Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-21
MANTLA'S WEAKNESS.
CITY READY TO SURRENDER AFTER
SHOW or AMERICAN FORCE.
RESISTANCE BROKEN.
SPAl'll
II Local Omcials Do Not Give I'm,
Soldiers VIII Haul Down the Flag
Encouragement Afforded by Ger
ma ms.

| VANCOUVER, B. c.. July @.-Accord-
OF India from Hongkong, the chief
news of the moment is that Manila is
ready TO surrender.
Not that the archbishop and captain
general are going to voluntarily capitu-
| late before they are compelled 10 do so,
but the backbone Of resistance is unques-
tionably broken, and upon a real show Of
force and intention to lombard the town.
| IL the officers do not give in, the Spaniards
will haul down the Spanish flag. Intima-
lions to this effect are received from
many sources.
The correspondent Of the Hongkong
Press, writing under date of June sd.
says the chief subject OF discussion in
Manila, in Cavite, and the American
feet is the presence there OF so many
German men-of-war and one transport
or supply vessel In port.
have just interviewed leading
Englshman here on the subject. He un-
Eesitatingly informed me that all for
eigners in Manila, as well as Spaniards,
regard it as a remarkable demonstra-
ton.
II am sure" he continued, that the
Spaniards have received encouragement
from such a naval display. A Spaniard
to-day told me that the coming Of large
German squadron was construed by him
and leading Spanish officials as a direct
act Of friendly interest and warning to-
ward the Yankees that they could not go
too far. Now, when Spaniard of influ-
ence, as this man was. will talk like that
1 think it is high time to ascertain what
the Germans mean by appearing here IN
such force.
GERMAN INTERESTS.
II am familiar" my informant con-
tinued, with all the German interests IN
Manila, and my relations with the Ger
mans are very agreeable, and am posi-
tive that one German cruiser would be
fully able TO protect them to every extent
they required"
Among the steamers passengers Is Cap
tain ID. Hodgson, who commanded the
revenue-cutter McCulloch during the bat
tie of Manila. Captain Hodgson Is on his
way to San Francisco.
According to the Hongkong papers Ad-
miral Diedrichs, Of the German fleet at
Manila is credited with the statement that
he will prevent Admiral Dewey from bonn
1t is reported at Hongkong that a
Spanish regiment near Manila met a force
led by Aguinaldo, ard the Spanish cap
tain challenged Aguinaldo to mortal COM
bat before the battle began. The offer
was accepted and the duel resulted in
the fatal wounding of the Spanish officer. |
The Spanish Governor at Tulu, Straits |
Settlement, fears an American invasion. |
He sleeps on a small gunboat, and is |
ready for a hurried fight. The colony is |
making preparations 10 resist attack by |
organizing volunteer forces. The Cover
nors difficulties are increased by |
threatened rebellion.
GREAT FIGHT ECHOES.
Further details of the great fight of |
May 1st filter through some high officials |
of Manila time passes. II now appears, |
according 10 authentic information in |
the hands Of Consul Williams, that out
of 4sl men on the Reina Christina 36i
were killed. Only 127 left the ship. An
officer. who was on board and now in
prison, tells me that one could not step
q foot in any direction on her decks with
out coming in contact with pieces OF
flesh or dead bodies. Such was the power
of the American guns and the skill Of
American gunners.
Manila papers continue to publish mon
strous stories about the Americans, and
do not hesitate to employ the most com
temptuous epithets. all Of which are
whetting the appetites of the Americans
to get even with them for uncalled-for
insults.
More seizures Of arms are reported
from Hongkong. 1t is suspected that the
arms and ammunition were to be shipped
TO the Philippine insurgents. The seizure
consists of a half million rounds of Maui
ser ammunition 20S breech-loading Maui
ser rifles, and liz muzzle-loadinG Enfield
rifles.
An Englishman at Kobe wanted to pass
through the customs for shipment TO New
York 1l2 Japanese swords, seventy-one
spears. and seven suits of armer. The
customs authorities held a consultation
as TO whether the articles were contra
band Of war, and not being able 10 salts
factorily decide the question, they wired
10 the government in Toxic for instruc-
lions. None had been received when the
Empress left and the local paper sarcas-
ically remarks that probably the Japa-
1ese Government is perplexed, as well as
he customs officers.
IN CASE OF COMPARTMENT.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, July GA
chronicle special from Cavite, dated June
3D.. says:
In case of the expected bombardment
a Manila, the area to which the Spanish
nay retire will be limited 10 the Ameri-
an and insurgent lines surrounding the
ity. There may come the struggle, for |
he Spaniards have burrowed entrench-
nents and fortified hills and knobs for
he final struggle 1t is known here that
very energy is bent within the city to :
repare 1t for the final struggle. The /
eople are exhorted by the clergy and
Military authorities and their hopes are
uoyed by false reports as TO relief from
pain and Spanish triumphs IN the West
ndles and along the Atlantic coast
August Is credited with an assertion
nat he can muster 10000 troops No one
eriously believes he can marshal 10000.
he city seems as nearly ready for the /
onfiict as the material in the hands of
ne Spanish can make It. a
The German fleet now here, not count I
g supply-yessels, includes the Cormo- 9
IN Kaiser, Kaiserin Augusta, Irene, and q
rncess Wilhelm, and their metal ex- S
,eds that of any other fleet here. The Il
ritish fleet includes the Immortalite,
and Rather, but the pres i
ice of so many Germans is expected 20 | n
Jaw other ships. The French have the
reaux and Pascal, and the japanese the
atsushima.
1t is freely predicted that there will
)t be bloodless capitulation OF Manila,
IL is feared that there will be a long
nd bloody resistance.
ATIVES ILL-TREATING PRISONERS. 6
MADRID, July %. =. M-Advices re-
lived here from the Philippine Islands {
~ that the natives are ill-treating four C
ousand Spanish prisoners. but that II q