The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-22
FIRST CAPTURE OF MANILA.
1t Required an English Fleet of Thfr'
teen Vessels and 1900 Men.
Brooklyn Eagle


The capture of Manila would not mean
that possession of the Philippines had been
secured. The islands are numerous, scat
tered over large area and because OF the
savage character of large portion of their
population, would have to be visited In
force by our soldiers before possession
be acquired. In 1862 a British squadron COM
manded by Admiral Cornish entered the bay
of Manila and demanded the surrender OF
the citadel. The request was refused. Ma
Mia was bombarded
The city was defended at first by six
hundred men and eighty pieces of artillery.
The British forces consisted of 1900 Euro
pean troops Zone regiment of infantry and
two companies of artillery, 5000 seamen'
800 Sepoy fusileers and 400 Sepoy prison
sand Pampangos finally came to the assist
ance of the Spanish soldiery. Zunica,
Spanish historian, says the British spent
10000 cannon balls and 5000 shells in the
bombardment of the city. Finally d landing
was effected by the British and the city
was captured. The Spanish historian, says
troops after his flag had been hoisted over
Fort Santiago 1000 men were missing, in
Guiding sixteen officers, Among the num-
Der were major, fatally. wounded by an
arrow, and vice admiral, drowned while
coming ashore in a boat
In the capitulation the whole of the arch
ipelago was surrendered to the British, yet
a Spanish magistrate declined to surrender,
issued to the Islanders an appeal to arms
and proclaimed his headquarters at Ba-
color, in the province of Pampanga, not
far from Manila. 1t was found necessary to
send troops against him. Anda was defeated,
but soon after Lieutenant General Bustos,
with large force of natives and Span
iards encamped at Malinta, about five miles
from Manila He was attacked by the Brit
ish forces and defended his position sue
cessfully. Foreman says:
THE British, in fact. were much molested
by Bustoss Malinta troops, who forced the
invaders to withdraw to Manila and reduce
the extension of their outposts.''
There were incessant conflicts between the
British and the islanders from 1862 to the
"A british q
brought news from Europe of an armistice
Some weeks later the Britishers evacuated
able to subdue the Philippine islanders.
l have presented the foregoing historical
facts that my readers may the more thor
oughly appreciate the magnitude of Commo-
dore DeWey's achievements in Manila bay,
and the difficulties which still lie in the way
of any effort on his part to secure possess
sion Of the whole archipelago. The British
in 1852, with $3.50 soldiers and sailors and
thirteen ships, found it impossible to sub
entirely too much of the valiant Dewey,
with but a small force of sailors and ma
rines., to do what the. English failed to ac
oomplish with much larger force. He is
certainly in need of heavy reinforcements in
the shape of soldiers if the Philippines are
to be seized. 1t is true that the Insurgents
are marching against the Spanish forces,
but it is quite likely that the commodore
will find 1t necessary to place the hand of
islanders who are thirsting for revenge s" On
their oppressors. For if the Spaniards are
left to the mercy of the insurgents there
may be story of bloodshed and atrocity
that will shock the civilized world.
Strong arguments are offered in behalf of
the proposition to acquire the Philippines.
1t is one thing, however to- say we must
have the Philippine islands; it is another
thing to get them. The insurgents are
friendly to Americans to-day, when they be-
ieve this Nation is aiding them to secure
freedom. Tomorrow, when they find we
want the islands for ourselves, these same
insurgents may be in arms against us. In
such an event there would be eleven large
islands to subdue and hundreds of smaller
islands, peopled by Moslems, Chinese,
Malays and half-breeds, to deal with. A
protectorate might be accepted, but it is
speculative that the islanders would will
ingly acquiesce in the acquisition of the
Philippines as an American colony. The
natives of many of the islands have been
taught to regard the white with dis
trust. In the main they are uncivized. In
surrectionS are as common on the islands
as revolutions in the South American re-
publics. large force of soldiers would be
required for permanent service on the archi-
pelago If the islands should become Amer
lean possessions. The United States may
need the islands; peaceful possession of
them would undoubtedly be of great value
to the United States commercially, yet if
any one is of the opinion that they can be
acquired as easily as Coney island was an
nexed to Brooklyn and as easily governed
that view is likely to receive rude shock.