The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-01

/ surrounding the camp
| Heavy firing is going on constantly
| around the city, but with triffing dam
/ age, the insurgents trying to wear out
/ the Spanish regulars in the trenches.
| The. volunteers refuse to leave the
/ walls.
The work of the rebel artillery is
| keeping the Spaniards especially busy.
| Hitherto their craftsmanship has not
| at the MalpajO blockhouse, north of
| Manila, was so good that the Span
iards concluded that the gunners must
be Americans.
American Not Engaged.
In this they were wrong The Amerf-
cans have done nothing yet, except in
the way of preparation for the fighting
that is to come The Spaniards held
Malpajo until the rebel charge killed
half of the garrison.
The British consul has asked General
Anderson to declare neutral the Eng
lish club and two banks in Manila. The
request was denied.
1t has been reported in Hong Kong
and Shanghai that there was much
sickness and many cases of dysentery
among United States troops at Manila.
General Anderson emphatically denies
these reports. There was considerable
sickness at first owing to the indiscre-
ton of the men, who ate vast quantities
of the delicious fruits which grow so
abundantly here, and to their careless
ness in the matter of drinking water.
There is no dySentery now and the sick
reports of all commands are very small.
The health of the entire division is most
satisfactory, particularly of the en-
camped forces.
There has been much rain of late but
the men experienced little incOnVen-
fence on that score. The camp is on
sandy soil. The rain quickly disappears
and the ground becomes fairly dry soon
afterward. The men have made bam-
boo cots to fit under the tents and keep
them off the ground The camp life is
h inc re 10 ma T4rhn
are obtaining valuable experience from
outpost work in the enemy's country.
False Alarm ArOuses Troops.
A few nights ago the California and
Colorado regiments were turned out in
hot haste on the report that the Span
iards were driving in the pickets. Hur-
riedly but with perfect order they form
ed in battle line to protect the camp.
1t proved to be a false alarm.
A report from Hong Kong that Presi-
dent, Mckinley is opposed to holding
the Philippines fell like a wet blanket
on the men here. There is a strong
feeling among the soldiers in favor of
the retention of the conquered territory.
The transports brought news of a wide
spread and increasing sentiment at
home in favor of retention. This news
was gladly received by the troops
The cruiser Newport, with General
Merritt on board, came alone and at
full speed from Honolulu, where she
left the other United States ships. The
transport INDIANA Is DIT E1OlOIQlu repair
ing her machinery. The vessels with
her the Morgan City, City of Para,
Ohio, and the Valencia, with about 1000
soldiers on board, were ordered to come
here together as soon as possible. They
are expected to arrive within four or
five days.
All hands on board the Newport are
well. She had a smooth voyage and
there was almost no seasickness.
General Merritt thinks that the mon1-
tor Monterey arrived today at Guam,
one Of the southernmost islands of the
LadrOne group, and more than thou-
sand miles due east of Manila.
After the Monitor left Honolulu the
collier Brutus, which accompanied her'
broke down and the Monterey toWed her /
hack to Honolulu for repairs. If the /
monitor is at Guam today she ought to |
arrive at Cavite in eight days, barring
accidents.
AguinaldO's Secretary Deserts.
It is reported that Artacho has been |
shot at Aguinaldo's order, but it IS |
impossible to verify this now. He has (!
been in prison here with other leaders /
who have fallen under Agulna1ao ; /
suspicion. He disappeared from the !
prison recently, and his whereabouts !
are concealed.
# was announced at Aguinaldo's
yesterday that Legardo'
his secretary, had deserted to the span
ish taking two companies OF insurgents
with him I4egardo has been in Mania
racay,+I1 irving to arouse a native up I
rising. and it is probable that the story /
Of his desertion has been concocted TO
tThe Manila newspapers are printing
some ridiculous stories. They say that
General Anderson is dead, and give the
authority of an alleged eyewitness
tTbev also report that many Americans
we're wounded, most of them in the
hack. Ell Espanol says: How these
Yankees do rum ~
have been released, as well as some of
the second expedition; The sydney
started home on July 81 the AustraIla
will follow soon.
There are no new developments in the
German situation here.
CAPTAIN Perry, of the ship Ellen Read,
which brought coal for the fleet, died
yesterday Of apoplexy. He lived an
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