, 1898-10-01
THEWORK At manila
REPORT OF GENERAL MERRITT RE
GARDING HIS OPERATIONS
THERE.
Found Troops In a Bad Camp and
Aguinaldo With a Large, Well
Armed Army-Story Of the Spanish
Night Attack and the Capture of
Manila,

Manila.
Washington, Sept. 3O.-The report Of
Major General Wesley Merritt on the
operations about Manila was made pub
lie at the wal department today. 1t Is
dated on board the transport China.
August 81. After giving briefly the
story Of his embarkation and arrival at
Manila, and the disposition of the
troops there, he says:
81 found General Greene's command
encamped on a strip Of sandy land run
ming parallel to the shore Of h bay
and not far distant from the beach. but
owing to the great difficulty Of landing
supplies the greater portion of the force
had shelter tents only, and were suf-
fering many discomforts, the camp be-
ing situated in a low, fiat place, with
out shelter from the heat Of the tropi-
cal sun or adequate protection during
the terrific downpours of rain 50 fire.
quent during this season. was at
once struck by the exemplary spirit Of
patient. even cheerful endurance shown
Inv the officers and men under s,ch cir
~cumstances, and this feeling Of admira-
linn for the manner in which the Amer
can soldier. volunteer and regular
alike accent the necessarv h%ardships
CT the work they have undertaken to
do has grown and increased with e
phase of the dimcult and trying cam
paign which the troops OF the Philip
pine expedition have brought to such
a brilliant and successful conclusion.
The Firppinos. Of i~nsursent forces
at war with Spain. had. prtor to the ar
rival of the American land forces, been
waging a dssolutory wareAre with the
Spaniards for several nlpuths, and were
at the tine a my arrival In conaider-
able force, yariousay estimated and
never accurrAs1y aecertained, but prob
ably not ar from Ia, 900 men. These
|troops. well supplied with small arms,
with plenty Of ammunition and several
field guns, had obtained positions OF
investment opposite to the 0panAGh line
Of detached works througout their en-
tire extent"
General Merritt then speaks Of Agu-
inaldo's Accomplishments previous to
his arrival. and continues:
General Apuinaldo did not visit me
on my arrival nor offer his services az
subordinate military leader. and az NV
instructions from the president fully
contemplated the o~ccupatton of the isl-
ands by the American land forces. and
stated that the power of the military
~occupation ia absolute and supreme.
and immediate operate upon the No.
litical condition of the inhabitants,' I
did not consider n viae tn hold anv d.
rect communication with the insurgent
leader until 1 shout be in possession
of the city Of Manila, especially as l
would not until then be in. a position
to issue a proclamation and enforce my
authority in the event that his preten-
sions should clash with my designs.
For these reasns the preparations
for the attack on the city were pressed
and military operations conducted
without reference to the situation OF
the insurgent forces. The wisdom Of
the course was subsequently fully es-
tablished by the fact that when the
troops of my command carried the
Spanish entertainments, extending from
the sea to Pasay road on the extreme
Spanish right, we were under no obi
cations by prearranged plane Of mutual
attacks, to turn to the right and clear
the front still held against the insur-
gents, but were able to move forward
at once and occupy the city and
suburbs.
r. return to the situation Of Gener-
al Greene,s brigade a. I found n on nv
arrival. It would seem that the dim
cu,tv IN gaining an avenue Of approach
to tbe snanis line Law in the fact Of
NV dis,nc,ination to ask Genera, Axu-
|inaldo tn withdraw from the beach
Gale real. 40 that Green could move
forward. This wat overcome by in
- C.. -a,