The herald., 1898-08-16
CABLE COMMUNICATION
TO BE RE-EsTABLIsHED WITH
MANILA
ATTACK NOT PREVENTED
Dewey Probably Bombarded the City
Before News Of Peace Protocol
Was Received
Associated Press Special Wire

SASSoSidtcu TTeSS special Wlr0
NEW YORK. Aug. 15-A special to the
Tribune from Washington says:
Gable communication with Manila will
probably be re-established within the next
day or two. if the efforts of this govern
ment, supported by that of Great Britain
and Spain. are successfully directed in Or
der that further boodshed may be averted
and the suspense relieved. 1t Is understood
that Admiral Dewey has been in posses-
sion of the Philippine end Of the cable for
over two months. although he was unable
to secure the legal terminus of the line.
which is located within the city of Manila.
and through the strict construction placed
upon the rules of neutrality his operators
were unable to secure any response to their
signals from the Hong Kong terminal
This restriction made necessary the fire.
Quent sending of dispatch boats back and
forth from Manila to Hong Kong, and re-
Gently the severed end of the cable has
been buoyed and no attention paid to II.
On the vessel that started from Hong
Kong on Saturday for Manila went torders
to restore submarine communication q!
OuCe,, anu as the AHeilCdHS ny tHe leiiHn
of the protocol are in possession of the
Philippines from an international point of
view, whether they actually hold the mu-
nlcipality or not, and as hostiiities have
formally been terminated and the require
ments of neutrality abolished, all obstacles
to the free use of the cable have been re-
moved.
Until Manila is in closer touch with the
- . boc hoo ha
last three and one-half months officials In
Washington will be harassed by the grav-
est anxiety regarding the occurrences in
that vicinity. The last news from Manila
was dated ten days ago and described the
fierce fighting at Malate on July 81, wher
the Americans held their positions. which
had been assaulted. August there was
cannonading all day. The Monterey ar
rived August with three transports Of the
third expedition, and at the time the dis
patch vessel left preparations were being
made for an assault upon the city. 1t was
known that General Merritt was onlv
awaiting these reinforcements to demand
the surrender and to give notice, off naval
bombardment.
Under these circumstances every pre-
caution was taken last Friday to inform
Admiral Dewey and General Merritt with
the least possible delay of the formal sign
ing Of the protocol and the suspension Of
hostilities. A speedy vessel was held at
Hong Kong under steam ready to carry
uispatch as soon as they should be ca
bled to Consul Wildman. 1t had been
deemed inadvisable to send any prelim-
inary warning to the naval and military
commanders on Thursday or Friday morn
ing, for fear the notoriously dlatory and
procrastinating methods of Spanish d.
4 plomacy might result in further postpone
ment of peace. 1t was reported, however.
that Sagasta. who knew his own Intentions
better than any one else knew them. had
chartered vessel and sent instructions
to General Augusti on Thursday to offer
no further resistance and to capitulate II
compelled to do so. This, however. has
not been verified, and as a proceeding ut
terly foreign to previous exhibitions of fore
thought manifested by the Spanish govern
ment. it receives no credence from the anx-
ious authorities In Washington.
When the protocol was signed, followed
Immediately by the sending of cable dis
patches to Admiral Dewey and General
Merritt 1t was broad daylight Saturday
morning at Manila. It takes fully a min
ute at the most generous calculations to
send single word to Hong Kong by cable.
Acting Secretary Allen and Adjutant-Gen-
eraf Corbin each sent several hundred
words of instructions to the respective
commanders under them, including copies
of the Presidents proclamation, and 1t IL
therefore unlikely that the vessel was able
to start before Saturday afternoon. Ma
nila is 628 miles from Hong Kong and at
eighteen knots the distance might be made
In thirty-six hours, which would enable the
dispatches to reach the American forces
Monday morning, or according to Wash
ington time, Sunday night. Unless Gen.
eral Merritt had taken Manila by that time
the Instructions sent him prevent any fur
ther military operations, and a truce will
have to be agreed upon similar in all re-
spects to that imposed upon General Miles
in Porto Rico. The official messages re-
late solely to hostlities, and have no bear
ing upon the third article of the protocol.
which provides that the United
States will hold the city, bay and
harbor of Manila. until the meet
ing Of the commissioners. This is an ex-
ceedngly peculiar feature of the situation.
but 1t gives the authorities less concern
than the fear Of further fighting. That
article was worded in accordance with the
Weeks
ago, which had been decided on when there
was momentary expectation that the
starved-out city would surrender at once.
and 1t was evident that the United States
forces would remain in power in the Phil
ippines. 1t was therefore considered un.
necessary to stipulate in the protocol tina,
a commission should be appointed within
ten days and arrange details Of evacua ton
as was the case of Cuba and Porto Rico.
II the position of the besieged and be-
Il siegers at Manila has not materially
changed in the last two weeks, when the
leaders Of the opposing forces received
their orders establishing an armistice, such
a military commission would be essential
unless the Spanish General throws him.
self upon General Merritt's protection, and
compels the Americans Immediately to as
sumo responsibility for the protection of
private property and the inhabitants az
well as the Spanish garrison from the In
surgents under Aguinaldo
Secretary Alger Is confident that the
Spanish General will welcome the news
and cheerfully obey the instructions ca
bled to him from Madrid to lay down his
arms. and no serious complication Is ex-
pected to arise with the insurgents at pres
ent at least regarding the change of gov-