The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-30
VIEWS OF WAR OFFICIALS.
Think Manila May Have Surrendered
to DeWeY=Merriff Due Mt CnYife.


to Dewey-Merritt Due at Cavite.
WASHINGTON, July 29.--The War De-
partment would not be surprised if Manila
has surrendered to Dewey, but has no such
information. Madrids report that Manila
has surrendered it is believed may be due to
knowledge that Spain has authorized Cap
tain General August to yield up the city.
Indeed, in one of his dispatches Dewey
made the blunt statement that he could
take Manila in twenty-four hours if he de-
sired. The reason he did not desire to do so
was undoubtedly because of a reluctance
on his part to intrust the destinies of the
great city to the insurgents under Aguinal-
do, who, at first tractable, had begun to
show signs of Impotence under restraint.
Dewey realized that he was being held
morally responsible by the civilized world
for the protection of the people of Manila
against excuses at the hands of the insur-
gents. There was also the strongest rea-
sons why he should not, by failure to care
for the interests of foreign residents in the
town, open the door to Intervention by any
neutral naval commanders who had been
lying in the harbor jealousy watching for
their opportunity. Therefore it became nee
sary for the admiral to maintain the status
quo until sufficient military force arrived
to enable him to receive the surrender OF
the town and to occupy and protect IT..
This has been done with some difficulty, as
will be revealed in the end when all of the
correspondence is published. 1t has been
almost Impossible to keep the insurgents out
of the town, and their efforts were re-
doubled as they learned of the American
forces and saw dawning upon them the
possibility of an American occupation of the
town that should exclude them from Ma
Mia, precisely as Shafter excluded Garcia's
Cubans from Santiago. Now, however,
Dewey undoubtedly has with him a suf-
ficient military force to warrant him in &C
cepting the surrender of Manila.
1t is said at the War Department that at
least three of the six military expeditions
that have been sent to the Philippines from
San Francisco are now at Manila. affording
an army of between ten and fifteen thou
sand men, backed up by Dewey's ships and
sailors. 1t is believed also at the War De-
partment that Major General Merritt has
arrived at Manila. He sailed on June 20. His
vessels were faster than some of the others
and ought to- have reached their destination
by this time If General Merritt has arrived,
he is in command of the Department of the
Pacific, the designation now given the Phil
ippines and the military territory in that
part of the Pacific. Next in command to
General Merritt is General Anderson, who
was in command of the first expedition.
There have been six expeditions for the
Philippines, as follows:
May 25-Under Brigadier General Ander-
son, arrived June 80.
June 15-Under Brigadier General Green,
June 29-Under Major General Merritt, ac-
O,.s. IL Arf0
supposed to have arrived by this time.
July 15-Under Maj. Gen. E. S. Otis.
July 19-Under command of the colonel of
July 22-Under command of Brig. Gen.
Harrison Gray Otis.
Suspicious interest attaches to a published
statement in one of the Spanish semi official
organs to the effect that August has been
shorn Of Jurisdiction over the Philippines
beyond Manila and it's immediate environ
ment, the captain generally of the Philip
pine group being transferred to the COM
mander of the Vizcayas island. 1t is just pos
sible that there is an important connection
between these two items Of news, one the
surrender Of Manila, and the other Au-
gustrs displacement. both coming from
Spanish sources. AS to the latter it was
frankly stated in the Spanish dispatch that
the purpose was to prevent Augustf-from
surrendering the entire Philippine group, so
that it is conceivable that. having now ar
ranged the matter so as to protect their in
terests in the remaining islands. SO far as
possible, and having placed themselves in a
position to deny that the United States gov
eminent has made the conquest of the Phil
ippines. the Spanish Ministry may have di-
rected August to surrender the small juris-
diction remaining to him to the United
ra,1f Foil iafn he
hands of the insurgents. AS this matter
would have a decided bearing on any pro-
gramme the United States may outline re-
speeding the acquisition of a coaling station
in the Philippines the requirement of the
entire group of islands, official reports as to
the exact state of affairs anxiously
awaited.