The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-01

WARRINGTON. Sept. so--Ths report Of
Gen. Wesley Merritt OF operations about
Manila sas made public today. IL IL dat
ID on board the transport CHINA, Angus,
~. After giving briefly the story o. his
sInbsrkaIion and arrival al Manila. and
tbs disposition OF MA troops. he says:
~ found Gen. Gresne's command en-
camped on a strip OF sandy land running
parallel to the shore of tsa bay. and no.
far distant from the beach bar owing 20
the great difficulty Of landing supplies. the
greater portion Of the force aAd shelter
kenia only. and suffered many GIsc0mfGris,
tile camp being situated in low. nat
place. without shelter from the heat Of the
tropical 41n or adequate protection from
The terrific downpours OF rain frequent Al
this reason.
AguiuaIdo Did Not OFFER tn Help.
Gen. Merritt taen states that the Philip
pine insurgents. al the time OF his arrival,
numbered about i25. GO men, carrying small
ARMS and having a number or old guns
Merritt says Asaiaaido did not offer his
services us a subordinate military leader,
aud he felt II unwise 10 hold and direct
communication with the insurgsnt leader
until after the complete Investment Of Ma
mia by the Americans, and for thsSs rea~
sons preparations for the attack On the
city were conducted without reference TO
the insurgent forces The wisdom OF this
course was subsequently fully established.
ITO return to the situation Of Greenes
8Figade as | found it, 1t will be seen that
the difficulty in gaining an avenue OF APP
proach to the Spanish lay In the fact or
my disinelnation TO ask Aguna.do to with
ldray from the beach and 'calie real SO
that Greene could move FORWARD. This was
overcome BY instructions TO Greene to ar
range with the insurgents brigade COM
Inander In the immediate vicinity 70 move
10 tho right and allow the American forces
tinobstrncsed control OF the roads in their
Immediate front. No objection was made,
and accordingly Greene's brigade threw
forward heavy outpost line on 'cal!e
real and the beach and constructed
french In which portion OF the guns OF
the Utah battery were placed.
First Spanish Attack.
The Spanish. observing this activity on
our part. made a very sharp attack with
infantry and artillery on the night Of June
81 The behavior Of our troops during the
night attack was all that could be desired.
Our position WAS extended and strength
ened after this and resisted successfully
psatss n. attacks our 10, forces s; sorIeT
Ell aud killed. white the losses OF the
enemy. owing to darkness. could not be
axcertained.
The strain Of the night fighting and the
heavy details for outpost duty made II i'm
perative to reinforce Gen. Greene's troops
with Gen. MacAfthurs brigade. which had
arrived IN transports on July 81 The DIFF.
ficut!es Of this operation. due 10 lack OF
transports and heavy seas. can hardly be
yersstimatsd. Upon the assembly OF
MacArthur's brigade in support OF Greene
l had about s.e men In position 10 attack.
ana deemed the time had come FOR hnal
acton. During the time OF the night at
tack l had communicated my desire TO
Admiral Dewey that he would allow his
ships 10 open fire on the right OF the span
ish line of ENTERTAINMENTS believing that
snch action would stop the night firing and
loss Of life. hut the admira! had declined
to order II Unless We were In danger OF
losing our position by The assaults OF the
spanish. with the reason that. In his opn-
Ion, It would pretipitate a general engage
ment. for which he was not ready.
Demand for Surrender.
Now. however. the brigade of Gen. Mae
Arthur was in position. ana the Monterey
had arrived, and under date OF August s
Admiral rsaey agreed 30 my suggestion
that we should send joint letter 10 the
captain general. notifying him ,ha, he
should remove from tue city all ron-Cam-
hatanfs within fps.y-essht hours ard that
operations against the defenses of Manila
might begin al any time after the expisa-
This ietter MAS sent August :. ana a
reply was received he same date 80 the
wounded now located within the walls
On the sih formal demand FOR the sur
uasnd was hssed upon the hepe'c@sness e
The struggle on the part of sha Spsuiarsis
nna that every consideration 81 humanity
demanded that the city sheGii not 30 sub
tected 10 hcnbar,'fDent under such ctrcum-
stances. The captain eenesafs reply of
the same date stated thai the couuclI of
defense held declared shat the demand
c,1la isoS be granted, but he cartein gen
erai Offered 20 coosuit his government 4
We would R.iow him the time strictly nee
tSary sor the communications hy NAY ot
Hengkoag. This was destined On our
part, for she Teas4n that ;t cautG. in me-
opinion II he admiral and n,yself, lrad
only 70 a continuance u the situation yah
the Uea'~=>itF VAS arEarcas aud very ur-
gent that dtv s.ve action shout. p. taken
81 enc - cosonri RE enemy - giye up