Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1898-08-19
.1MIRABLE PLAN Of ATTACK
rverv Detail Carried Out Un-
der Very Complicated
Conditions.
Several of the American Casu-
alties Occur After City
Had Fallen.


respondent of The Times says:
Great credit must be given General
Merritt for the capture Of Manila. His
plan of attack was successfully carried
out in every detail under usually com.
plcsted conditions. Nor can commen.
daton be withheld from his chief of
staff, General Babcock, for his expert
cooperation in the admirably conceived
strategy. The conduct of the Spanish
was in few cases reprehensible, such
as their setting fire to the gunboat
Cebu and the destruction of several
armed launches and boats after the
capitulation had been agreed upon.
1t is impossible to praise too highly
the humanity of Admiral Dewey and
General Merritt, for bombardment OF
/ the walled city would have inflicted
severe loss on thousands of women and
children. The conduct of the army
and navy alike toward all is highly
creditable.
Joint Land and Sea Attack.
The plan agreed on for the attack on
Manila was for the land battery to
open fire simultaneously with the fleet
and for an advance to be made as soon
cs it was considered satisfactory to as
sault the Spanish trenches. Consider.
able loss of life ensued. General An.
derson placed his division according to
directions from General Merritt. There
were eight battalions of the First bri.
gade under General Macarthur in the
fighting line, with three battalions re.
served. while seven battalions of the
Second brigade under General Green
were in the trenches to the south,
three others forming q reserve. The
troops left the camp at 6:30 in heavy
thunder storm. They carried 800
rounds OF ammunition per man and
TWO days cooked rations
The Fleet Begins Bombarding.
AT 9;35 the Olympia gave the signal
Tor attack. The Petrol and Raleigh
and the active little Callao opened a
rapid fire directed toward the shore
END OF the entrenchments. In the
heavy rain it was difficult to judge the
range and the shots at first fell short,
out the fire soon became accurate and
smells rendered the fort untenable
while the four guns of the Utah bat.
'ery made excellent practice Of the
sarthworks to the east of the bay, The
Span'ards replied feeoly with few
shells.
Less than half an hour after the bonn.
oafoment began General Green de.
C,aed 81, that it was possible to advance.
1nereupon II companies of the First
ooiorado leaped over the breastworks
aaa dashed across the swampy ground
ana from behind partial shelters began
snarp musketry fire at q 30O.yard
range upon the Spaniards. The shells
naa made an opening into the fort and
a'i il:2o this formidable fortification
was occupied and
The American Flag Raised
amid formidable cheers all along the
american line. Meanwhile the infan.
Wy mad pushed on. The bombardment
sasted exactly an hour aud half. An
uour later General Anderson passed
aiohg the beach, where the infantry
were engaging the enemy, and di.
sected an advance into Malate. The
:ofWard movement was hastened and
lew minutes the outskirts of the
suouro were we'll occupied and the
snarpshooters were driven away. As
sne oalifornians under Colonel Smith
,an ne up the beach their band played
ss ne national air. accompanied by the
,"n'stilng OF Marser bullets, and dur.
sSs tne sharpshooting continued to
eueourage the men with inspiring
S @usle. Sach regiment carried It's col.
s''hsa action. There was consider.