The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-01
Incidents Previous to the Demand for
the Surrender of Manila, and story
of the Battle That Followed.
CAPlTULATIoN OF THE CITY
DIsARMING. OF sPANIARDs AND PRES
VENTING OF PILLAGE AND RAPINE.
Tribute to Law-Abiding, Temperate.
ResOIute American SOIdiers-Constf-
tuition of Aguinaldo's Republic.

| WASHINGTON. Sept. 3O.--The report OF
| Major General Wesley Merritt of the operas
! tions about Manila was made public at the
War Department to-day. 1t is dated on
beard the transport China, Aug 81. After
giving briefly the story of his embarkation
and arrival at Manila and the dispositions
of the troops there, he says:
II found General Greene's command en-
camped on a strip of sandy land running
parallel to the shore of the bay and not
far distant from the beach, but owing to-
the great difficulties of landing supplies, the
greater portion of the force had shelter
tents only, and were suffering many dis
comforts, the camp being situated in a low.
| fiat place, without shelter from the heat of
| the tropical sun adequate protection DUR
| ing the terrific downpours of rain so FREE
| quent at this season. 1 was at once struck
| by the exemplary spirit of patient even
| cheerful, endurance shown by the officers
| and men under such circumstances, and this
| feeling of admiration for the manner in
! which the American soldier, volunteer and
regular alike, accept the necessary hard-
! ships of the work they have undertaken to
| do, has grown and increased with every
| phase of the difficult and trying campaign
which the troops of the Philippine expedi-
ton have brought to such brilliant and
successful conclusion.
The Filipinos, or nsurgent forces, at war
| with Spain, had, prior to the arrival of the
| American land forces, been waging de-
sultory warfare with the Spaniards for sew
eral months, and were at the time of my
arrival in considerable force variously esti-
! mated and never accurately ascertained, but
| probably not far from twelve thousand men.
These troops, well supplied with small arms,
| with plenty of ammunition and several field
guns, had obtained positions of Investment
| opposite to the Spanish line of detached
works throughout their entire extent
| General Merritt then speaks of Aguinal-
dos accomplishments previous to his arrival
| and continues "As General Aguinaldo did
not visit me on my arrival nor offer his
services as a subordinate military leader.
and as my instructions from the President
! fully contemplated the occupation of the
I islands by the American land forces and
fully stated that the powers of the military
occupant are absolute and supreme and inn
mediately operate upon the political condi-
tion of the inhabitants did not consider
| it wise to hold any direct communication
with the insurgent leader until / should be
| in possession of the city of Manila espe-
cially as / would not until then be in a
| position to issue proclamation and enforce
my authority in the event that his preten-
sions should clash with my designs.
THE PLAN WORKED WE'LL.
For these reasons the preparations for
the attack the city were pressed and
military operations conducted without refer
ence to the situation of the insurgent forces. Z
The wisdom of this course was subsequently,
fully established by the fact that when the
-,
ntrenchments, extending from the sea to
the Pasay road on the extreme Spanish
right, we were under no obligations, by pre-
arranged plans of mutual attack, to turn to
the right and clear the front still held as
against the insurgents, but were able to
move forward at once and occupy the city
and suburbs.
ITO return to the situation of General
Greene's brigade as / found it on my arr
rival it will be seen that the difficulty in
gaining an avenue of approach to the Span
ish line lay in the fact of my disfnclina-
ton to ask General Aguinaldo to withdraw
from the beach and the Gale Real. so that
Greene could move forward. This was
overcome by instructions to General Greene
to arrange If possible, with the insurgent
brigade commander in his immediate vicin-
ity to move to the right and allow the
roads in their immediate front. No objec-
ton was made, and, accordingly General
Greenes brigade threw forward heavy
outpost line on the Gale Real and the beach
and constructed a trench in which "A por-
tion of the guns of the Utah batteries was
placed. The Spanish. observing this activity
on our part. made a very sharp attack of
infantry and artillery the night of July
4. The behavior of our troops during this
light attack was all that could be desired
and have, in cablegrams to the War De-
partment, taken occasion to commend by
name those deserving of special mention
for good conduct in the affair. Our position
was extended and strengthened after this,
and resisted successfully repeated night at
tacks. our forces suffering however. con-
siderable loss In wounded and killed. while
the losses of the enemy. owing to the dark
ness. could not be ascertained.
1.-The strain of the night hghtingsa and the
heavy details for outpost duty made it inn
perative to reinforce General Greenes
troops with General McArthur's brigade.
which had arrived in transports on the slst
of July. The difficulty of this operation can
hardly be overestimated. The landing was
finally accomplished after days of hard
work and hardship; and ! desire here TO
express again my admiration for the forth
tude and cheerful willingness of the men of
all commands engaged in this operation.
Upon the assembly of MacArthur's bril-
gade in support of Greene's. 1 had about
$500 men In position 10 attack and deemed
the time had come for final action During
the time of the night attacks I had CON-
muncated by desire to Admiral Dewey that
he would allow his ships to open fre On