The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-03-11
Light on a Bit of History.

The refusal of Gen. Hughes in his
testimony before the senate Philip
pine committee to answer direct
question regarding the surrender of
Manila opens up an interesting bit
of history. When asked whether the
surrender of the Philippine capital by
the Spaniards was not secured by pre-
arrangement between Gen. Merritt and
Admiral Dewey of the American forces
and the Spanish commander Gen.
Hughes urged that it would be i'm
proper for him to answer and sug-
gested that the committee apply to
Gen. Merritt direct.
In the interest of history it is to be
hoped that the committee will act up
on this suggestion. While the official
records of the war department do not
report that any definite agreement
was reached between the Spanish and
American commanders, the Chicago
Daily News asserts that there is, on
the other hand, nothing to deny that
report presents only the following
evidence bearing on the subject: A
dispatch signed by himself and Dewey,
dated Aug. 7, 1898, calling upon the
Spanish commander to surrender the
city within forty-eight hours; the
Spanish generals reply urging con-
sideration for the wounded, the wom-
en- and children in Manila; another
note from Merritt and Dewey, dated
Aug. 8, repeating the demand for a
surrender without the horrors of a
bombardment; the reply of the Span
ish commander asking for time to
consult his government; and, finally
a note from the American comman-
ders declining his request. The only
other paper of Gen. Merritts report
touching upon the subject is the draft
Of the terms Of capitulation, which
was dated Aug. IA, but rests upon IAN
agreement entered into the previous
day"-that is, upon the 18th, the day |
of the combined attack of the naval |
and land forces.
In a magazine article Gen. Greene,
who was in command of a brigade at |
Manila, has related that the display |
of the white flag upon the wall of the
city was made in the midst OF the
attack, while there was firing on both
sides. At this time he was advised
that negotiations for the surrender
were in progress. In memorandum
issued by Gen. Merritt to his officers
before the engagement of the 18th he
cautions them that "a white flag dis
played by the enemy on the angle of
the walled city" is to be taken as
signal of surrender. Mr.. John T.. Nc
Cutcheon, the war correspondent with
Dewey's fleet, in a magazine article
dated in 1898 says that during the
bombardment Capt. Lamberton turn
ed his glasses toward the walled city
and said, re1ectively: "They were to
raise a white flag on the southeast
corner, but l don't see it ye6' 1"
By close observation it was discover
ed at the appointed place and had
evidently been raised according to
program at the proper moment. This
was part of the agreement. The Span
iards would not give UP the city with
out a theatrical chow of resistance
which could be reported to Madrid, but
they had arranged to fly a white fig
when the Malate fort was taken"
II is in order now for Gen. Merritt
to make 1t clear whether the agree
ment with the Spaniards was tacit
or clearly and distinctly defined and
understood by both sides. Gen.
Hughes refusal to answer, like the
silence of the official records, and Mr..
report as an eye-wit-
ness. obviously tend to strengthen the
theory that the surrender had been
In detail.