The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-09-24
ANER|CANRULE IN MANILA
JOHN o. KNIGHT DESCRIBES IT'S
WORKINGS.
Correspondent of the Examiner, He
is Returning on the Valencia, After
Two Months in Manila.

John o. Knight, who accompanied
the first expedition to Manila on the
City of Sydney, as the representative
of the Examiner, arrived this morn
ing on the Valencia on his way home.
He was in Manila during all the eN-
citing times there, saw the bonn
bardment of the city and the assault
by the army. He'is brimful of inter-
esting information about operations
there. On the subject of the civil
government now in effect there he
says:
When l left Manila everything was
perfectly quiet and there seemed lit
tie likelihood of further trouble un-
less the insurgent leader, Aguinaldo,
should be silly enough to provoke it.
That he might do so was hardly con-
sidered probable. but not by any
means impossible. The temporary au-
thority enjoyed by this Indian in
commanding ragged lot of half
civilized natives does not sit well on
him. He is inclined to toy with it
like a child with a new plaything and
may have to be brought up with a
round turn.
The Americans now have the civil
government of Manila well in hand.
A provost marshals office has been
established in the walled city under
the direction of Brigadier General Nc
Arthur, and Colonel Jewett has op-
ened the judge advocates Office in the
executive building, where General
Merritt made his temporary head
quarters before leaving for Paris. 1t
may be said to the credit of the Span
iards and other residents of Manila
that both of these officers have not
found a great deal of work to do.
For the present the civil laws which
obtained in the islands under Span
ish rule will remain in force. The
first week the regular police force.
composed of native Filipinos. was re-
tanned to keep order, but they were
relieved as soon as possible; and now
all the police work is performed by
the soldiers, who patrol their beats
with their rifles slung over their
shoulders
The work of the custom house has
been resumed under the direction of
Colonel Charles A. Whittier. The old
duties will remain in effect until the
question as to the disposition of the
islands shall be settled. The Spanish
officers formerly employed in the
custom house We're given the privi-
lege of remaining under the American
management if they desired, but they
all refused to enter the service of
Uncle Sam. They were allowed to 90
and their places We're filled by civil
lians and clerks from the army. There
were a large number of natives en-
ployed in the office and these all ac-
cepted the offer to remain in the SER
vice.
Captain Glass of the cruiser Char
lesion, was appointed by General
Merritt as captain of the port of Ma
Mia, and has been ably filling that po-
sition. The postotfice has also been
Americanized and is now run as a
United States Office under the direc-
ton of Postmaster Vail. A two-cent
stamp will now carry a letter from
Manila to any part of Uncle Sans
domain.
When General Merritt left for Paris
Major General Elwell S. Otis was left
chief in command at Manila. He es-
tablished his headquarters in the Pa
i'NiO VI CNSSutiNC pullNllllSs NdCdlCu ny
General Merritt.
Comfortable barracks were found
for the large number of troops now
stationed there and the soldiers on
the whole are well off. The health
of the soldiers thus far has been very
good, comparatively few fatalities
having resulted from sickness. Now
that the hot season is coming on con-
siderable apprehension is felt, how
ever lest Manila may not prove to be
healthy place. During the two
weeks before I left there several cases
of malaria developed and others are
likely to follow.