Evening star., 1898-08-18
| SHAM FIGHT PLANNED
Augusti Had Suggested How Manila
Could Be Taken.
NO LIVES TO HAVE BEEN LOST
At the Last Moment a Genuine
Battle Was Determined Upon.
T HE JOIN It ATT AC K
T H F JOIN T A It A G K

The Manila correspondent of the London
Times telegraphs, under date of August 13,
5 pm, the following, published in London
this morning:
'The capture of the town today was not
without certain melodramatic elements.
Notwithstanding the fact that the Spanish
made serious resistance against the ad-
vance of the right wing of the American
force, it could not have been difficult to
foresee that a surrender would follow
display by the land forces to satisfy Span
ish honor, nor has it been a well-kept Sc
cret that the captain general practically
suggested the manner in which the Ameri-
can troops should advance to prevent loss
of life on both sides. AT first it was not
intended to attack the trenches, but quietly
to advance after the bombardment had
ceased.
AT the last moment, however, the pro-
gram was changed, and orders were issued
tor the land battery to open fire Simultane
ouSly with the fleet and for advance to
be made as soon as it was considered prac-
ticable to assault the Spanish trenches.
The reason for this change of plan is not
yet apparent, but considerable loss of life
resulted.
General Anderson placed his division ac-
cording directions from General Merritt.
There We're eight battalons of the 1st Bri-
gade, under General Macarthur, in the fight
ing line on the right, with three battalions
in reserve, while seven battalons of the I'd
Brigade, under General Green, We're in the
trenches across the Gale road 20 the sea-
shore, three others forming a reserve. The
troops left the camp at $50 o'clock in a
heavy thunder storm. They carried 800
rounds of ammunition per man, and TWO
days cooked rations.
Olympia Led the War.
Shortly after S:45 o'clock the fleet got un-
der way, with flags at masthead. At 8
o'clock the Olympia led the way, attended
by the Raleigh and the Petrol, while the
Callao, under Lieutenant Tappan, and the
launch Rarcolo crept close inshore in the
heavy breakers.
Perfect quiet prevailed in the lines on
both sides as The great ships cleared for
action, silently advanced, sometimes hidden
by rain squalls. The Monterey, with the
Baltimore, Charleston and Boston, formed
the reserve.
AT $3.50 sudden cloud OF smoke green
and white against the stormy sky, COM
pieteiy hid the olympia; shell screamed
across TWO niles OF turbulent water and
burst near the Spanish fort at Malate San
Antonio de Abad- Then the Petrol and
Raleigh and the active little Callao opened
a rapid fire directed toward the shore end
OF the lntrencnmentS. In the heavy rain
II Was difficult to judge the range, and the
snots at first fell short, but the fire soon
became accurate, and the shells rendered
tlit 1OIl W nlIe lDe TOUR guns
the Otan battery made excellent practice
on the earthworks and swamp to the east
of the fort. Tne Spaniards replied feebly
with few shells.
Less than half an hour after the bonn
bardIa-nt began Gen. Greene decided that
II was possible to advance, although the
sisnais TO cease firing were Gisregarded hy
the feet, being probably invisible Oh ac-
count OF the rain Thereupon six companies
Of the Colorado regiment leaped over their
breastw orks, dashed into the swamp and
opened volley nring from the partial shell
ter of low hedges within 3uV yards of the
Spanish lines. A few moments later the
remaining six companies moved along the
seashore, somewhat covered by a sand
ridge, formed by an inlet unde. the out
works OF the fort, and at IL o'clock &C.
cup1ed this formidable stronghold without
less. Mccoy hauled down the Spanish flag
and raised the stars and stripes amid wild
cheers along the line.
The Troops Advance.
Meanwhile the fleet, observing The move
rnent OF the troops along the beach, with
held its fire. The bombaIdm ent had lasted
e> actiy hour and half. An hour later
Gsn. Greene and his staff proceeded along
the beach, still under u hot infantry fire
from the right, where the 18TH Regulars
and the Sd Regular Artillery were engaging
the enemy, and directed thu movements tor
an advance into Maiate. The vicinity of
numbers of sharpshooters in the buildings
on both sides 80 yards distant. The for
ward movement was, therefore, fastened,
and in few minutes the outskirts of the
suburb were we'll occupied, and the sharp
shooters were driven away.
LAS the Californians under Col. Smith
cama up the beach their band played the
rational air, accompanied Dy The whistling
of Mauser bullets, and during the sharp
shooting continued TO encourage the Inen
with inspiring music. Each regiment car
red its colors into action. There was con-
siderable street tighting IN the suburbs Of
Malate and Ermita, but the battalion OF
Californians pushed into the Luneta, a
popular promenade, within 20 yards Of the
meat of the citadel. Then the white flag
Was hoisted at the southwest corner of the
vailed town. Gen. Green. with few
members of his staff, galloped along the
Luneta under a sharp scattering fire from
the houses near the beach, and parleyed
with an officer, who directed him along to
the gate, further east.
'tAt this moment the Spanish forces, re.
treating from Santa Ana, came into view,
fully 2,0OO strong, followed by insurgents
who had eluded Gen. McAsthurs troops,
and now opened fire for d brief period. The
situation was awkward, if not critical, both
sides being slightly suspicious Of treachery.
The Spanish troops lining the cttadc! ram
parts, observing the Insurgents action,
oIened fire. on the Caifornlans, killing one
and wounding three. The confusion, how
ever soon ceased by the advance Of the re-
treating Spaniards to the cspianade, when
Cen Greene ordered them TO enter the cita-
del.
The White Flag shown.
soon a letter was brought from the cap
tain general requesting the commander OF
the troops to meet him for consultation.
= General Greene Immediately entered
with Adjutant General Bates Meanwhile,
according TO arrangement, the rnor;ent the
white flag was shown, General Merritt,
who occupied the steamer Zafiro as tempo
rary corps headquarters, sent General
Whittier, with Flag Lieutenant Brumby,
ashore to meet the captain general and dis
cuss first a plan of capitulatior. General
Whittier found the officials much startled
by the news that the attack WAS still Wig
orous!y continuing along the whole Inc
the American troops even threatening the
citadel.
"All available Spanish troops were i'm
meIiately massed in the vicinity of the
palace awaiting the succession oi everts,
concel ming which a certain degree of anX-
iety was evident.
| General Merritt entered with his staff
a. 3 clock. The situation WAS tlIcI better
understood, and = &C nference with Gene. Il
saIdenes was held. The terms agreed vi
I flIr.