New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-22
REST FOR VAR VORKERS.
ALMOST A NORMAL SUNDAY IN THE
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
CONSTRUCTION PLACED ON THE TERMS OF
WELL PLEASED WITH THE ACTION

CONSTRUCTION PLACED ON THE TERMS OF
SURRENDER FOR MANILA-PREsIDENT
WELL PLEASED WITH THE ACTION
OF MERRITT AND DEWEY.
Washington. Aug. 21-Condiions about the
great State. War and Navy Building have as
sumed their normal aspect Only few clerks
We're on duty in the principal bureaus today
and they did only few hours work. Mr.. Allen
Acting Secretary OF the Navy, said this even
ing that this had been the quietest day In his
Department since the destruction Of the Maine
During the afternoon he received sixteen dis
patches. fourteen of which related TO the move
ments of vessels. arrivals or departures. the re-
naming two referring to matters Of the merest
detail. Nothing was received to-day from Ad-
miral Dewey Notwithstanding that cable COM
municatlon with Manila had beer opened.
Among TIE Army officials the terms Of the ca
pitulation of Manila as cabled by General Mer-
ritt, were the topic Of discussion. No light has
been thrown upon the terms by General Merritt.
He cabled the terms themselves. expecting prob
ably to forward by mail the construction placed
upon them by the American and Spanish officers
Manila
Unofficial advices from Manila received previ-
to the arrival Of the text Of the terms in
dicated that the capitulat,on Of the city In
cluded the surrender OF the Philippines and that
Spanish sovereignty over the entire archipelago
was. temporarily at least al an end This view
is not sustained by the conditions of the sur
render cabled by General Merritt. and II may
be said II is not the view taken by the pest
Informed officials Of the Administration While
Of the authorities last night were
inclined to the opinion that the articles Of ca
pitulatlon. necessarily temporary and naturally
somewhat elastic ir their phraseology, might be
construed 10 mean the surrender Of Spanish con-
troll over the entire Philippine group. the prev
alent opinion now Is that they mean precisely
what they say and that the surrender includes
only the city OF Manila and its immediate sur
roundings. or suburbs as 1t is expressed In
the articles
II can he said authoritatively that the Presi-
dent is quite satisfied with the terms as made
by General Merritt and Admiral Dewey. Their
instructions afforded them considerable latitude
Of action. the President feeling confident that
they would secure the hes, possible terms In the
circumstances That they have done so he IL
certain.
II Is poin;ed out that the terms ~ the ca
pitulation Of Manila can have little effect upon
the action o. the Paris Peace Commission. in
any event The protocol. as signed 10y the ac-
credited representatives Of the governments OF
the United States and Spain. provides for the
cession Of the city. bay and harbor II Manila
70 the United States. and leaves 10 the Peace
Commission TO determine the disposition and
government of the Philippine Islands Whether.
therefore Spain is to retain her sovereignty
over the islands is a question 10 be decided by
the Paris Commission The action Of the Com
mission is circumscribed by the provisions o'
the protocol. while the terms Of the capitulation
Of Manila il is suggested. can have little more
effect upon the Commissions work than those
Of the surrender Of Santiago
Rear-Admiral Sampson and Rear-Admiral
schley are expected to arrive in Washington
some time tomorrow. The appointment Of the
two Admirals respectively on the Cuban and
Porto Rican COMMISSIONS necessarily "ill cause
them to be detached temporarily from their
present commands. The detachment II is sad
by the naval authorities. will be only tempo
rary. In the absence Of Admiral Sampson.
Commodore Philip Will have command of the
squadron OF vessels at NewYork. Repairs on
the ships will be pushed with vigor. and as
rapidly as possible they will be put in excellent
condition for duty in either or peace.
No determination has yet been reached by
the naval authorities OF the question Of reorgan-
.zing the squadron on peace footing. IN View
OF the new conditions which now confront the
United States. II Is scarceIN Hkeiy 'hdt any
considerable changes Will be made before sue
cessful termination Of the pending negotiations
shall have been reached.
During the day few officials Of the War De
partment were at their desks for longer than
an hour or two. little routine business was
transacted bu. the officials generally were TAX
ing rest.
Early in the afternoon Adjutant- General Cor
bin received dispatch from General Merritt
II read
Manila August q. 1898.
Maior-General Otis with steamers Peru ana
CITY OF Puebla has arrived. all well; no Casu-
oI,is MERRITT.
This was the second dispatch from Hencrai
Merritt since the opening OF cable commuhioa-
lions with Manila the first. received las' hlEh''
announcing that cable communication had peeh
restored.