The sun., 1908-12-06

Great Hopes Had Been Based on the
Coming OF tho BattleshIps-A Good
and Successful Fight Had Been Made
Against the Epidemic, and II Was
Practically Over when the Fleet
Arrived-The Loss OF Prestige Felt
Most In ManiIa-WOndorfu Changes
Achieved In the City Since the United
States Took Possession OF the
PhlIippines-IAfe In Manila To-day.
U. 8. 8. LOUISIANA,
U. s. BATTLE FLEKT,
MANILA. P. l.. Oct. 10.
This is q hard luck story. It's about
the visit Of the Atlantic feet to Manila
from October 2 to October 10 in the year
OF our Lord one thousand nine hundred
and eight.
The unusual thing about the visit is
that there wasn't any visit. The ships
steamed In on October 2. and as much OF
Manila as could get atioat came out to
see them. The ships steamed out again
eight days later. and Manila didn't come
out to see them 60. but turned away her
head. said nothing and did a lot Of
serious thinking.
During the week that the feet lay at
anchor in Manila Bay there were prac-
tically no dealings between city and feet
Manila had been indiscreet enough to
have the cholera. Although the epi-
demic was practically over. the new cases
numbering from five to ten a day only,
as matter of precaution the sailors
we're not allowed to 60 ashore A few
officers were allowed to 20 ashore. it is
true but none was allowed to stay over
night except by special permission. The
sailormen who had to be sent ashore for
The mails and on sundry errands had to
carry their own drinking water with
them. Orders were issued that no city
water should be drunk and no food eaten
board the ships Of the feet.
Manila was cut OF from the feet at a
time when the feet meant much to her.
The city has been having troubles. many
and varied, besides the oholera-business
troubles and political troubles. The one
ray Of gladness in this critical time was
the coming Of the Atlantic feet.
As things turned out the arrival OF the
deet simply added to the gloom. 1t was
50 thick that you could out 1t. 1t was
Black Friday. Manilas cup Of joy turned
to one OF bitterness. The city refused
to be comforted.
She had raised about 9120 900 to enter
tain the feet. She had begun the erec-
ton Of arches on her principal highway.
Her merchants had laid in supplies.
largely perishable. She had her lights
and her bunting ready to be put up. She
had grappled with the cholera and had
ceased to worry about it. She had pre-
pared herself for ten days Of happiness.
and it all came to paughtl She was
stunned. then angry. then sullen.
As the feet sailed away Manila began
to perk up q little. The feet was due
onoe more in Manila Bay, month hence.
for battle practice. Perhaps the cholera
would all be over then. 1t was just
faint hope. but those on the feet and most
Of those In the town did not take 1t seri-
ously. On both sides the sentiment was
that expressed in the sohg: aAh doan'
care ef yeh never comes back!'
Truly it was hard luckl And the cholera
did it. Certainly Admiral Sporty was
not going to take chances. One case
Of cholera on one Of those sixteen battle
ships would not only be likely to disrupt
the feet and mar it's progress but make
il tan object Of the worlds pity.
No commanding officer could be blamed
for not caring TO face such situation;
20 commanding officer could be blamed
for exercising every possible precaution
to conserve the health OF his men and to
avoid criticism. Clearly Admiral sperry
was not TO blame for issuing orders. under
wise medical advice. that would protect
the health Of his feet.
This cholera scare has done undeserved
harm to Manila nevertheless. Thsra
were some good features about the city's
fight against cholera and some that were
not good. The good features centred
about persistent struggle. good, though
begun too late. The bad features GEN.
tred about a neglect to wake up to the
seriousness Of the situation early. )
FORMER FIoHT WITH CHOLERA. 4.
Manila and the Government Of the
Stands had not the excuse Of unfamili-
arlty with cholera. An epidemic swept
over the islands in 1902. There were
io3o76 recorded cases then, with 6o.s37
know deaths. All parts OF the arohi-
pelago we're affected. II took hard work
tn put down the disease.
Occasionally since then cholera has
Appeared IN the Islands, just as II appears
all over this part OF the orient. Some
ainsa it passes of without becoming
epidemic and sometimes it does not.
hs early as January last 1t was known
that there was cholera in the north part
Of Ltzon Manila merchants were noti-
he'd Of it's existence In at least three proy-
inces. Word came after a Nv weeks that
1t had disappeared In Bula6an. Pampanga
and Zambales provinces, but word also
came that II had started up in Dagupan
and was becoming more threatening IN
Psngasinan provipce. y
few cases appeared In Manila, but
they disappeared and the health reoords |