,
and its immediate environment, the
Captain Generalcy of the Philippine
group being transferred to the COM
mander of the ViZcayas Islands. 1t is
just possible that there is an important
connection between these two items of
news, one the surrender of Manila and
the vther Augustus replacement both
coming from Spanish sources AS TO
the latter, 1T was frankly stated in the
Spanish dispatch that the purpose was
to prevent August from surrendering
the entire Philippine group, SO that it
is conceivable that, having now ar
ranged the matter so as to protect their
interests in the remaining islands so far
as possible, and having placed them
selves in position to deny
that the United States Govern
ment has made the conquest of the
Philippines, the Spanish Ministry may
nave directed August to surrender the
small jurisdiction remaining to him to
the United States to prevent il from
falling into the hands of the insur-
gents. AS this matter would have a
decided bearing on any program the
United States may outline respecting
80 oNAo'Sieioii VI q COSaiiuS III
the Philippines or the requirement of
the entire group of islands, official re-
ports as to the exact state of affairs
are anxiously awaited.
Admiral Dewey may be called to
Washington later on to consult with tbs.
Administration as to the general situa-
ton in the Philippines, the reforms
that are needed in the political form
OF Government of the islands and the
location that should be reserved for our
coaling station there.
1t is believed at the War Department
that Major General Merritt has arrived
at Manila. He sailed on June 29th, just
a month ago to-day. His vessels were
faster than some of the others and
ought to have reached their destina-
ton by this tim. !.