New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-15
THE MANILA SITUATION
GRAVE ANXIETY LEST FIGHTING HAS
GONE on.
CABLE COMMUNICATION WILL PROBABLY
BE RESTORED IN A DAY OR Two
PROMPT StTRRENDER EXPECTED.


BE RESTORED IN A DAY OR Two
PROMPT SURRENDER EXPECTED.
ley TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRiBUNrl
WASHINGTON. Aug 14.-Cable communication
with Manila will probably be rc-established
within the next day or two II the efforts Of this
Government. supported by that Of Great Brit
ain and Spain are successfully directed. in or
der that further bloodshed may be averted and
suspense relieved regarding the critical condi-
tions existing there. 1t is understood that Ad-
miral Dewey has been in possession Of the
Philippine end Of the cable for over two months.
although he was unable to secure the legal ter
minus Of the line which is located within the
city OF Manila, and, through the strict construc-
tion placed upon the rules Of neutrality, his
operators were unable to secure any response
to their signals from the Hong Kong terminal
This restriction made necessary the frequent
sending Of dispatch boats back and forth from
Manila to Hong Kong. and recently the severed
end Of the cable has been buoyed and no atten-
tIon paid 10 IT, ON the vessel that started from
Hong Kong on Saturday for Manila went orders
TO restore submarine telcgraphlc communication
at once. and as the American forces by the
terms Of the protocol are constructvcly In oc-
cupation Of the Philippine capital from an IN
tcrnational standpoint. whether they actuaIiy
hold the municipality or not and as hostilltl"s
have formally been terminated and the re-
duircncnts of neutrality abolished. all obata-
cics to the free use of tho cable have been re-
moved
Until Manila Is In closer touch with the res'
of the world than Il has been for the last 'hree
and onc-half months. officials In Washington
viii be harassod 10y tho gravesi anxiety regard
ing occurrences in that vicinity. The last news
from Manila was dated ten days ago. and de-
scribcd the fierce fighting at Maiatc July 81
when the Americans held their position. which
had been assaulted. August ; there was can
nonadjug all day The Monterey arrived
August with three transports Of the third
cxreditlon. and at the time the dispatch vessel
left preparations were being made for an I'M
mediate assault on the city. 1t was known
that General Merritt was only awaiting these
roinforccments to demand the surrender ana To-
give notice of naval commandment
EVERY PRECAUTIoN TAKEN on FRIDAY.
Under these circumstances every precaution
was taken last Friday To- inform Admiral Dewey
and General Merritt. with the least possible de-
lay. Of the formal signing of the protocol and
the suspension OF hostlities. \ speedy vessel
was held AT Hong Kong ready under steam l."
carry dispatches as soon as they could be-
cablcd 70 Consul Nildman. II had been deemed
inadvlsable - send any preliminary warning
10 the naval anI military commanders
on Thursday OF Friday morning. for fear
the notoriousy diatory and procrastinatinG
methods OF Spanish diplomacy might result In
further posiponement ~ peace. II was reported.
however. that Sagssta. who knew his own in
tentions better than any one else knew them.
General August ou Thursday 80 offer no fur
thcr resistance and - capitulate II compelled 20
do go This. however has not been verified. and
as # IS p proceeding utterly foreign to the
rnearrc exhibitions OF forcthoueht heretofore
manifested IT, the Spanish Government II re
ceiyea no crcd,ucc from the anxious authorities
I'm Washington.
When The protocol was signed followed I'M
rnediaiely rs tie sending Il cable dispatches 90
Admiral Dewey and General Merritt. 1t was
broad daylight Saturday morning az Manila. II
takes fully Il inlnute at tho mot generous cal
culation to send single word 20 Hong korE
bv cable Acting Secretary All u and AdJuiani-
General Corbin each sent several hundred words
or instructions 10 the respective commanders
under them. including copies u the Presidents
proc,amatlon and # IS therefor" unlikely that
the vessel was able to start before Saturday
afternoon Manila is G2N miles from Hong
Kong. and at eighteen knots the distance
might be made IN thrty-sx hours. which would
enable the dispatches to reach the American
forces Monday morning or. according 10 Nd'h-
ington time. Sunday night
Unless General Merritt had taken Manila hy
that time. the instructions sent nm prevent
any further military operations, ana the truce
Will have to be agreed upon similar In all re-
spccts TO that imposed upon feneral Mics III
Porto Rico. The official messages relate solely
TO hosttics. and have no bearing upon '"'
third article Of the protocol, when proN'ees tn"'
the United states viii hold the city bay ana
harbor of Manila pending the negotiation Oh 'he
commissioners.
AFRAID THAT FIGHTING HAS GONE oN'
This is an exceedingly peculiar feature oi ''e
situation but II gives TO the ahihorl''eS '''
concern than the fear Of further nghtlHs' mat
article OF the protocol was worded IN a'co'u-
ance with the Presidents original proposition
two weeks ago which Ia turn, had oeeH "''"'
when there was mOmentay cXp'''At"" '"'''
the starvcd-out city would surrender at once
and u was evident that the United States forces
,ro,ld rornain in control OF all they had secured
In the Philippines until final treaty "i peace
.os concluded II was therefore considered un-
necessary to stipulate in the protocol that a
military commission should be appointed WIthih
ten DAYS TO arrange and execute the details oi
evacuation as was the case for CUBA and Porto
Rico
II the position of the bcsicged and besiegers
at Manila has not materially changed in the last
two weeks when the leaders Of the opposing
forces receive their oroers establishing an ar
mistice. such a military commission VIII be es-
sential unless the Spanish Governor-General
throws himself upon General MerIltts protec-
tiop and compels the Americans Immediately
70 assume responsibility for the protection Of
private property and the inhabitants. as well
as the Spanish garrison. from the insurgents
under Aguinaldo Secretary Alser is confident