The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-08-24
TAKEN BY STORM,
How Merritt's Men Drove the
Spaniards from their Trenches
IN FRONT OF MANILA.
Twas Not Long Before the White
Flag Was Run Up and the
City Surrendered to
the American.
the American

The American collier Zafro, from
Manila, which arrived at Hong Kong
Wednesday, is anchored in Junk bay.
She left Manila on the l4th. \ ty-
phoon is raging, and it is impossible to
land the mails with further details OF
the battle at Manila. 1t is learned,
however, from an American naval Off
Ger that when Admiral Dewey, on Au-
gust 8, demanded the surrender Of Ma
Mia within As hours. the Spanish com
mander replied that the insurgents be-
ing outside of the walls. he had no safe
place for the women and children who
were in the city, and asked for q hours
delay. This Admiral Dewey granted,
AT the expiration of the specified time
Admiral Dewey and Gen. Merritt con-
suited, and decided to postpone the at
tack.
On August Is the American squad
ron formed in line off Manila. The
Olympia fred the first shot at the Ma
late fort. The shots of the Americans
fell short, and some time was occupied
in finding the range Then the Callao,
one of the gunboats captured by Admi-
raj Dewey from the Spaniards: got un-
der the fort and sent in a hot fire.
Great destruction was done with the
rapid fire guns. The fort failed to re-
ply, but fred on the American troops
who were storming the Spanish tren-
ches. The large American ships were
ordered to cease firing after an hours
work, owing to the failure of the fort
to respond.
The fighting in the trenches was
most fierce. Fifteen minutes after the
Spaniards were driven to the second
line of defenSes they were forced to re-
treat to the walled city, where, seeing
the uselessness Of resistance, they sur
rendered, and soon afterward white
flag was hoiste6 over Manila. The Bel
gian consul at Manila, NJ. Andre.
boarded the Olympia and returned with
an American lieutenant to the Spanish
military governor. who agreed to sur
render Gen Merritt proceeded to the
palace at 3:30 o'clock, aud there found
the Spaniards formed in line. The
troops surrendered their arms, but the
officers were permitted to retain their
swords.
The American loss is reported to be
six or eight killed and 80 wounded.
The Spanish loss was considerable, but
the exact numbers are not obtainable.
The trenches were filled with badly
wounded Spaniards. Manila is now
under martial law, with Gen. Merritt
as military governor. The California
Red Cross Society rendered valuable
aid to the sick and wounded. Perfect
order prevailed in Manila on the even
ing Of August IL. AS the Americans
marched in, guards were placed around
the houses of all foreigners. in order to
prevent their being looted.
The insurgents were not allowed to
take part in the attack upon the city,
but were kept in the rear Of the Amer
leans. In order to prevent bloodshed,
they were forbidden to enter the city
after the surrender unless they were
unarmed. Before the surrender, the
Spaniards burned the transport Cebu
in the Pasig river. It is supposed that
Admiral Dewey was unaware Of the de-
parture of Governor General Augusti.
The Zafro's officers first heard the news
of the governor generals fight on their
arrival here. Gen. Augustus escape is
considered to have been prearranged,
as he brought with him his family and
suite. The Manila correspondent Of the
London Times gives the following par
ticulars of the capture of the city:
;:hhe capture Of the town was not
without certain melodramatic elements.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
Spanish made serious resistance
against the advance of the right wing
of the American force, it was difficult
to foresee that surrender would follow
display by the land forces to satisfy
the Spanish honor, nor has it been a
well kept secret that the captain general
practically suggested the manner in
which the American troops should ad-
vance to prevent loss of life on both
sides. At first it was not intended to
attack the trenches, but quietly to ad-
vance after the bombardment had
ceased.
At the last moment, however, the
programme was changed, and order;
were issued for the land battery to
open fire simultaneously with the feet,
and for an advance to be made as soon
as it was considered practicable to as
sauit the Spanish trenches. The rea-
son for this change Of plan is not Yet
apparent, but considerable loss of life
resulted. Gen. Anderson placed his
division, according to direction from
Gen. Merritt. There were eight bat
talions of the First brigade under Gen.
Macarthur in fighting line on the right,
with three battalions in reserve, while
seven battalions of the Second brigade,
under Gen. Green, were in the trenches
across the Gale road to the seashore,
three others forming reserve. The
troops left the camp at $50 in heavy
thunderstorm. They carried 800 rounds
Of ammunition per man, and two days
cooked rations.
Short! Y after $40 the fleet got IN
Ger way with flags mastheaded. vt /!
o'clock the Olympia led the way, at,
tended by the Raleigh and the Petrol.
While the Caliao. under Lieut.. Tappan.
and the launch Barcolo crept close In
shore in the heavy breakers Perfect
quiet prevailed in the lines on both
sides as the great ships cleared for ac-
ton. silently advanced, sometimes hid
den by rain squalls The Monterey.
with the Baltimore, Charleston and
Boston, formed the reserve.
sAt 9:35 q sudden cloud of smoke,
green and white against the stormy SKI:
completely hid the Olympia. 4 shell
screamed across two miles Of turbulent
water and burst near the Spanish fort