The Portland daily press., 1898-10-01

| "Upon the assembly of MacArthur's
brigade in support of Greene's had
about $500 men in position to attack and
deemed the time had come for final
action. During the time of the night al
tack I had communicated my desire to
Admiral Dewey that he allow his ships
to open fire on the rights of the Spanish
line OF the entertainments, believing that
| such action would stop the night firing
and loss of life, but the admiral had de-
clined to order it unless we were in dan
ger of losing our position by the assaults
Of the Spanish, for the reason that in his
opinion it would precipitate general en-
gagement for which he was not ready.
"New, however the brigade OF Gen.
Macarthur was in position and the Mon
| terey has arrived and under the date OF
August 6, Admiral Dewey agreed to my
suggestion that we send a joint note TO
the captain general notifying him that he
should remove from the city all nom
CONTESTANTS within As hours and that
operations against the defenses of Manila
might begin any time after the expira-
ton of that period.
This letter was sent August Z, and q
reply was received the same date that
the Spanish were without places of refuge
for, the increased number OF Wounded
sick women and children now lodged
within the walls. On the ninth formal
joint demand for the surrender of the
| city was sent in. This demand was based
upon the hopelessness of struggle on the
| part of the SpaniaTds and that every con-
siaeration of humanity demanded That
the city should not be subjected to bonn
bardment under such circumstances. The
captain.general's reply, of the same date
stated that the council of defence had
declared that the demand could not be
granted; but the captain general oHered
to consult his government if we would
| allow him the necessary time for the COM
M unication by way of Hong Kong.
"This was declined ON our part for the
reason that 1t could, in the opinion of the
| admiral and myself, lead only to con-
| tinuance of the situation, with no imme-
diate results favorable to us, and the ne
cessity was apparent and very urgent that
decisive action should be taken at once
| to compel the enemy to give up the town
in order to relieve our troops from the
trenches and from the great exposure OF
unhealthy conditions which were un.
avoidable i'll q bivouac during the rainy
season.
"The seacoas5 batteries in defense of
Manila are SO situated that it Is 1mpossi-
firing into the town, and as the lombard
ment of the city filled with women and
| children, sick and wounded, and contain
ing large amount of neutral property
could only be justified as last resort, 1t
was agreed between Admiral Dewey and
myself that an attempt should be made
to carry the extreme rights of the Span
ish line of entertainments in front of the
positions at that time occupied by our
troops, which with its flank on the sea-
shore was entirely open to the IRE OF the
navy. :,
sit was not my intention to press the
assault ut this point. in case the enemy
halA 4 ~, Of, nj af far
the navy had made practical breeches In
the works and shaken the troops hold
ing them, which could not be done by the
army alone, on account of the absence OF
siege guns. This is indicated in the or
ders and memorandum Of. attacks hereto
appended: It was believed, however. as
most desirable and in accordance with
tho principles of Civilized warfare that
the attempt should be made to drive the
enemy out of his bombardment Of the
city.
''By orders issued sometime previously
MacArthur's brigade and Greene's brig
ade were organized as the second division
of the eighth army corps, Brig. Gen.
Thomas n. Anderson, commanding. and
in anticipation of the attack, Gen. An
derson moved his headquarters. from Ca
vite to the brigade camps and assumed
direct command in the field. About 8
a. m. on that day our feet steamed for
ward from Cavite and before 10 a. m.
opened hot and accurate fire OF heavy
shells and rapid fire projectiles on the sea
flank Of the Spanish Entertainments, at
the powder magazine fort and at the
same time the Utah batteries in position
in our trenches near the Gale Real road
began firing with great accuracy.
cat 1925 on a pre-arranged signal
our troops could advance. the navy ceased
firing and Immediately light line OF
skirmishers from the Colorado regiment
Of Qreene's brigade passed over our
trenches and deployed rapidly forward,
another line from the same regiment
vanced swiftly up the beach in open Or
der. Both these lines found the maya
zine fort and trenches fanking it desert
ed, but as they passed over the Spanish
works they were met with sharp fire
from second line situated in the streets
of Malate, by whiohta number of our men
were killed and wounded, among others
the soldier who pulled down the Spanish
colors still flying on the fort and raised
our OWE.
"The works of the second line soon gave
way to the determined advance Of
Greene's troops and that officer pushed his
brigade rapidly through Malate and over
the bridges to occupy Binondo and san
Miguel as contemplated in his instruc-
tions. In the meantime the brigade of
Gen. Macarthur, advancing simultaneous
ly on the Pasaysroad encountered very
sharp fire coming from the block houses,
trenches and woods in the front positions
which it was very difficult to carry on
account of the swampy condition Of the
ground on both sides.sof theLroads.a..and
the heavy underground concealing the
enemy. With much gallantry~ and excel
lent judgement on the part of the brigade
commander and the troops engaged these
difficulties were overcome with O mini
mum loss. and Macarthur advanced and
held the bridges and the town Of Malate.
as was contemplated in his instructions.
"The city of Manila was now in our
possession, excepting the walled town,
but shortly after the entry of our Troops
into Malate white flag was displayed
on the walls, whereupon Lieut.. Col. G.
Lieut. Brumby. U. S. NJ, representing
Admiral DeWey. were emit ashore to COM