The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-18
EMi AGUlNALUU.
The Government Cables Dewey
and Merritt
That United States Authority
Must Be Supreme.
TO TREAT ALL ALIKE.
No Exceptions Made I'm Favor
of Insurgents.
There Is to Be No Sort of Part
nership.
70 TREAT ALL ALIKE.

Washington, Aug. 1s.-The two Amer
lean commanders at Manila, Admiral
Dewey and Major General Merritt,
united in a joint dispatch, which was
received here late yesterday, asking for
instructions as to the manner of deal
ing with the various elements, partic-
ularly the insurgents now that the city
is occupied by the American forces. At
ter a conference at the White House in
which Secretary AIger and Acting Sec
rotary Allen participated. instructions
were sent to the two commanders. The
text of the request for Instructions, and
of the answer was not made public, but
Secretary Alger summed up the instruc-
ton as follows: 1.-THE instructions
are to enforce law and order and to
treat all law abiding citizens alike"
Inc instructions are practically the
same as those sent to General LawtOn.
The latter order specifically stated that
the insurgents must recognize the mil
itary occupation and authority of the
United States and the cessation of hos
tiHties proclaimed by this government
Doubtless the same rule is being ap-
Piled to the insurgents under Aguinal-
do, although it was not officially stated
that such orders were made.
It is said the Joint dispatch from
Dewey and Merritt did not in terms re-
fer to Aguinaldo nor did the instruc-
lions mention the insurgent leader by
name. 1t is well understood, however
that the desire of the American com
manders was to have instructions on
the manner Of dealing with the large
and menacing force of insurgents IN
der AguinaldO who have surrounded
Manila for many weeks, and who it is
thought, may have demanded the right
to occupy the city with the American
forces, as the Cuban insurgents did at
Santiago. 1t had been thought at some
quarters here that the showing hereto
fore made by the insurgents would lead
to their receiving a certain amount Of
recognition, in the way of joint action
between the United States forces and
those of the insurgents when the city
was occupied; but the instructions sent
them are based on occupation by the
United States alone, and as a high ad-
ministratiOn official summed up the sit
uatOn, there shall be no joint action
except between Merritt and Dewey.
They will maintain law and order and
will treat insurgents and Spaniards
alike, requiring all to observe peace and
order"
1t was noted that neither the first
dispatch of Admiral Dewey nor the
joint dispatch of both made any refer
ence whatever to the part which the
German cruiser Kaiserin Augusta took
in removing Capt. Gen. August to
Hong Kong. The officials believe that
the American commanders do not at
tach any significance to the course of
the German naval officer. A high Of
fetal of the navy department said that
at most the course of the German ma
val commander as one of bad taste.
There is no disposition in any official
quarter at present to carry the incident
to the point of considering it a breach
of neutrality, as has been suggested in
some British papers.