The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-02

Praise for the Soldiers Who Forced
the Surrender of Manila.

the Surrender of Manila.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-The reports of
General Thomas NJ Anderson, commanding
the Second Division of the Eighth Army
Corps, and General Macarthur, commanding
the First Brigade of that division, as to the
operations about Manila were made public
at the War Department. to-day. General
Anderson had command of the first expedi-
ton. The following extracts are taken from
his report:
"On the first day of July had an inter-
view with the insurgent chief, Aguinaldo,
and learned from him that the Spanish
forces had withdrawn, driven back by his
army, he claimed, to line of defense i'm
mediately around the city and its suburbs.
He estimated the Spanish forces at
about 1900 men, and his own at about the
same number. He did not seem pleased at
the incoming of our land forces hoping, as
l believe, that he could take the city with
his own army, with the cooperation of the
American fleet. Believing that however
successful the insurgents have been in
guerilla warfare against the Spaniards they
could not carry their lines by assault or
reduce the city by seige, and, suspecting
further that hearty and effective co-opera-
ton could not be expected, l had at once
a series of Reconnaissance made to exactly
locate the enemy's line of defense and to
ascertain their strength"
Genral Anderson thus describes the at
tack at Manila, which was under his i'm
mediate command, subject to orders from
General Merritt, whose headquarters were
on dispatch boat:
THE fleet opened fire at $3.50 o'clock a.
m. The first shots fell short; but the range
was found and then the fire became
evidently effectice. l at once telegraphed
General Macarthur to open on block house
No. IA and begin his attack. AT the same
time seven of the guns of the Utah bat
teries opened fire on the enemy's works in
front of the Second Brigade and two guns
on the right of this brigade opened an
oblique fire toward blockhouse No. IA.
Riding down the beach 1 saw two of our
lighter draught vessels approach and open
on the Polvory with rapid-fre guns, and
observed at the same time some men of
the Second Brigade start up the beach, l
ordered the First California, which was the
leading regiment of the reserve, to go for
ward and report to General Greene. Going
to the reserve telegraph received a tele-
gram from General Macarthur that his fire
on the blockhouse was effective, but that
he was eIllidu6u lIOIA the TlSHl. i knew
from this that he wished to push the in
surgents aside and put in the Aston Battery.
then authorized him to attack, which he
did, and soon after the Twenty-third Infan-
try and the Thirteenth Minnesota carried
the advance line of the enemy in the most
gallant manner, the one gun of the Utah
Battery and the Aston Battery lending most
effective assistance.
ft,o no Ia .
had charged and carried the right of the
enemy's line and the Eighteenth Regular
Infantry and the Third Heavy Irregular Ar
tillery. acting as infantry. had advanced
and passed over the enemy's works in their
front without opposition. The reserve was
ordered forward to follow the Second Bril-
gade and battery of Hotchkiss guns was
directed to follow the Eighteenth Infantry
Going to the telegraph station, on the
left of our line on the beach, l found the
operators starting forward in the rear of
the First California, and l moved forward
until the instrument was established in the
first house in Malate. The first ticking
of the sounder informed me that General
Macarthur was heavily engaged at a sec
ond line of defense near Singalon. 1t was
evident that the best way to assist him was
to press our success on the left. / there
fore directed General Greene to connect if
possible, with General Macarthur by send
ing regiment TO the right. But the enc
my seemed determined for time to give
California regiments were the only ones
available.
AT this juncture the Eighteenth Infantry
ard the HotchkiSs Battery appeared to be
stopped by broken pier of a bridge but
the engineer company brought forward a
portable bridge, and in a few minutes these
organizations pressed forward through the
Malate-Ermita redoubts. Soon the Ne
braska and Wyoming regiments came on
shouting, for the white flag could now be
seen on the sea front, yet the firing did not
cease and the Spanish soldiers at the front
did not seem to be notified CT the surrender.
In the meantime the reserve had been or
dered forward, except one regiment which
was ordered to remain in the Second Bri-
gade trenches. The seven Utah guns were
also ordered to the front one infantry
battalion being directed to assist the men
of the batteries in hauling the guns by
hand.
The field telegraph wires. extending in
time gave discouraging reports. The front
was contracted, the enemy entrenched and
the timber thick on both sides Of the road.
Only two regiments could be put on the
firing line. The Fourteenth Infantry was
brought forward, but could not fire a shot.
Under these circumstances / telegraphed
Macarthur to countermarch and come to
Malate by way of Greenes entertainments
and the beach. This was at lbs D. m. but
soon after / learned that Macarthur was
too far committed to retire. The guns OF
front only after the utmost exertions, and
were about being put into action. AT the
same time received telegram stating
that the insurgents were threatening to
Cross the bamboo bridge on our rights and
to prevent this and guard our ammunition