Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-31
MERRITT AT MANILA
Oommander-in Chief of American Forces
Reaches His Post.
TROOPS ARE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION
Everything in Readiness to Begin the
Attack on the City.
AUGUST ABOUT READY TO SURRENDER
He Will Oapitulate When He Can Do So
Honorably.
AMERICANS ANTICIPATE HEAVY FIGHTING
Monitor Monterey is Delayed by an
Accident to the Collier Brutus,
UGUSTl ABOUT READY TO SURRENDER
AMERICANS ANTICIPATE HEAVY FIGHTING
Monitor Monterey is Delayed by an
Accident to the Collier Brutus,
hut is Due to Arrive
Soon.

Copyright, 1898, by Press Publishing Coz
MANILA BAY, Philippines CBy way of
Hong Kong, British China, July 3Ol-(New
York World Cablegram-Special telegram
Major General Merritt, the communicating
chief of the United States land forces as
signed to the Philippine Islands, has ar
rived. The capture of Manila will not be
much longer delayed, it is believed. Admiral
Dewey's fleet has been ready TO attack the
city for the last ten weeks. 1t has only
been awaiting the pleasure of the troops.
Now everybody concerned is impatient to
have the unpleasant duty ended.
Governor General August is ready to sur
render to the Americans, according to trust
worthy information from Manila, as soon as
he can do so honorably. He will try to
hold out until August /, it is reported, and
then if the hoped for Spanish fleet is not
on the way here will offer to capitulate.
Notwithstanding that credible information
the American officers expect heavy hghting
when the time comes to take the city.
Five hundred men, including the Astor
battery, arrived yesterday with Merritt on
the transport Newport. They came directly
through from Honolulu and had a good Voy-
age without noteworthy incident. The other
transports of the third expedition are lag
cling behind because Of their slow speed.
They are expected to arrive here IN a lew
days.
General Merritt's headquarters will be on
board the Newport for the present. Later he
will transfer them to the commandants
house at Cavite, where he can keep in touch
with the fleet.
Brigadier General Green. who commanded
the second expedition, has established head
quarters in Camp Dewey, the name given
to the American camp near Paranaque.
Forty-eight hundred men are encamped
there now. The location is admirable, the
camp is we'll laid out, dry and healthy. A
cable Is being laid to connect Cavite Win
General Green's headquarters at camp
Dewey. The general health OF the soldiers
is excellent. There are some cases of ma
Iaria. but there have been no deaths from
it. Brigadier Generals Green and Ander-
son were near Malate Saturday, when a
Mauser bullet passed between them on a
level with their heads.
Brutus Breaks Down.
After the Monitor Monterey and Collier
Brutus left Honolulu the Brutus broke down
q short distance out and the Monterey towed
the Brutus back. The repairs required only
a short time and the vessels were due at
Guam today. They will reach here unless
some accident delays them in seven days.
Captain Perry of the collier Ellen Reed, a
Brooklyn man, died yesterday. All the hags
in the bay are at half mast today in his
memory. A close watch is maintained In the
bay. The cruisers Boston and Raleigh are
living off Camp Dewey for the protection of
our troops. The McCulloch is stationed
daily off Malabor, north of Manila. Sew
eral supposed spies have been detected. AL
fred Noll and Enrique Schaub, found inside
the American lines at Camp Dewey, had
passes from August permitting them to pass
} the Spanish lines. The men asserted that
they were out buying paper money, which Is
now greatly deprecated. They were held
two days, then were discharged. A German
named Lehman. who arrived at Cavite, also
had a pass from August. He said he was
there purely out of curiosity. He also was
discharged. The insurgents captured four
natives having General Augustus passes
rolled up like cigarettes in a cigarette case
They probably will be shot.
Eight Spaniards were captured in Leyte-
: four priests and four civilians. They were
sent to Manila. One Spanish soldier, cap
tured at Guam, has died.
German Incident Closed.
The German incident apparently is closed.
The German cruiser Cormoran returned from
Hong Kong Saturday, bringing the fleets
: mail. 1t was boarded as usual. Admiral
Diedrichs, the commander of the German
fleet in the Pacific, thanked Admiral Dewey
for boarding it this time and sent him a
lamp In return for two sheets which Dewey
: had sent him. This act was in striking con-
trast to his behavior a fortnight ago, when
= he protested against his ship being searched
every time it came into the bay and said
, he would confer with the commanding Off
GERS of his squadron about 1t.
Admiral Dewey, after learning of the
I Irene's interfering with an insurgent at
= tack on Subig Bay, had sent a messenger tc
the German admiral to inquire whether
their countries were at peace or at war
, If at peace the German ships must change
= their mode of conduct; if at war he dewey,
; wanted to govern himself accordingly. i
was then that the German admiral com
planned of search. Admiral Dewey sem
. back word that he was blockading Manila
. and would search any incoming ship when
ever he saw ft-once or a hundred times
The rebels continue to closely inyest
! Manila. They have old fashioned smooth
. bore cannon now at the most important
outworks,
: Load Cannon with stones.
!, An insurgent youth named Moriel was il
p charge a week ago Sunday of a gun com
q manding the bridge at San Lazaro. north
east OF Manila. Inc gun Nbs iodueu VIII
a bushel of small stones. The Spaniard'
> attacked the insurgents and the gun crew
was driven off, all but Moriel. As tbs
= Spaniards approached Moriel touched hi
: cigarette to the fuse of the cannon. An eX'
plosion followed, killing thirteen spaniards
and the gun burst, blowing off one O
Moriel's arms. He will recover.
A force of insurgents attacked the Mar
9 pajo blockhouse on the road leading to
ward Malabor. A rebel bullet struck a con
tact fuse on a shell. bursting the shell anC
blowing up five Spaniards. The insurgent
brought their guns to bear and began
hammering lasting three days, BY Wednes
day the blockhouse was we'll riddled b.
$ insurgent shells. Then forty insurgent
y made a bayonet charge, carrying 1t b!
= storm. Reports from Manila show that hal
c the occupants of the blockhouse were killed
: hut the number Is not stated.
A report was circulated in Manila tina