The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-18
SPANISH LOSS WAS HEAv 1 :,
But the Exact Numbers Are Not
Yet Obtainable.
FIERCE FIGHT IN THE TRENCHES.
Insurgents Were Not Allowed TO Take Part
In the Attack Upon the City, But Were
Kept In the Rear of the Americans, and
Were Forbidden to Enter the City After
the Surrender Unless They Were Un-
armed.

Hong Kong, Aug. 1s.-The American
collier Zaflro, from Manila. which ar
rived here Tuesday. is anchored in Junk
bay. She left Manila on the 14th. A
ayphoon is raging. and it is impossible
TO land the mails with further details
of the battle at Manila.
, 1t is learned, however. from an Amer
lean naval officer that when Admiral
Dewey. on Aug. 6. demanded the sur
render Of Manila within 4S hours the
Spanish commander replied that, the
Insurgents being outside the walls, he
had no safe place for the women and
children who were in the city. and
asked for "a hours delay. This Ad-
miral Dewey granted. At the expira-
Zion Of the specified time Admiral
Dewey and General Merritt consulted
and decided to postpone the attack.
On Aug. 13 the American squadron
formed in line off Manila. The Olym-
pia fired the first shot. and some time
was occupied in finding the range.
Then the Callao, one of the gunboa,s
captured by Admiral Dewey from the
Spaniards, got under the fort and sent
IA u IOt Hiedt ueSlIuCtIOh W tlS
done with the rapid fire guns. The fort
failed to reply but fired on the Amer
1can troops that were storming the
Spanish trenches. 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 uselessncss of resistance, they sur
rendered, and soon afterward Il white
dag was hOisted over Manila.
The Belgian consul at Manila. NJ.
Andre, boarded the Olympia and re-
turned with an American lieutenant to
the Spanish military governor, who
agreed to surrender. General Merritt
proceeded to the palace at $3.50 and
there found the Spaniards formed in
Tine. 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 40 wounded.
The Spanish loss was considerable. but
LIE exact NUMBERS are moi ODlu.ndDlh.
The trenches were filled with badly
wounded Spaniards. Manila is now
under martial law, with General Mer-
ritt as military governor.
The California Red Cross society rem
dered valuable aid to the sick and
wounded. Perfect order prevailed in
Manila on the evening of Aug. 13. AS
the Americans marched in guards were
placed around the houses of all foreign
ers. in order to prevent their being
looted.
The insurgents were not allowed to
Rake 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.
| II is supposed that Admiral Dewey
was unaware Of the departure of
Governor General August. The "a
fro's officers first heard the news Of
the governor generals flight on their
arrival here. General Augustus escape
lB considered to have been prcarranEed,
as he brought with him his family and
suite.