Evening star., 1898-08-16

j., TUESDAY,, AUGUST
to much conjecture In some quarters it
was felt that the course of the German
naval officials in giving Captain General
August safe conduct from Manila might
be open to some criticism. This view. how
| ever. found no expression in official quar-
ters, and at the State Department it was
said that the meager and indefinite infor-
| n alton on the subject permitted no intel
ligont consideration of the question of the
prCpriety of this act. There apears to be
nc disposition, however, in official circles to
que ston the course of the German authori-
ties, particularly in view of the fact that
the surrender is more or less a formality
since Spain had on the day previous for
rlally agreed to the occupation of Manila
with its bay and harbor, by the United
States. Admiral Dewey and Gen. Merritt
would have received word by today or to-
morrow that hostilities have ceased and
that Manila was temporarily to be occu-
pied by the United States. In that event
peaceful occupation of the city would
have occurred the latter part Of this week
But the bombardment and surrender have
accomplished the same results in Il more
speedy manner
1t remains to be seen, however, whether
the bombardment, occurring after the for
NAL proclamation of peace creates compli-
cations. The authorities here do not be-
lieve that complications will arise, as it was
evident the American commanders acted
without knowledge of what the two govern
ments had agreed upon. 1t is felt to be
quite possible, however, that some compli-
wrought by the bombardment, by the en-
forced departure of August, and by the
contention probably aroused between the
Spanish forces, the Fillipinos and the
Americans on forcbie occupation of the
city. The political status of affairs is said
to be unchanged there being no difference
in the result between a forcible and peace
able occupation of Manila.
Consul WfIdman'a Report,
The cable message from Consul Wildman
referred to above was received at the
State Department late last night 1t is as
follows:
Hong Kong, August Is.
August says Dewey hombarded Manila
Saturday. City surrendered uncondition-
ally. August was taken by Germans in
launch to kaiserin Augusta and brought to
Hang Kong. l credit report
"WILDMAN"
The Information contained in this brief
message aroused intense interest but
created no surprise among the officials
For two or three days news of the fall of
Mantle. has been expected. The last dis
patches received from Admiral Dewey and
General Merritt indicated that it was their
purpose to force a surrender of the city as
soon as possible.
1t is believed that they Joined in a note
to General Augusti, demanding the sur
render of Manila, threatening combined
sea and land attack upon the city unless
the demand was acceded to-
AS soon as the protocol was signed last
Friday afternoon dispatches were sent to
both Admiral Dewey and General Merritt
via Hong Kong. Saturday the British
steamer Australian left Hong Kong for
Manila bearing the dispatches from the
government. 1t was expected that they
would hardly reach Manila before decisive
measures against the city had been taken
by the American commanders. but every
effort possible was made to insure their
speedy delivery.
If the report of General August be true
and it's accuracy is not questioned here
the probabilities are that official dispatches
will be received by the government in u
day or two, at latest. t-
The flight of General August from
Manila created some amused comment As
one official expressed 1t: Had he main
tanned his position, hard as it was, until
the arrival of the news of peace, he would
nave been hero; but he fed and he will
now be branded as a coward
No More Troops for Merritt.
No more troops will be sent to General
Merritt, unless he asks for them. 1t is be-
lieved at the War Department that the &c.
600 men now there are sufficient to garrison
Manila, and the ground which the United
States for the present will occupy.
The Omcious German Commander.
The statement that the German warship
kaiserin Augusta brought Augusti, the
Spanish captain general Of Manila to Hong
Kong, having aided in his escape from Ma
Mia, has excited considerable comment.
Ihls ofticious display of friendliness toward
the Spanish is regarded by some another
ird!catlon, in keeping with the Subig bay
incident, of the disposition of the German
commander in those waters to interfere In
behalf of the Spanish whenever the least
opportunity is offered.
Ihe circumstances attending this extend
ing or aid to the Spanish general are not
known here, and it is possible that the mat
ter Will not be in any way called to the
attention Of the German government but
the interference, as in the Subig bay Incl
cent, is locked upon as accumulative evil
dence of an Cnfriendly disposition to be
oihcious on tee part of the German COM
mander 1t is said by officers who are au-
Ihority on such matters that the incident
might not be regarded as anything more
grave than display of bad taste on the
part OF the Germans, but the fact could
NOT be tost sight of that by such acts an
States and a meddlesome disrcsition were
being displayed
lMMUNES MAIZE TROtJRI