The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-03
SUNDAYS MANILA DISPATCHES
An Expected Attack Saturday Night.
Report of Foreign Warships Landing
Troops Not Believed at Washington

Manila, FEBRUARY o.-NOOI.-Ld
night the rebels concentrated in UGH
numbers near the Chinese cemetery
that General Macarthur anticipated an
attack and asked for achievements.
Two companies Of the Twenty-third
reguIars were sent to Caloacan and a
battalion of the Twentieth regulars to
the cemetery at about midnight.
But the expected attack was not
made, the rebels, after making a great
noise with bugle calls and yells of
viva independencia!' and Much
malo A~mericanos!' and firing volleys,
disappeared in the woods.
1t is believed their leaders are get
ting desperate and are attempting to
force the United States troops to make
an attack, in the hope of breaking
through the American lines , but the
rebels are evidently unwilling to be
sacrificed when facing the Americans.
1t is just possible, however, that they
may be goaded into such a move be-
fore more reinforcements arrive. All
was quiet in the city last night.
A SPANISH ACCOUNT.
Madrid, February 26.-An official dis
patch from Manila says: The situation
here is very serious. The foreign wal
ships are disembarking troops. General
Rios will cave Manila and go to Fam
boango, island of Mindinao.
AT CEBU AND MANILA.
Manila, February 26.-6:2O p. Mac
cording to advices brought this morn
ing the steamer Neustra Sonora Del
news that the American flag had been
raised over the island of Cebu, the
United States gunboat Petrol, Com
mander c. Cornwell, visited Cebu on
February %. Commander Cornwell
sent an ultimatum ashore, declaring the
intention of the Americans to take
possession, peaceably if possible, by
force if necessary. The rebels imme-
diately vacated, taking their guns to
the hills. A party Of marines and blue
| jackets was landed, and the American
flag was raised by them over the gov
eminent building, which they still oc-
cupiel when the Neustra Sonora Del
| Carmen left.
A battalion of the Twenty-third reg
ulars left for Cebu today by the Unit
ed States transport Pennsylvania.
The same steamer brought dis
patches from Brigadier General Miller
at Iloilo, to Major General Otis, report
ing that all was quiet there; that there
had been no further fighting; that con-
fidence had been restored and business
vas being generally resumed. General
Miller thinks it is probable that the ma
tiveS will soon be convinced of the error
Of opposing the inevitable, and that
the example set by the inhabitants of
NegrOs is having its effect among the
other islands. which, though not en-
tirely convinced, are, in General Mil
ler's opinion, open to reason.
MORE FIGHTING AT MANILA.
All is quiet this afternoon inside and
outside Manila, except near Caloacan,
where the enemy's s~harpshooters con-
tinue to annoy our troops, at a COM
p~aratively close range. One man was
killed in ,AriQuina village, which was
burned last night, and four were
wounded in the skirmish, n of the
Idaho, one OF the Minnesota, and two
of the Pennsylvania volunteer regi-
ments.
$40 p. m.-No such emergency exists
here as is represented by reports circu-
lated in he United States, and cabled
back to Manila, to the effect that Ad-
miral Dewey has had a collision OF a
forcible character with the Germap
naval commander.
DEWEY DECLINES TO EXPLAIN
Manila, February 27.-11:40 a. M
Admiral Dewey, when asked by tn
correspondent of the Associated Press
to give his reasons for requesting
Washington to lei the battleship Or.
SSOA oAohiId, HTInly ueclluSu 10 0lS'
cuss the matter. All was quiet here
last night and along the line, except
for some desultory firing by the rebels
e Caloacan and San Pedro Macati
NO BAD NEWS MADE PUBLIC.
Washington, February 26.-The gov
eminent officials here discredit tn,
statement in the above dispatch tina
the foreign warships are disembarkin,
troops at Manila. Spanish sources o
information respecting affairs in tn
: Philippine islands, they say, are not I
be relied upon, as the press and PEG
pie of Spain do not hesitate to circu
: late statements inimical to the insur
/ gents of this country. Secretary Alge
was shown the dispatch tonight, and
{ without entering into a discussion Q
: it, simply said he had heard no new
: Of that sort Such of the dispatche
l reaching the var department toda
from General Otis as were made publ
: were confined to routine matters, Will
!. Secretary Long said tonight he ha
not a WORD from Admiral Dewey du
ing the entire day. General Otis hs
repeatedly stated in his dispatches