Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-28
MERR|TT'S REPORT,
Operations Of Our Military Forces
in the Philippines
THE CAPTURE OF MANILA,
GTsa! Improvement in the City Since
Americans Took Possession.
,rVTCT OF PEACE PROTOCOL.
Protest from Governor-Gener" ne
cording Surrender on Receipt oi
proclamation of Cessation "f HOS
tuities-The Insurgents
rrrrcr OF PEACE rRoTocoL

v-AsHINGTON. September SO-The re-
-.,. NJ Maior-General Wesley Merritt on
.,. or.orations about Manila was made
..tr, to-day. 1t is dated on board the
,-,report China, August $lst.
,fter giving briefly the story OF hts EN-
Isolation and his arrival at Manila and
.rs disposition Of the troops there, Gene
r.l Merritt says:
CO.. found General Greere's command en-
canned on q strip of sandy land, running
r,rallel to the shore of the bay and not
l,r distant from the beach. but owing to
,be great difficulty OF landing supplies
.,, greater portion Of the force had shell
ter tents only. and were suffering many
5tscomforts. the camp being situated IN
low flat place. without shelter from the
fsat of the tropical sun or adequate pro-
tection during the terrific downpours oil
r3in so FREQUENT at this season. l was at
once struck with the exemplary spirit OF
r,tient even cheerful, endurance shown
1y the officers and men under such cir
,,rnstances. and this feeling OF admira-
zion for the manner in which the Amerl-
can soldier. volunteer and regular alke'
sccept the necessary hardships OF the
work they have undertaken 10 DO mas
crown and increased with every phase OF
the difficult and trying conditions which
,b. troops OF the Philippine expedition
have brought 20 such brilliant ana sue
cessful conclusion.
.The Filipinos, or insurgent forces, at
war with Spain had. prior to the arrival
OF the American land forces, been wasing
desultory warfare with the Spaniards
for several months. and were at the time
of nv arrival in considerable force, va
riously estimated and never accurately
ascertained, but probably not far from
1900 men. These troops. well supplied
with small arms. with plenty Of ammuni-
lion and several field-guns, had obtained
positions Of investment opposite to the
Spanish line of detached works through
out their entire extent.
AGUINALDO.
General Merritt then speaks OF Aguihai-
dos accomplishments previous to his ar
rival. and continues:
"Ae General Aguinaldo did not visit me
ON rn, arrival nor offer his services as a
.ubordinate military leader, ana as my
instructions from the President fully con-
temulsted the occupation of the lslahds
hv the American land forces, and stated
tbat the powers of the military occupant
are absolute and supreme. ana lmmed-
ately operate upon the political condition
Of the inhabitant,' / did not CONSIDER IL
wise to hold any direct communication
,yitb the ipsurgent leader until j should
81. Of a,
e-paciaIly as l would not until then be in
a position TO issue proclamation and en-
force my authority in the event that his
uretensions should clash with my de-
fiCns. -.
"For these reasons the preparations for
the attack on the city We're pressed ana
military operations were conducged WITH
out reference TO the situation OF the IN
surgent forces. The wisdom OF TINS course
was subsequently fully established by the
fact that when the troops of my COM
m9nd carried the Spanish intrenchments,
extending from the sea 10 the Pasay ROAD
ON the extreme Spanish right, we were
under no obligations. by prearrahged
uIans OF mutual attack, TO turn 10 lne
rIsht and clear the front, sun helu
aeainst the insurgents. but were able TO
move forward at once and occupy inc
city and suburbs. c.,
TO return to the situation or Geherai
Creene's Brigade. as 1 found it on my ar
riysl n viii be seen that the difficulty In
Gaining an avenue Of approach TO the
Spanisb line lay in the fact OF my dlsln-
cIination TO ask General Aguinaldo 10
withdraw from the beach and the cane
Real so that General Greene could move
forward This was overcome by instruc-
tons TO General Greene TO arrange, II
possible. with the insurgent Drlgaue cVIh-
rnauder in his immediate vicinity, u hioFe
do tho right and allow the American
60 r,abstrncted control Of the roads
I'm their immediate font NO oDJecuoil
was made and accordingly, General
Creengs brigade threw forward heavy
oYpost line of the Gale Rear ana the
heerb and constructed a trench. In which
nor,ion Of the guns Of the Utah bate
Ties were placed.
NIGHT ATTACKS OF SPANISH.
"The Spanish. observing TINS activily
n, ,,,r 80 made a very sharp attack
with infantry and artillery on the nlsh'
Of July S1st s...,,.
"The behavior OF our troops curing
this night attack was all that coulo DC
desired. and have IN cabiegranis " ~
War Department taken occasion 10 com,
mend by name those who deserve speclal
mention for good conduct in the analr'
our uosifion was extended and strength
eaod after this, and resisted successfully
r.qeated night attacks. our forces suner-
Ing considerable loss in wounded ana
killed. while the losses of the enemy
owing 10 the darkness, could not be as
certained"
General Merritt then tells OF the diff
Guilty ne experienced In re-enforcing Cen
era Greene's troops, on account or tn'
Obstacles In landing.
Continuing ne says:
TIME FOR FINAL ACTION.
'T'pon the assembly OF Macarthur
Brigade I'm support OF Greene's. | hao
about $500 men IN position 10 attack. and
deemed the time had come FOR final ac
ton. During the time Of the night at
lacks ! had communicated my desire "a
Admiral Dewey that he would allow hi'
ships 20 open fire on the right OF the
suanisb line of intrenchments, believing
that such action would stop the might
airing and the loss OF life, but the Admira
had declined 20 order II unless we wer'