The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-05-07
MANILA AND MANILA BAY.
Description of the Philippine Capt.
tal-Its Maritime Surroundings
and Defenses.

Manila is not an ocean seaport rs is gen
orally supposed. 1t lies nearly thirty
miles back. at the end of broad nearly
circular bay of the same name This bay
is on the west coast of the Isle Of Luzon.
which is the largest and most important of
many hundreds of islands in the Maylavan
archipelago,
Before the American feet could get at
the city of Manila it had to make its way
past two fortified islands at the entrance
to the bay and past the fortified naval
station Of Cavite. Cavite is built upon a
small peninsula in the bay, south along
the shore from the capital, seven miles
distant from Manila across the water. ff-
teen around the curve of the shore. CAV
ite lies somewhat on the inner side of the
peninsula upon which it is built, thus af-
fordin. safe harbor from the terrible mon
soons, which was more than could be said
Of Manila until breakwater was built off
shore in the bay few years ago
The two small islands at the entrance
to the bay would be the chief stumbling
blocks in the way of Admiral Dewey, it
was generally believed, for the Spaniards
have been fortifying them in haste in the
past few weeks. using both guns and tor
pedos from the fleet at Cavite. They are
small but rather PERCEPTIONS isletS, and
with long range guns would easily COM
mand the entrance to the bay. The larger
one, Norregidor. sometimes called Bcri-
wales is only two miles from the mainland
at the north end The other, Ceballos.
is few miles further out, and between
them they divide the channel into three
parts. 1t is said to be impracticablc to
plant mines in these channels for the rea-
son that the depth is great and the tides
heavy.
\ recent traveller writes as follows
NO description can paint the magnif-
cence Of the scene one discovers when. af-
ter having made the channel and left be-
hind the Isle of Corregidor, you sail ont
on a big blue sea, bordered almost in Il
circle by chain of forest covered noun
tains, while straight ahead of you lies the
capital Of the Philippines Nothing else
| have ever seen can compare with it, un-
less it be the harbor of Rio Janeiro
Manila itself is not an attractive city.
1t is rather low-lying, though mountains
rise Immediately behind it. The city is
divided by the river Pasig, which is four
teen miles long and the outlet for large
inland lake On the south bank is the
old walled town, commonly called the
Plaza de Manila, while on the north bank
is Binondo, the business part of Manila,
and San Miguel, its fashionable quarter.
These are intersected with canals, much
like Venice. Beyond are suburban vii
lages containing pretty villas of European
residents, including fine country house
for the governor general, who also has two
palaces in San Miguel and an old one in
the walled portion. The population of the
walled town is 10000 and of the newer
portion about 800, 900.
The public buildings of Manila are di-
vided between the two quarters. In Bi-
nondo is a famous cigar factory, covering
six acres and giving employment to TO-
900 women; garnero, Or large military
storehouse; the Escolta, or big Chinese
bazar and the hospital of ST. Lazarus
In the old town, whose citadel or fort is
called St. Iago, the governor palace, the
town hall and the cathedral are in large
square in the centre Of which is
statue Of Charles " of Spain, surround
ed by garden of flowers. The other
buildings near are the mint and museum,
civil and military hospitals, the University
of ST Thomas which has 500 students,
an academy of arts, an arsenal, Il prison
and numerous barracks, mOnasteries and
converts.
Beyond the walls is an esplanade, with
4 promenade facing the bay, where sev-
eral military bands play twice week to a
large concourse Of people. This forms
the chief out door attraction for the elite
says recent visitor to Manila. There
are two theatres, occasionally visited by
companies from Spain, but there is want
of the cafes and bullfghts so associated
with Spanish life. Evening receptions
are given by the Spaniards, where cards
and music serve to while away the time,
and the well-to-do Tagalo, or native, be-
sides initiating his masters in all their
amusements, has another to which he is
passionately addicted fighting This
is under government control and can only
be held in licensed pits, which yield
revenue of nearly $500, 900 annually
The foreign commerce of Manila is large,
the exports being about $50, 600, 900 an
nually. Chinese merchants largely con-
troll the trade, which is carried on in Brit
ish and German steamers Manila hemp,
sugar, cigars and coffee are the chief ar
ticles of export. Mother of pearl, gum
and sapan wood are also sent away in con-
siderable quantities. The United States