The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-31
DEWEY'S WATCH AT MANILA
THE BLOCKADE BEFORE TIM AAEBRI-
CAN TROOPS ARRTYED.

WITH rHn AMHRIoLN SQUADRON orr MAN
MA. June 22.-AdmiFal Dewey stnl msintaina
an ironclad blockade on the Venice Of the
East, and stands ready 10 take the city whom
reInforcements reach him That task seems
easier az each day goes by, for the Insurgents
arc making severe inroads upon the strenEth
Of the Spaniards cooped up In the city. They
have nearly 1900 men under arms, and have
carried their banner OF red. white and blue to
the very walls Of old Manila, They have prao-
t,cally completed Il blockade 10 the rear and
the people OF the besleaed city are beginning
10 know the pinch Of hunger. The poor have
been forced to kill dogs. horses and water buff
faloes. Prices have gone VI and buainess has
been virtually suspended. Light food. and
more especially fruits and vegetables. can DO
had in the country Immediately about the city,
but the stock Of staples is very low.
There is no question about the precarioua
condition Of the city, but the length OF the re-
s~istance when the blockade ends and IN adj
vance begins is problematical, The willingness
OF Governor. General AuRustin TO oapitulate
has been reported at various times, but at the
same time active preparations for a deter
mined resistance have gone steadily forward.
The batteries have all been strengthened, in-
trenchments for infantry defence have been
dug. and enlistment and draft have been car
ried as far as possible. There Ia no question OF
the ability of the Americans to take the place,
for Dewey can reduce the batteries at lon
range, and II there is q reverse anywhere on
land 1t can only be temporary.
Opinion 10 divided al to the plana Of the Span
fab. 1t Ia predicted that the city will capitulate.
that il will Are a few shots for the sake Of
honor, and that 1t will hold out to the bitter
end. Each prophecy flnds its Rdherents. but
the majority do not believe that the siege will
last long. Augustin has lost 1000 prisoners to
Aguinaldo, and his men have known nothing
hut announcement since Admiral Dewey came
into Manila Bay. They have been haraSsed on
every side, and in the opinion OF Admiral
Dewey there is not much fight loft IN them.
However, the very desperation Of their position.
as with the animal at bay. mai inspire them to
q vicious fight.
The Spanish have lost the province Of Pam
pangas in a sharp but bloody campaign which
ended four days ago. 6ehora Augustin, wife
ofthe ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. and hoF Ave children
were taken prisoners. Gen, Ricardo Monet was
killed with forty OF his men. and the cities Of
San Fernando and MaeebRbe were lost with
between 800 and 1000 prisoners. The Au-
gustin family were at MacebAhe. They had
been sent there for safety. but whom Aguinaldo
arrived most OF Pampangas Hebelled and Joined
his ranks. San Fernando and Maeebabe were
both besieged. and the insurgents had o strong
force between the two places. Monet. who was
q gallant soldier and perhaps the best fighter
In the Spanish army here. learned ofthe danger
of the Augustins. He decided TO abandon San
Fernando and fight his way TO their relief at
Macebabe. He met the insurGents half way.
and one OF the sharpest battles Of the insur-
rection was fought. Monet fell MORALLY
wounded and died on the Aeld. His troops
were disheartened and Aed, and IN the dis
order that followed hundreds threw down their
arms and gave up.
The insurgents then turned their attention
To Macebabe. and 1t was soon theirs. Monete
widow and children were also captured. but
beyond the fact that Aguinaldo plans to hold
them and the Augustins to insure the safety Of
his people In Manila. little has come through
the lines as to their place Of confinement or the
possibility of their being brought to Cavite
Aguinaldo denied at first that he had senora
Augustin. but admitted IL later when Vice-Ad-
miral Won Diederichs Of the German squadron
sent him a request for her release. His reply
TO the German was a refusal. The capture oil
AuRustin's family created CONSERVATION In the
Spanish ranks. and there will probably be a
desperate effort to rescue them. ARuinaldo
says he does not desire 70 60 outside Of the
bounds OF civilized warfare. but that he is bent
on stopping atrocities.
The insurgents are In high feather In these
days. More refugees from the China coast
have Joined them. more people have locked to
the red, white and blue standard. and captured
arms and the loot OF captured cities have
strengthened AGuinaldo. He has given up his
old headquarters In Cavite and occupied the
Governors palace. 1t Is larger. roomier. and
more imposing than the old structure and
more BETTING for the growing and f~attenlnR
dictator. ARuinaldo has increased his stah
and grown more exclusive. One Of his ten
native aides sports n monocle. and the impro-
Vised Count daily grows moro punctillous
Aguinaldo pleads business az an excuse fol
not seeing all OF his visitors. and he is a busy
man. He is also q very important man Just al
this moment and feels all OF his importance.
Nearly 200 Spanish wounded were sent into
T Manila on Sunday last. The transfer was q
pretty display OF Spanish pride. Three Spanish
surgeons. Major Juan DominEues Barrajo, Jose
baIderrama. and Luis Ledesma came out o.
Manila under a Red Cross. INT applied at Cavitt
ir the wounded. They brought no word o.
authorlty from Augustin. who still refuses tC
treat with the insurgents, and had only a Letter
from British Consul Walker suggesting thai
the wounded be secured. Aguinaldo looked
upon the expedition as an effront. and was Al
hrst Inclined to refuse to give up the wounded
even though they were a heavy burden on his
hands The afternoon was wasted In negotia
sAN AZ WAC Ouu . WOuuu0u WOIO RlvoH
up.
Agulnaldo has occupied old Cavita Convent a
= hospital. and there about $50 sick nnC
wounded have been cared for. Many of then
W their lives to the heroic work Of the sur
geons from the American feet. The hospita
was poorly equipped and the native doctor
are not skilful. Some OF the tenants Of tn
place were horribly wounded and suffered un
t'ln agonlcs from the mutilations OF Mause
bullet and machete. They received tho bes
treatment possible from the insurgents, bu
the facilities were not good and they woul
nave Jared worse but for the work OF Oh
American surgeons.
y Hail OF the crews OF the Spanish hospits
nshters that came down to Cavite deserted tn
moment they reached there und fed at onoC
They had had al! Of Manila that they cared FOL
ana were prepared 10 east their lot with tho In
snrGents rather than stay there longer. TIL
Officers were IN despair over the desertiops. bu