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ing it was a salute, sent off word that he had no powder and could not return the salute. When informed that he was a prisoner of war he protested vigorously, saying that he did not even know that war was declared. He and his leading officials and the small garrison of sol- diers were then taken aboad to be brought on to Manila. An American citizen residing there was appointed temporary Governor and left in charge. The Baltimore met the Charleston near the north of Luzon.
The 4th of July is at hand or nearly so and everybody means that the day shall be remem. bered, especially wishing the American flag could on that date be floating over Manila.
The second most important event has been the capture of the Spanish gunboat Leyte with 183 Spanish officers and soldiers and 14 women and children, who were driven out of Pampangas river by the rebels and forced to surrender to the Americans or starve to death. Wednesday. June 29, at about 4 p.m., she was seen away to the north apparently making for Manila. The McCulloch was sent to head her off and bring her in. She made no resistance and had eren thrown her guns overboard. The commander, Emmanuel Heral, surrendered and lowered his flag and pennant. The prisoners were taken to Cavite and delivered to Aguinaldo to board although they remain prisoners of the Admiral. The Leyte is a small but useful prize.
I send herewith a rough sketch map of that portion of Manila Bay which is of so much interest at the present moment. am quite sure that it is the first accurate illust- ration of how the sunken Spanish meu-of-war are located and where the American Squadron
is now anchored. Since the monsoon com menced to blow with so much force and make the hay rather rough for small craft the American ships moved in closer to Sangley point, where there is better protection. Nearest to Sangley point is the Concord, then the Boston, Raleigh, Baltimore, Olympia, and McCulloch at A little further to the proper distances. South are the auxiliary vessels Nanshan and Zafiro. In Canacao bay is the prize Manila. Not far from the Navy Yard are the Petrel and the prize Callao. When the Charleston arrives she will be anchored near the flagship, while the Peking, Australia, and other transports will not be far away. They cannot come very far in because the depth of water will not permit. There are only about two feat of clear water under the keel of the Nanshan.
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Of the destroyed or sunken Spanish fleet the Reina Cristina, Castilla. Don Antonio de Ulloa are at the entrance of Canacao Bay. Around Cavite point where they went like  dog to his kenuel to die are the Velasco, Don Juan de Austria. Isla de Cuba, Isla de Luzon, Argos, Marques del Duero, General Lezo, and off to the East beyond Bakor is the burned bulk of the Isla de Mindanao. A more interesting day cannot be spent than one occupied in visiting these re. mains of Spain's proud fleet. One can easily appreciate after looking them over what ab awful sight the Maine must have presented in Havana harbour after the memorable explosion and fire. They are a sight never to be forgot ten by friend or foe. They prove that skilful gunnery can work ruin, but that fire does ir reparable damage and ends all future use of the vessel except for old iron. They also show the horrors of war-that war is hell, frankly expressed, and that there could have been few places in that famed 'region hotter than were these ships when on fire. Great sheets of iron. steel beams and supports, solid plates are bent and twisted as if they had been pasteboard in
the hands of a child.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Moreover, that element of critics who are wout to declare that the American naval men are not skilled guuners should study these wrecks and note how all varieties of shells thrown from far and near perforated the sides of the Spanish ships and exploded where terrific raia was wrought. When I went on the Reina Cristina a few days ago after she had been eight weeks a wreck and visited by scores of
officers and men in search of souvenirs, I found
a dozen small pieces of exploded shells fired by the American guns which I shall either use as paper weights when cleaned and polished or give away to my friends. It would be little exaggeration to say that the Reina's decks
In
[July 9, 1898.
FROM THE BELEAGUERED CITY.
| FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN MANILA CITY.]
Manila, 28th June.
were originally strewn with exploded shells vince now floats the rebel flag after a protracted which killed the greater part of her 500 men. seige, a large body of Spanish regulars have The rebels are not stopping in their crusade been taken prisoners, and the Governor him. against the Spaniards. The fact that no al-self, a distinguished soldier and politician, has arming news is reported of their movements in surrendered to the rebel leader. the vicinity of Manila proves nothing. reality they are very active. The cordon around Manila is growing tighter every day and still tighter every night. Fierce fighting occasionally will last for two hours then there will be a full for two hours or possibly for a day. The greater part of the firing that can be seen or heard from the shore or from the Bay seems to be done chiefly by the Spaniards, for they not only blaze away in volleys, but they use large cannon at frequent, intervals doing little or no damage. On the other hand the natives con- duct an unremitting guerilla warfare, killing a few Spaniards every day, now and then picking off an officer, and gradually working in closer to the Spanish lines.
