The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-07
TRE AFFAIR AT MANILA.

Information concerning the battle
which was fought around the suburbs
Of Manila, Saturday night and Sunday
is stiil deficient in some desirable de-
tails, but a number OF interesting
points have been established. In tbs
first place, this was no skirmish 0,
series OF skirmishes, but a pitched bat
tie, a general engagement" 10 quote
Admiral Dewey's words. Gen. Otis and
correspondents say the attack began
about s.45 Saturday evening, and lasted
with little interruption for Il hours, OF
I'll nearly noon on Sunday.
Furthermore, being a night attack il
was intended as a surprise II can be
no longer doubted that the battle was
deliberately planned Filipino spies had
ranged through the city with compare
tive immunity. despite the vigilance OF
the American officers. The repeated at
tempts Of native soldiers TO pass our
picket line were calculated to test the
efficiency Of our outDosts. and were a
part Of q preconcerted effort 10 sur
/ prise our camp, bring on a battle and
enter the city. The promptness and
yigor with which the attack was finally
made, gives further evidence OF this. Il
| is entirely credible that the impression
| mad spread among the Filipinos that
our soldiers would not fight, since there
had seemed 10 BE- SO much irresoIutior
in Washington. L SO. they were might.
ily mistaken.
| One Of the most gratifying develop.
ments Of the conflict was the alertness
the preparedness Of our troops. Tn,
Filipinos' attempted surprise only gave
them the very thing they had beer
looking for for weeks. There seems not
to have been even a temporary set.
back for the Americans. On the con.
trary, they forced the fighting. and
administered 10 the natives the sever
est drubbing they have ever had. II
was the same sort OF forward move
ment' that disheartened and terrified
the Spaniards at Santiago, and the en-
envy was as little able to stand UT
against II in the one case as in the 9th
er. II is no compliment TO our own
troops TO disparage the prowess Of the
enemy. The Filipino soldiers who walk
ed deliberately and persistentIy "a
death on our picket line were made of
no mean stuff. But like all soldiers
Of Spanish blood. however long they
may stand up TO be shot at, the sight
of determined advancing column de-
prives them of their stamina, and they
are certain TO give way.
Another similarity between the Man.
la fight and all other conflicts of the
Spanish war is the great disproportior
between our own losses and those OF
he enemy. According to Gen. Otis
/ dispatch, the enemy suffered much
more severely than we, and the pro-
portion Of our killed to our wounded
is below the old ratio, which was es-
itablisned before the advent of the mod
ern small-bore rifle. The insurgents
had largely increased their supply OF
Mausers since the Spaniards quit the
town, and hence were better armed
than formerly.
ASIDE from the moral and political
effect Of this engagement. the material
advantages Of the victory were con-
siderable. 1t was of immense impor-
lance to get possession of the reser-
voir, and thus forestall any schemes OF
Aguinaldo 10 tamper with the city wat
er supply. Furthermore, the American
lines We're extended from five to seven
miles or about TO the position previous
ly occupied by the insurgents. extend
ing entirely around Manila. The dis
trict thus cleared includes several vii
lagos, and adds materially to the
strength of our position. though the
llengthening of the lines would natur-
ally call for larger force for the de-
fence.