The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-10-04
Bids tor Construction of Four Harbor Defense
Vessels Opened.
TO BE MONITORS OF A NEW TYPE
than Present
of Worlds Specific Charges
to Misma gementa and Camp Wikof
Take up by the Var Investigation Commissions
PHILIPPINE Representatives the
White House.

, me on my arrival nor offer his services
as a subordinate military leader, and
as my instructions from the president
fully contemplated the occupation of
the islands by the American land
forces, and stated that the powers Of
the military occupant are absolute and
supreme and Immediately operate up
on the political condition of the inhab-
itants,' / did not consider it wise to
hold any direct communication with
the insurgent leader until I should be
| in possession of the city of Manila, es-
| pecially as I would not until then be
| in a position to issue a proclamation
and enforce my authority, in the event
that his pretensiOns should clash with
| my designs.
For these reasons the preparation
! for the attack on the city were press
| ed and military operations conducted
without reference to the situation of
the nSurgent forces. The wisdom of
| this course was subsequently fully eS
| tablished by the fact that when the
| troops Of my command carried the
! Spanish intrenchments, extending from
| the sea to the Pasay road on the eX-
treme Spanish right, were under
no obligations, by pre-arranged plans
| Of mutual attack, to turn to the right
! and clear the front still held against
! the insurgents, but were able to move
forward at once and occupy the city
| and suburbs"
Then follows a detailed account of
| the fighting and capture of Manila and
! the general says:
| Il desire here to record my apprecia-
| tiOn of the admirable manner in
| which the orders for attack and the
| plan for occupation of the city were
| carried out by the troops exactly as
| contemplated.
| u-i1 no nhSnrI-p1 the trOnhipS
| of Manila were nearly 100000; 1900
! prisoners and $4,000 arms
General Merritt then details the in
! auguration of the military govern
ment Of Manila by the Americans. Fur
| the. he says
| ION the 18th a cablegram contain
ing the text of the presidents procla-
| nation directing the cessation of hos
| tilities was received by me, and at the
same time an order to make the fact
| known to the Spanish authorities, which
| was done at once. This resulted in a
formal protest from the gOvernor-gen-
| eral in regard to the transfer of public
funds then taking place, on the ground
that the proclamation was dated prior
to the surrender. To this l replied
that the status quo in which we were
left with the cessation of hOStilitieS
was that existing at the time of the
receipt by me Of the official notice,
1 ana LQdl must upon LIE OOllN
cry of the funds. The delivery was
made under protest.
after the issue of my proclamation
and the establishment Of my office as
military governor, 1 had direct writ
ten communication with General Agui-
naldO on several occasions. He recOg-
! nized my authority as military govern
or of the town of Manila and suburbs
| and made professions of his willing
ness II withdraw his troops to a line
! which I might indicate, but at the
same time asking certain faVOrS for
himself The matters in this cOnnec-
ton had not been settled at the date
of my departure. Doubtless much dis
| satisfaction is felt by the rank and
[ file of the insurgents that they have
not been permitted to enjoy the occu-
pacy of Manila, and there is some
! ground for trouble with them, owing
| to that fact, but Notwithstanding many
rumOrs to the contrary, | am of thf
opinion that the leaders will be able tC
prevent serious disturbances, as they
are sufficiently intelligent and educated
to know that to antagOnize the United
States would be to destroy their only
chance of future political Improvement
Il may add that great changes FOL
the better have taken place in Manila
since the occupancy of the city by tn.
: American troops.
, Washington, October bids wer,
[ opened at the navy department today
for the construction of four harbor de
fenSe vessels of the monitor type au
thorized by congress at an expenditur,
| of 81 ,250, 900 for each monitor. The ac
directs the secretary to have in view
, the best results and most expedition
delivery. Consequently the department
| in laying down its requirements, mad
twepty-Seven months the miximun
l | time for the completion of the vessels
| providing a penalty ranging from $50
to $500 per day for any delay in thei
: | completion.
The monitors are to be built strictl.
IN accordance with the department
| designs. no provisions being made, q
, is usually the case, for the submission
I | of contractors plans. In type, the.
| have no duplication in modern shil
l | construction, and more than anythin;
| else resemble the light mentors whicl
| distinguished themselves in the civi
: | war The board of bureau chiefs woul
: | have liked very much TO have provide,
I, | more powerful cass of vessel but tn
l | small limit Of cost fixed in the appro
| priation act prevented this and the,
: | were obliged to content themSelve
l | with single tsrreted monitors of 2,1O
| tons displacement. Nevertheless tn
2 ! designers have contrived within thes
): | narrow limits to plan a most service
i! | able type of vessel, though their use
l | fulness will be strictly limited to har
| Dor defense, and or account of tflei
| small proportions they Will not be abl
| 10 undertake any long voyages. Will
| resembling roughly the war monitors
| these new vessels will be vastly supe
! rior 10 them in actual power. Thei
- speed, for instance, will be lively