The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-18

Washington. Aug. is.-The two Amerd.
can commanders at Manila, Admiral
Dewey and General Merritt, united in a
Joint dispatch. asking for instructions
as to the manner Of dealing with the
various elements, particularly the In
surgents. now that the city is occupied
by he Americans. After a conference
at the White House instructions were
sent which Secretary Alger summed up
substantially as follows:
TO enforce law and order. and to treat
all law abiding citizens alike. The in
structions are practically the same as
those sent to General Lawton. The lat
ter order specifically stated that the tn-
surgents must recognize the military
occupation and authority of the United
States. and the cessation OF hostilities
proclaimed by this government Doubt
less the same rule is being applied to the
insurgents under Aguinaldo. although 1t
was not officially stated that specific
orders were sent
1t Is said the joint dispatch from
Dewvy and Merritt did not in terms refer
20 ASuinaldo. nor did the instructions
mention the insurgent leader by name.
1t Is well understood, however that the
desire Of the American commanders was
to have instructions on the manner OF
dealing with the large and menacing
forces of insurgents. who have sur
rounded Manila for many weeks, and
who 1t Is thought may demand or have
demanded the right to occupy the city
with the American forces. II had been
thought In some quarters that the show
Ing heretofore made by the insurgents
would lead to their receiving a certain
amount OF recognition in the way of
joint action when the city was occupied.
but the Instructions ssnt are based on
occupation by the United States alone.
An administration official summed up
the situation in these words: There
shall be no Joint action except between
Merritt and Dewey. They will main
tain law and order. and will treat in
surgents and Spaniards alike, requir-
Ing all to observe peace and order"
Aside from this joint dispatch, the
other word received from Manila dur
ang the day was a brief dispatch an
nouncing the surrender.of the city last
Saturday. 1t was noted that neither
the first dispatch OF the admiral nor the
Joint dispatch OF Dewey and Merritt
made any reference whatever to the
rart which the German cruiser, Kaiserin
Augusta, took IN removing Captain
General Augustin from Manila to Hong
Kong. From this the officials believe
that the American commanders do not
attach serious significance to the course
OF the German authorities. The incl
dent continues to cause some irritation
here. but 1t is practically certain that
official cognizance will not be taken Of II.
An official OF the navy department said
that at most the course of the German
commander was one of bad taste. There
is no disposition in an official quarter 1T
present to carry the incident to the
point of considering 1t breach of neu-
trallty. as has been suggested in British
newspapers.
Lieutenant Brumby lowered the Span
ish flag at Fort Santiago and raised the
stars and stripes, many Spaniards weep
ing. while the American band played
the Star Spangled Banner" and COM
pany OF infantry presented arms. 1t Is
impossible to praise too highly the hu-
manity of Admiral Dewey and Genera
Merritt, for q bombardment of the
walled city would have inflicted severe
loss of life upon women and children
The conduct of the Americans. officers
and men alike. towards all. Is highly
creditable.