The record-union., 1898-08-14
CONDITIONS
BEFORE
MANILA.
View Of the Situation on
July 9Th,
Just After the First Eypedi-
tiOn Arrived.
The City Of Manila Was in a State
of Siege.
The Place Gould Easily be Taken by the
The Place Gould Easily be Taken by the
Americans, but the Force Was In
sufficient to Properly Gar
riSon the City.

lCCrreSpOndencR of the Associated Press
copyrighted
ON BOARD THE JT. S. S. CHARLES
TON, OFF CAVITE. Manila Harbor,
p. L., July 8. 1S9S-Although eight days
have elapsed since the arrival of the
first detachment Of the expeditionary
force for the Philippines, no move mas
as yeti been made upon Manila, and the
prospects are that none will be made
until both the naval and military forces
have been reinforced. Meantime the
city continues in a state of siege. all
communication by land being cut off by
the insurgent forces and a strict block
ade being maintained by Rear Admiral
Dewey on sea. From the most reliable
information obtainable the situation of
the besieged Manilians is, indeed, de-
plorable, provisions being scarce, and
the water supply being entirely cut off
by the enemy. This being the wet sea-
son, however, sufficient water is caught
from the roofs of the buildings for the
immediate wants of the inhabitants of
the beleaguered city after each shower,
but little II no provision can be made
for the future by these means, and even
this temporary relief cannot be de-
pended upon for more than a few
weeks longer.
The exact strength of the Spanish
forces in Manila is not known, but from
the best information obtainable it IS
not believed to exceed 1900. The city
proper being protected by two forts
| armed with modern guns, and a wall of
sufficient strength to defy attack, even
though the invaders should succeed in
storming the trenches thrown up some
two miles away, a force of 200 is
ample to repel the insurgents, who,
whileI superior in numbers, are decided
ly inferior in discipline, arms and am
| munition.
Almost every day and night an en-
gagement of some sort occurs between
the rebel and Spanish outposts, but
without any apparent damage to either
side The Spanish waste the most am
munition Of the two, because they fire
in companies while the insurgents fire
singly. Although their trenches are
parallel to each other and not over 800
yards apart, no attempt has as yet been
made by either side to carry the others
position by storm, nor do they seem to
think it essential, when firing, to take
anw aim of the enemy. The insurgents
are now moving forward with two
smooth-bore guns with which they ex-
pect to exterminate the Spanish, and
they confidently announce every night
that they Will take Manila the following
morning.
That Manila can be taken by the
American forces already on the ground
no one for a moment doubts, but it is
extremely doubtful whether it is ad-
ecuate to police so large a city, guard
the prisoners and hold the insurgents
in check after it has been taken. There
is another element to be considered.
moreover, and that is the presence oc
fleet of German men-of-war in this
harbor.
While it has been currently reported
for some time past that the Germans
We're in communication with the Span
ish, and had virtually promised to pre-
Americans, their first open display of
hostility against the insurgents was not
made until last Wednesday, when the
commander of a German gunboat in
Subig Bay refused to allow a party Of
insurgents who had just captured a
Spanish coaster, to attack that harbor
with her, and also notified them that
they must not fire upon a Spanish force
ashore.
The matter was promptly reported to
Admiral Dewey, who immediately dis
patched the cruisers Raleigh and Con-
cord to Subig Bay to investigate. Upon
reaching that place the Raleigh opened
fire upon the forts and Spanish forces
on shore, whereupon the German gun
boat slipped her cable and put to sea in
great haste through the upper chan
| mel.
| The effect of the Raleigh's guns upon
| the Spaniards was the immediate hoist
| ing of numerous flags of truce, the
whole force, consisting of about 900
soldiers surrendeTing uncondiuonally.
| Before turning the prisoners over to the
| insurgents the Captain of the Raleigh
asked the insurgent leader what he
proposed to do with them, and upon
| learning that he wished TO cut all their
| throats. sent the Concord back to Ca
yite for Instructions She returned next
day with a letter from General Aguin-
| (Continued on Eleventh Pagel