The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-08-16
WAS MANILA TAKEN
Merritt May No, Have Received Peace
News lu Time 10 Stop Fighting

( New York. August IA special 20 the
! Tribune from Washington. says:
[ Gable communication with Manila will
probably bee rc-established within the next
[ day or two II the efforts Of this govern
mcu, supported by that of Great Britain
aud Spain are successfully directed, In
order that further bloodshed may be
ayertcd and the suspense relieved.
I IL r. understood THAI Admiral Dewey
has been tn possession Of the Philippine
end Of the cable for over two months. al
though he.was unable TO secure the legal
terminus OF the line, which Is located
within the city OF Manila and through
the strict construction placed upon the
rules OF neutrality. his operators were
unable 20 secure any response to their
signals from the Hong Kong terminal
This restriction made necessary the fire.
quent sending OF dispatch boats back and
forward TO Hong Kong and recently the
severed end OF the cable has been buoyed
and no attention paid to II.
on the vessel that started for Manila on
Saturday from Hong Kong. went orders
to restore submarine telegraphic commu-
nlcatlon al once, and as the American
forces, by the terms OF the protocol are
in possession of the Philippines from an
international standpoint. whether they
actually hold the municipality or not. and
as hostllitles haze formally been termi-
mated and the requirements OF neutrality
abolished. all obstacles TO the free use OF
the cable have been removed.
Untl Manila is In closer touch with the
rest OF the world than Il has been for the
last three and one-half months. officials
In Washington will be harassed by the
gravest anxiety regarding the occurrences
In that vicinity The last news from
Manila was dated ten days ago and de-
scribed the fierce fghting at Malaie on
July 81. when the Americans held their |
position, which had been assaulted. Au-
gust there was cannonading all day |
The Monterey arrived August 1, with |
three transports OF the third expedition |
and az the same time the dispatch vessel
left preparations were being made for an
immediate assault upon the city. 1t was
known that General Merritt was only |
waiting these reinforcements TO demand |
the surrender and to give notice Of a |
naval bombardment.
Under these circumstances every pre- |
caution was taken last Friday to inform
Admiral Dewey and General Merritt with
the least possible delay OF the formal
signing OF the protocol and the suspen-
sion OF hostliues,
When the protocol was signed, followed
d. H.. ,F a.
patches to Admiral Dewey and General
Merritt. 1t was broad daylight Saturday
morning at Manila, II takes fully min
ute at the most generous calculations to
send a single word to Hong Kong by
cable. Acting Secretary Allen and Adju-
tant- General Corbin each sent several
hundred words of instructions to the
spective commanders under them, includ-
ing copies OF the presidents proclamation,
and 1t Is, therefore, unlikely that the ves-
sci was able to start before Saturday af-
ternOon
Manila is 69S miles from Hong Kong,
and at is knots the distance might be
made In So hours which would enable the
dispatches TO reach the American forces
Monday morning, or according to Wash
mgton time, Sunday night,
Unless General Merritt had taken Ma
nila by that time the instructions sent
him will prevent any further military op-
crations and truce will have to be
agreed similar in all respects to that inn
posed upon General Miles in Porto Rico.
The official messages relate solely to hos
tfities and have no bearing upon the
third article of the protocol, which pro-
vides that the United States will hold the
city, bay and harbor of Manila until the
meeting of the commissioners.
This is an exceedingly peculiar feature
OF the situation, but 1t gives the authors
ties less concern than the fear of further
fighting. That article was worded in ac-
cordance with the presidents original
proposition two weeks ago, which in turn
had been, when there was momentary
expectation that the starveu-out city
would surrender at once and it was evil
dent that the United States forces would
remain in power in the Philippines. 1t
was, therefore, considered unnecessary to
stlpuate that a commission should be ap-
pointed within ten days ami arrange the
details of evacuation, as vps the case OF
Cuba and Porto Rico.
n the position Of beselged and beseigers
at Manila has not materially changed in
the last two weeks, when the leaders OF
the opposing forces received their orders
establishing an armstice, such military
commission would be essential unless the