The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-19

is said that the difference in time be-
tween Manila and Washington is such
that the surrender. reckoned on Wash
ington time. would be about twelve
hours ahead of the time at Manila, or
about 5 o'clock a. m Saturday morn
ing. In point Of actual time. there
Tore, the signing Of the peace protocol
preceded the actual surrender OF Ma
mia by a few hours. But il is a well
established rule of military law. ac-
cepted the world over. that a peace
armistice. or cessation of hostilities
does not become binding upon cora-
manding officers until they receive ac-
tual notice OF it.
Under this rule, Admiral Dewey and
General Merritt would be bound by
the armistice only from the time the
notice Of it reached them at Manila
This could not have occurred on Sat
ur0ay prior to the bombardment, as
the cable was not working. and no dis
patch boa could have gotten through
with h notice before Monday or
Tuesday.
respondent Of The Times telegraphs,
under date of August 18th, at 5 O'Clock
p. m:
The capture of the town today was
not without certain meiodramatic ele-
ments. Notwithstanding the fact that
the spanish made a serious resistance
against the advance of the right wing
or the American force. It could not have
been difficult TO foresee that a surren-
der would follow a display by the land
forces to satisfy the Spanish honor,
nor has 1t been we'll kept secret that
the captain general practically sug-
gested the manner in which the Amer
lean troojs should advance to prevent
loss of life On both sides. At first it
was non intended 70 QfranR tho
trenches. but quietly to advance after
the bo~mbardment had ceased.
At the last moment, however, the
programme was changed and orders
were issue for the land battery TO
open fire simultaneously with the fleet
and for an advance to be made as soon
as it was considered practicable to as
sault he Spanish trenches. The rea-
son for this change of plan is not yet
apparent, but considerable loss of life
resulted.
There were eight battalions Of the
First brigade, under General Nc
thur, in the fighting line on the
right, with three battalions in re-
serve, while seven battalions of the
Second brigade, under General Green,
were in the trenche across the road
to the seashore, three others forming
a reserve. The troops left the camp
at $50 o'clock in a heavy und
olOII III. lHey CdIIIeO CJU IDuIuS OI
ammunition and two days cooked ra-
tons per man..
Shortly after S:45 o'clock the feet
got under way, with flags mastheaded.
At 9 o'clock the Olympia led the way,
attended by the Raleigh and the Pc
.trel. While the CallaO, under Lieuten-
ant Tappan, and the launch Barcolo
creDt close in shore in the heavy
breakers.
Perfect quiet prevailed in the lines
on both sides as the great ships, clear
ed for action, silently advanced, some
times hidden by rain squalls. The
Monterey, with the Baltimore, Charles
ton and Boston, formed the reserve.
At 9:35 o'clock a cloud of smoke,
green and white, against the stormy
sky. completely hid the Olympia, a
shell screamed across two miles of tur-
bulent water and burst near the Span
ish fort at Malate. Then the Petrol
and Raleigh n the active little Cal
lao opened a rapid fire, directed toward
the shore end of the entertainments.
In the heavy rain it was difficult to
Judge the range, n the shots at first
fell short, but the fire soOi became &C
curate, and the shells rendered the fort
untenable. While the four guns of the
Utah battery made excellent practice
on the eastern works and swamp to
the east of the fort. The Spaniards re-
plHSU IStDIy Will d lew SiIeiIS.
THE RUSH AT THE TRENCHES.
Less than half an hour after the
bo~mbardment began, General Greene
decided that it was possible to ad-
vance, although the signals to cease
firing were disregarded by the fleet,
being nearly invisible on account of
the rain. Thereupon, six companies of
the Colorado regiment leaped over
their breast works, dashed into the
swamp and opened volley firing from
the partial shelter of low hedges with
in 300 yards Of the Spanish lines. A few
moments later, the remaining six COM
panies moved along the seashore, some
what covered by a sand ridge formed
by an inlet under the outworks of the
forts, and at IL o'clock occupied this
formidable stronghold without loss.
Mccoy hauled down the Spanish flag
and raised the Stars and Stripes amid
| wild cheers along the line.
Meanwhile, the fleet, observing the
movement of the troops along the
beach withheld its fire. The lombard
ment lasted exactly an hour and a
half. An later, General Greene
and his staff proceeded along the
beach, still under a hot infantry fire
from the right, where the Eighteenth
| regulars and the Third regiment ar
tillery was engaging the enemy on the
| left.
AS the CalifDrnianS under Colonel
Smith came up the beach their band
playing the national air, accompanied
by the whistling of Mauser bullets, and
during the sharpshooting continued to
encourage the men with inspiring mu-
sic. Each regiment carried it's colors
into action.
There was considerable street fight
ing in the suburbs of ala and Err
mita, but the battalion of Californians
pushed into the Luneta, a popular
promenade within 200 yards of the
moat of the citadel. Then the white
flag was hoisted at the southwest cor
ner of the walled town. General
Greene, with a few members of his
staff, galloped along the Luneta undel
a sharp scattering fire from the houses
nea the beach and parleyed with ar
officer who directed him along to the
gate, further east.
At this moment the Spanish forces
retrpatinP from Santa Ana. came into