New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-22
MERRITT on THE MANILA CAMPAIGN.

| General Merritt began his testimony by a de-
scriptlon OF the operations around Mania oeore 1t
| was captured. Owing to the smallness OF MS
| force he said the Army was compelled to operate
along the front in cooperation with the .N"'s
| Had there been a larger American force on hand.
| the city could nave been taken from the hish
| ground inland but this tactcally impractica
bic without leaving the base ut the mercy OF po'h
| Spanards and insurgents. The citys defences were
| good The Spaniards had excellent arms and pIen-
~ Of ammunition; all they lacked sand" The
| engagement lasted not over two hours. The Army
had both Span.ards and insurgents 10 contend Will
"Thc insurgents very anxious to take part III
| the attack" said General Merritt. "but they were
| not notified when the attack would be made. as !
| was sure the entrance OF the Filipinos into the
| CITY would mean unnecessary bloodsned ana soHie
iootlng" ..s T..
| the press reports They were about hundred anu
officers ana men Se am loss was ever OBJ
ainabe. The American forces noweyer CAPTURE. ed
over thirteen thousand stands OF modern arms anu
the Spanish loss was known to he severe ,,
There some discussion IN the COMMISSION
ovsF rne rS This drew from Cen
eral Merritt the statement that personally ne snouu
prefer the Springfield with smokeless po"uer 10 tue
However OF the line officers would he bet
s,anS S' Of the lack stopping powsnI Of the
sS b Ts ne the Sfs s in the Manila light
aid not know II until the next morning; tina,
the volunteers were as effective and enthusiastic
as could be desired. lie regarded them as excel
The supplies were satisfactory at all times. ex-
cent as 10 ice and milk for fever patients He eX-
planed this by saying that there were appatreihty
no milk producing animals in that region ners
were some small cattle. apparently imported from
China but they gave no milk to speak OF ,.
Is to medical supplies and hospital convenience
General Merritt said he had heard no complaint;
On entering the city the Army took possession OF an
the good houses needed and turned mem Over
the medical department.. The SICK ana wouhu ~,
were thus we'll provided for. The Army IN the Isl
and depended upon local stock ior %
This proved quite satisfactory; and he DOUBTED me
ACCESSIBILITY OF importing American horses or mules.
Asked II he had the cordial and eiiectlve smRpor.
of the Administration. General Merritt sad: IRON,
the President | had the most hearty sympathy ana
parttments The only thing OF which might feel
! had a right to complain not having some
contingent OF Regulars to act as nucleus even II
they had to be taken from Tampa sh nov as
Told that I could not have II unless | furnished
something 10 take its place But made the best
then the men. This worked very Well ana was
personally thanked. as were my staff ofticers' for
General MERIT, paid hgh trbqs to n, The
teIieent anxious to learn and to work.
Lieutenant Colonel Mley General Skaters cnlef
OF staff testified concerning the Santiago campaign
largely following the lines Of General Skaters cyl
dence yesterday. lie said that while the expedi-
tionarv fleet was lying ut Tampa before the start.
the troops had every facility for bathing and shore
privileges lie told the positions Of the lines of the
two armies before Santiago and said that the span
sh lines were conspicuous that there was no ne
cessiy for any reconnaissance in force TO determine
Them: There was no doubt that there were G span, span
can lines but he was unable TO find single In
OF Spanish sharpshooters firing on the nos
pitals In the rear OF their firing on the HANKS.
He smoke Of the two mile range Of the Spanish
rifles and describing The American position on San
ernus Tor the men TO have been half n milo in the
rear than TO remain whore they did