Evening star., 1898-08-02
MERRITT FEEDS THEM
Deplorable Condition Of Spanish
Prisoners at Oavite.
FIRST STEP AGAINST AGUIKALD0
VIII Lead to Assumption of Control
of insurgents.
NJ A Mia LOSES HOPE


%, says: THE arrival of Gen. Merritt has
given great stimulus to military activity,
chiefly in Camp Dewey. where Gen. Green's
brigade has been reinforced by troops from
Merritt's transport.
THE occupation Of the country south Of
Manila has been completed for about a mile
east OF the shore, but the line does not ex-
tend to the river Pasig. No territory is
held by the Americans north of the town.
Gen. Green, who directs the active field
operations has established his headduar-
ters near the seashore, under the guns Of
the warships. about 1000 yards from :he
Spanish position and from $50 to 1900
yards distant from the irsurgent lines,
which approach at one point within $50
yards of the enemy.
Here occur daily attacks. which are usu-
ally begun by the insurgents Often these
are apparently severe, but they have little
result and cause few losses. The Ameri-
cans have not yet returned a single shot,
although they are constantly under fire.
Insurgent. a HIndrance.
"The situation at the front is most ex-
traordinary. Each force is guarding its
own lines. but the insurgents are little bet
ter than armed rabble. They pass freely
with the troops. but they render no assist
ance aad are, indeed, rather a hindrance
to the operations.
II am reluctant to believe the report that
O certain prominent American official
sured Aguinaldo that the Americans came
simply to support the insurgent cause and
establish republic; yet the attitude of the
insurgents, particularly since Aguinaldos
recent proclamation announcing his plans
for the future oTublic, seems ample con-
firmatiou. The insurgent leaders are ag-
gressively arrogant and make no move to-
ward recognizing American authority.
General Merritt thus far has not met
Aguinaldo. The condition of the Spanish
prisoners confined by the insurgents at
Cayipe is most Geplorable. ami has excited
the pity and sympathy of General Merritt,
who begins to issue rations today without
advising Aguinaldo. This is probably the
first stsp toward assuming proper authority
over the insurgents. who had hitherto been
treated masters OF the situation. The at
titude of the insurgents is the only diff-
Guilty in the way of an immediate settle
ment of the whole matter.
Manila Would Surrender.
The investment and capture of Manila
would be readily effected with the cO-opera-
ton of the feet, notwithstanding the difti-
Guilty of conducting military operations
through the labyrinths Of tropical growth
and the flooded rice fields around Manila.
1T is an open secret-and L have infor-
nation confirming the report from the best
possible sources-that Manila is willing to
surrender, and may do so. provided assur-
ance is given that the inhabitants will be
protected from the insurgents. who openly
declare their intention of killing every Span
lard.
Whatever was their original purpose, 1t
is now a fact that the only incentives the
insurgant have to continue the conflict are
revenge and plunder. Therefore it is evil
dent that the Americans must settle with
the insurgents first. Personally / am con-
WINGED that the only means of controlling
Aguinaldo's rabbls is to disarm the whole
population. This step alone can make life
and property secure. At the present crisis
of the situation nothing suggests the hkeli-
hood Of any immediate aggressive move
mant The American troops are active. and
reconnoissances are made daily into the
country. which is being thoroughly studied
and carefully mapped.
The arrival of the third expedition is ex-
pected tomorrow. The force will then be
amply sufficient for any emergency. Short
ly after midnight last night the Americans
occupied the insurgent lines for several
hundred yards, including the position near
est to the Spanish works. The insurgents
yielded their positions at the request OF
Gen. Merritt
Complications Amend.
A dispatch to the Times from Cavite,
dated July 26, says: 1T is becoming more
apparent daily that there are serious COM
plications ahead. The Americans never
made a greater mistake than in bringing .
Aguinaldo and the insurGent leaders here
and giving them arms ana ammunition for
free use from the Cavite arsenal Aguinal-
do fears annexation by the Americans and
has openly opposed them
Either he has been corrupted by some
foreign power or ne has l. false notion
of the strength of the Philippine rcgolu-
tionaries failing to recognize that their re-
cent successes are due to t1e concentration
of Spanish strength at Manila, consequent
upon the presence OF the Americans. A.
though he admits no fcreISn recognition,
he talks of his government and dictates
to the American authorities In absurd and
inflated terms.
He has compelled the natives Of the
southern approaches to Manila 10 register
their bullocks, ponies and ccnveyances. IT,
the owners rot 10 supply then
to the Americans for transportation with
Brig. Gen. Anderson promptly adopted
firm measures, warning Aguinaldo that
force would be used to impress the means
of transport, which we're ultimately Iortt-
coming. Aguinsllo's attitude makes fu-
ture operations against Manila p-cbleniatic
In my opinion. with the aid OF the feet
the city might already have keen Alneri-
can. Nothing but the complications with
the natives preveuts1 an advance. Now
the violent rains nave set in, making, camp
and field operations arduous and threatea-
ing the health of the men. which until
now has been excellent.
Agutnaldo Objected.
"Aguinaldo's forces encircle the city.
making daily and nightly attacks.
The Spaniards still hold the whole of the
suburbs Occasional sorties are made, In
which the loss of life is slight. Two miles
behind Aguinaldo's lines. south of Manila,
5000 American troops are encamped. The
remainder are at Cavite Aguinaldo rs un-
derstood to have objected to the advance Of
the Americans to ground captured by the
insurgents. forgetting that his landing was
effected by the grace of the Americans
Il am convinced that the Philippines will
never capture Manila unaided, and that IL
the Americans withdraw the fate of the