The Portland daily press., 1898-07-19
FROM MANILA.
The News a German Steamer
Brought.

Hong Kong, July 16.-The German
cruiser Cormoran from Manila on july
Is, has arrived here. She reports that
all was quiet at the capital of the Philip
pine islands when she left Manila.
An important interview hadljust been
held between General Aguinaldos secre-
tary, Legarda, and prominent LOYAL
native white man and the Spanish COM
mander, Captain General Augustin. The
insurgents representatives urged General
Augustin to surrender the city, asserting
that 81, 600 insurgents surrounded Manila
and were able to enter it at any moment.
Thus far, they added, the insurgents have
been restrained with difficulty, but if the
Spaniards continued stubborn the result
would be that the insurgents would be
compelled to lombard and storm the city
with inevitable slaughter, unparalleled
in history. because in the excitement
of battle they cannot discriminate. " Con-
tinuing, the generals visitor advised him
TO disregard the official fictions regarding
alleged Spanish victories in Cuba and re-
Inducements coming to the Philippine
islands and proposed q reconciliation be-
tween the Spaniards and the Philippines,
under republican flag, and joint en-
deavor to persuade the Americans to
abandon hostilities in the Philippines
Finally, the representative of the insur-
gents proposed an appeal to the powers to
recognize the independence of the Philip
pine islands.
The Captain General replied that he
must fight, however hopeless the Spanish
cause.
Legarda then returned to Cavite, taking
with him the native who is paroied
prisoner. The natives inside the city SAY
they received fortnight ago, d concerted
signal to prepare for storming the walls.
A second signal, fixing the date of the
assault has not been issued and they are
tired Of waiting and are losing faith in
Aguinaldo. The latter, it is alleged, finds
it extremely difficult to capture the town
Notifications. His previous success, it is
pointed out was easy because of the
nature of the ground which suited his
skirmishers. 1t is futher alleged that the
principal points captured by the insur-
gents were obtained possession of through
treachery.
The insurgents are now bringing artil-
lery around by sea from Malabon, which
is tedious and troublesome work. They
are also obtaining detailed reports of the
condition of affairs from the inside of
the city.
Admiral Dewey is establishing more
strict blockade, lest it be invalidated by
permitting neutrals to visit Cavite and
Malabop and send and receive mails en-
closing surreptitiously Spanish dispatches.
He has threatened to station warships
opposite the city, which might precipitate
hostilities, as the Spanish officers declare
they will certainly fire on any American
within range, regardless of the conse-
quences.
The second installment Of American
troops is expected at Manila daily and
the last detachments are booked to arrive
early in August. Probably military opera
tions will be deferred until the September
dry season when it is cooler and possibly
then bloodshed may be unnecessary.
A Spanish steamer, the Filipinas, had
just been brought in to Manila in the
hands of the insurgents. 1t appears that
she was on the northern coast and escap-
ing to China with native crew on board
when the latter revolted. killing the
Spanish officers and brought the vessel to
Cavite.
The Spaniaris are daily employing con-
victs to fell trees and burn huts on the
outskirts of the town, and fusilades COM
tinue but otherwise the position is I'M
changed. The stock of flour is practically
exhausted but the supplies of rice and
buffalo meat will last for months longer.
THE GERMAN INTERFERENCE AT
MANILA.
London, July 19.-The Hong Kong cor
respondent of the Daily Mail says:
~. S. Consul Wildman informed me
that as the German cruiser Irene was
passing Mariveles, off Manila, the other
day, the United States gunboat Hugh
McCulloch was sent after her to ask her
to stop. AS the irene refused to obey q
she'll was sent across her bow and q
small boat went to discover what she
was doing: The German admiral pro-
tested and insisted that German ships
had a right TO enter the harbor without
being searched, claim which Admiral
Dewey declined to recognize. 1t is re-
ported that Admiral Won Diedrichs. who
is in command of the German squadron
at Manila, interviewed Capt. Chichester
Of the British cruiser Inmortale, as tn
what he would do if the Germans inter
fered with the bombardment of Manila
Capt. Chichester replied that only Adj
miral Dewey knew himself.