The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-08-25

Washington. Aug. 20.-The war de-
partment made public yesterday the
dispatch of Gel. Merritt. giving the Of
hcial story Of Manila's fall and also the
text OF the 81 ynticant instructions sent
Gen. Merritt respecting the insurgents
and all others 20 recognize the authori-
ty OF the United States in the territory
occupied by our forces. These dis
patches were about the only positive
development Of the day. Nothing has
been heard from Gen. Merritt as to the
casualties last Saturday, except that he
estimated the killed and wounded at
fifty. Another point on which the Of
ficials are without definite information
is as to the extent of our present au-
thOrity in the Philippines. Under the
peace protocol the United States was
given the occupation Of Manila. with
the bay and harbor. until permanent
disposition of the Philippine question
was reached. But. according to the
press dispatches. which are so circum-
stantial as TO be credited in most Of
fetal circles. Gen. Merritt and Admiral
Dewey received the capitulation Of the
entire Philippine archipelago. There
Seems to BE Some Doubt
therefore, even among officials as to
whether our present jurisdiction COW
ers Manila only as provided by the
peace protocol or covers all the Philip
pines, as provided by the reported
terms of capitulatiOn to Merritt and
Dewey. There is q disposition to
await fuller official information be-
fore laying down policy as to the eX-
tent of our jurisdiction i'm the islands.
Secretary Alger said that he had heard
nothing official as to the surrender Of
the entire Philippine group. At the
same time he did not discredit the au-
thenticity of the press dispatches, stat
Ing that the capitulatioD had this far
reaching effect. Pending more definite
information the attitude of officials is
ID assume that our authority covers
Manila city. Manila bay and harbor,
and. also. such other territory as may
be occupied by the military and naval
forces. The latter phrase is elastic
enough to cover any or all the Philip
pine islands that may nave been
bound to our authority by
The Recent Surrender
The instructions sent to Gen. Merritt
have in view the expansion of our
possessions beyond the terms men
toned in The protocol. as they distinct
ly state that this government is in
possession of Manila and that its au-
thority to preserve peace and order
will be exercised within the territor-
ity occupied by their military and
naval forces" The cabinet meeting
to-day is expected to deal with the
many details of the question concern
ing the Philippines, Cuba and Porto
Rico which have arisen since the
peace protocol was signed.
The state department received anoth-
err international cOngratulation on the
restoration of peace. this one coming
from the British ambassador. Sir Jul
ian Pauncefote. who is now sojourn-
lug at New London, Conn, The am
bassador communicated the expression
of profound qualification with which
her majecty's government learned or
the signature of the preliminaries OF
peace between the United States and
Spain. and the sincere Congratulations
to the president and government OF the
United States upon the termination or
the war.