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Since the first day of May, two months ago, the Americans after their short and decisive sea fight have done absolutely no thing towards the ultimate end of their presence in these waters-the capture of Manila itself, and with it the islands of which it is the capital. The insurgents, it is true, after negotiations with the Americans have done a good deal, and have driven the Spanish into Manila after taking five thousand prisoners. But that is not a feat of American arms and it The rebels are making their chief fight u is somewhat difficult to understand the exact little way below Malate near the bay shore. relations of the rebels to the Americans. Judg. There is a large stone fort in possession of the iug from the American papers the soldiers are Spaniards; in front of it and near a little river not intended to fight the battle of the Filipinos that there empties into the bay are trenches oc-
nor does American opinion take kindly or volun- cupied by Spaniards; crossing this river is a
tarily to the idea of a Filipino Republic. In bridge which at this moment seems to be the addition Admiral Dewey has been careful to chief bone of contention. On the south bank are
leave the insurgents to themselves and in another line of trenches hold by insurgents. spite of the many stories set afloat by the The Spanish garrison, including those in thepanish that American naval officers have trenches as well as in the fort proper, number been seen leading on the rebels and direct- about 1,500. The heseigers are approximately ing their artillery, such has been proved to 500 to 800 according to reports obtained be not the case, such stories being the
The when I made a visit into the rebel lines.
ontcome of a disordered Spanish imagina- insurgouts are clever in fighting. They are
tion largely in evidence at present. On, the too much for the Spaniards in bush- other hand the Filipinos, swelled with the im- whacking and jungle strategy. They love portance of their victories over their old masters, the kind of war they are waging and results
have already formed themselves into a Republic prove that they are past masters in the art-if
-or have appointed a Committee among them-. such tacties can be called art. During the day selves with power to govern, possessing a they keep very still, sitting around smoking, dictatorial seal. With them, they have already eating mangoes, spinning yarns, and now and
become a self-governing people, and in the then sticking an old hat or scarecrow man just different towns which they hold there is a re- above the earth works in full view of the presentative governing committee presided over Spanish. Away go volley after volley of the
by a general. This committee, taking the one eager Spaniards: finally the wind blows the ob-
at Malabon, a town of some 30,000 inhabitants, ject down, up goes a cheer from the Spanish deals out justice (it incidentally shot four side, and the Colonel in command sends a mes-
officials the morning I was there) and directs senger post haste into Manila to the Governor-
affairs municipally. It fixes the market prices General with the report that he has driven the of all goods and levies taxes to carry on warlike natives from their trenches and killed the pia-operations. In addition it edits and publishes ripal officers! This is the way much of the
every ten days a newspaper which has the information is cooked up that the Spanish offi-
ancient and serviceable title La Libertad. The cials give out to the Manila papers and forward most picturesque features of the paper are the to Madrid. What is being done at Malate by usnal articles urging the people to be up and the insurgents is being repeated all round striking for liberty incentives to rebellion the Manila. The natives might have a difficult Spanish would call them; two or three poems undertaking on their hands if they should try filling up corners which should be profitably to force the capture of Manila without further devoted to advertisements-intended to be pat- delay, but I do not believe it would be possible riotic if their metre were better; and warlike for the Spaniards to escape or break though dispatches recording victories through the rebel lines even if they made a grand sortie led by the Archbishop and Governor-General!
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The whole country is in sympathy with the insurgents. The millions of natives are plainly against Spanish rule. All these stories pub lished by the Manila papers and reuttered in Spain about the faithfulness of the natives is what might be familiarly termed "rot." It cannol be denied that there are many natives of some prominence and wealth and many more of the common classes who for one reason
and another sympathize with the Spaniards, but they are so few compared to the total number who are rushing to the support of Aguinaldo that they do not constitute any strong element of support to the Spaniards. I have investigated this questiou very carefully,
with have talked insurgents. Spaniards, Englishmen, and Germans who are familiar with the situation, and sought my information without prejudice, and now I must state the truth boiled down, as it were, from all I have heard These islands are lost for ever to the Spaniards as far as the bulk of the natives are concerned; the feeling against. Spain is born in either of themselves or of the object of their hate; them and nothing can eradicate it but death- those that are leading the natives and have the greatest following know that the stories printed
:
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in Manila about America and distributed rapidly showing to the people that whatever through the provinces are lies and they are
kind of development comes under American control, they will be far better off than now.
victory in Balucan. The capital of the pro- The insurgents are in great glee over their
" the
irresistable force of their invincible arms,' which expression sadly reads as if it were plagarised from the Comercio. Seriously, the insurgents believe that their fight is nearly won and the capture of Manila will mean the formation in docent or- thodox form of the New Republic. The Americans, they say, have come generously to their aid to enable them to secure that end, though personally I am very dubious concern- ing that generosity. They believe it, and that belief opens up a vista of much future trouble, which is apparent to all who have had inter. course with the Filipinos. Whatever course the Americans decide to adopt as to the future government of these islands, their work will be arduous and extremely difficult. In the first place they have had no experience of the government of Asiatics, and with hordes of armed natives abroad fresh from victories over European soldiers, and inbued with such now firmly established notions as to their own independence the task is one that any Govern- ment well versed in Asiastic subjugation might pause to accept. It is to be hoped the Ameri- that no compromise will be entered into regard. cans may come well out of their ordeal, and ing the future government of the Filipinos that is derogatory to the dignity of a people.
Western
is concerned the situation remains much the As far as the present aspect of affairs
same as when I last wrote. The Insurgents sarround Manila, though they have not yet round the suburbs. The information which broken through the cordon of forts which sur-