The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-29
IN BEsIEGED MANILA.
An Americans ImpressiOns-Guns of
the Citadel All Obsolete

the Citadel All Obsolete.
Correspondence Associated Press-Copyright.
MANILA, June 27, via Hong Kong.-Rear
Admiral Dewey, always courteous and cor
dlal TO press men, was good enough to as
sure this correspondent that he could go
just where he liked, when he liked and
how he liked. For the present, the Amer
ican commander said, accommodation might
be found on one of the American trans
ports at Cavite, or, if desired, the CORE
spondent could go ashore on whichever
size ne chose and take his chances with the
Spaniards or rebels. 1t was, however, one
thlng to say Go everywhere you wish and
quite different matter to say how Ad-
miral Dewey, with all his good will, had no
information at his disposal to indicate
which place was likely to be best for. getting
all the news and communicating to the
outside world.
The correspondent finally fixed on Manila
itself, not entirely deprived of mail facili-
ties, thanks to the courtesy of Admiral
Dewey and the foreign naval authorities.
Moreover. Manila was bound to be an ex-
citing place to live in. Even without a
bombardment, a besieged city must be a
center of excitement. Sooner or later the
food supply must run short. The Span
iards had declared that they would fight to
the last, and even an overwhelming force
cannot capture a stubbornly defended town
without severe struggle. Then, what
would the native population do? The native
ap would probably keep up an appear
ance OF fighting on the Spanish side SO long
as the spanish troops kept a lookout on
them, and in the end they would be mostly
found To- on the other side, actuated chiefly
Dy desire to save their skins OF the
noncomDatant natives with the Spaniards
now ~ IS impossible to predict. anything
may at the last moment take arms on eithey
side. but 1t seems just as likely that they
Will VIII MAINTAIN an attitude of calm indiffer-
as the Chinese did in many villages when
INVADED by the japanese in 1894
Mania consists OF an ancient walled cita-
udi, large struggling business town and
wide fringe of suburban townships, where
the business men have their private resi-
dences The 'intremumos'' quarter con-
talns not only off1ciaidom in all its glory
the government offices. the Governor Gen
erals palace, the treasury the army and
al 9tb neaoq t and more potent than
riVaI rellglouS orders, the cathedral and
the proyerbial few remaining bricks with
more imposing and more magnificent than
any other building in Manila
me citadel was built in the early DAYS of
spanish colonization, when there were fire.
quent alarms and assaults from ali sides
from the sea by the British and Dutch and
someumes by the pirate fleets of Moham-
whlle the natives of Luzon have never been
quiet for long at a time, and the present
IS by no means the first time the city has
Deen threatened from the surrounding hills.
me OLD walls, armed with guns as old
would do very we'll to keep out an enemy
IN those days but of all the scores of guns
l nave seen on the walls / doubt If there
Is even one which would have been even
oecently modern in Nelson's day. AS or
naments, relics or picturesque features of
the old city they are very appropriate, but
as serious hope of salvation against a
powerful modern fleet they are pitiabie and
RIDICULOUS There are. indeed some better
batteries along the sea front under the
Walls-tWo, think, of ten-inch caliber, and
about dozen smaller, all apparently mod
ern breechloaders. OF the other guns can
not say much. because the Spaniards are
of spies that 1t is unsafe to be seen looking