June 25, 1898.]
Many of them are doubtless better off than when in the Spanish service.
Colonel Johnson, General Aguinaldo's Chief of Ordnance, who is also quite an authority on hospitals, prisons, &c., used in warfare, says that the Spaniards are far better treated by the insurgents than the Spaniards in the Philippines or elsewhere have ever treated their prisoners of war; and he is doubtless right, at least as far as the Philippines are concerned.
June 12th was a great day for the insurgents. They assembled to the number of nearly 10,000 troops at Old Cavite, where 1,000 troops were drawn up, and a stand was erected to hear the reading of Aguinaldo's last proclamation, which amounts to a declaration of independence and a formal announcement of the formation of a pro- visional government. A band played, speeches were made, a feast was served, flags and bunting were flown to the breeze, and despite the heavy rains a good time was enjoyed by all.
The increase in the number of German and French-especially the former-men-of-war in port is exciting much comment. There are now. three German war vessels here, the Kaiserin Augusta, with Vice-Admiral Diedrichs, the Irene, and*Cormoran; two French, the Bruiz and Pascal. The latter arrived on Wednesday. The Kaiserin Augusta is a big ship, and it is reported that another large cruiser will soon
come.
The Baltimore went out this morning to meet the Charleston and her charges, the troop and supply ships. It is now expected that they will reach here between the 20th and 26th. With the arrival of the Charleston and more naval vesseis en route, Admiral Dewey will soon have a squadron in Philippine waters larger than the United States ever before sent into foreign waters.
It is rumoured that in view of the additions to the German and French ships here the Brit- ish will send another large 'cruiser to join the Immortalite.
General Aguinaldo states that he now has in all nearly 5,000 Spanish prisoners, of whom 4,000 are regulars. He also declares that all northern Luzon is in the hands of insurgents. 500 more prisoners were brought to Cavite yes. terday. At this rate there will be little left of the Spanish army by the time they wish to make the final stand against the combined Am- ericans and insurgents.
Consul Williams, who is always assisting the Admiral as much as possible, is also keeping in touch with what happens both in the Spanish and insurgent lines. He looks for the surrender of Manila without bloodshed.
There is a well founded rumour that the family of Captain-General Augustin, who were sent into the country before hostilities com- menced, have fallen into the hands of the in- surgents. If so they are sure of kind treat- ment, as the rebels are showing the utmost con- sideration for all prisoners-especially women and children.
It would not be surprising if Manila was in the possession of the United States forces before another letter reaches you.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN MANILA CITY.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
507
known wealth and unknown latent wealth this harassing of the Spanish proceeds but a as these islands constitute. For weeks past little time longer the insurgents by concentrat the Spanish military and naval mind has been ing their men on one position can break through buoyed up with the hope that reinforcements into Manila and the campaign three-parts com- consisting of ships and soldiers are on their pleted may be judiciously left to the Americans way from Spain for their relief, and although to finish. Report has it that Admiral Dewey is so far they are willing to acknowledge that the more than satisfied with the work of the insur fighting has gone against them yet they gents and is desirous that they should remain invariably brighten up with a finishing smile where they are until these long talked of to inform you of the dispatch of their reliefs. American troops arrive, and this may be true, It is difficult if wise to venture the opinion as for no rebel in creation let alone the Asiatic, to this being a broken reed. What the soldiers could resist so tempting an opportunity to pillage and sailors have suffered in this brief campaign as the suburbs of Manila would offer, and as pill- will doubtless never truly be made known, and age would lead to resistance and resistauce to so lax and disgraceful has become the ad- murder, and the Admiral having proved himself ministration that those sufferings are DOW
a humane man, truth is given to the statement. simply accepted by the victims with an air of When I last wrote the rebels had surprised resignation as inevitable. Two instances show and captured Bacoor, and since then they have ing the complete inability of the Commissariat made wonderful progress, which the firm stand Department to cope with what should be its of the Spaniards at the Polverrin and St. Ana. ordinary duties came before my notice this only checked. After the capture of Bacoor, I week. The road in which is situated the house was permitted to proceed to the Zapote river, I am staying in is guarded by three pickets, where the Spaniards on one side face the rebels two military and one naval. One military picket on the other, and I arrived after a Spanish in the disastrous retreat from Zapote made endeavour to regain possession of the old stone a detour, and the captain, a very amiable bridge had proved futile. The towns of Las officer, brought his men after wandering Pinas and Parrañaque were held by detach through swamps and fording rivers to a ments of Spanish troops to cover the retreat of position he was ordered to occupy. He had the main body at Zapote, and at the latter place been dodging about for forty-eight hours, and the Spanish had stong defences provided by the five hours after his arrival I visited his post and large stone church and convent which com- found him and his mou quite exhausted. They mand the road. But on the morning of the 5th had had nothing to cat since they left Zapote whilst the Spanish were awaiting the rebels to and had been five hours waiting for food from cross Zapote a large body of them made a Manila. We fed him up, but his man had to detour, forded the river, and came upon the wait till their allowance of rice arrived. The flank of the surprised Spaniards. To give an naval officer in charge of the next outpost was exact description of the fight is of course in the same condition-several times saturated not possible, for as the Spanish decline to with midnight rains he had had no food for allow any correspondents to remain with the forty-eight hours. How the authorities expect troops in the field, and as both the Spanish and these unfortunate soldiers to fight on stomachs rebel descriptions are so utterly untrue, it need that have remained inactive for such a period is a only be said that the Spanish retreated with problem that only the superior official mind can loss from Las Pinas and Parrañaque ander demonstrate. Probably they are unaware that cover of the magazine which guards the road at they are allowing a state of things exactly in Malate, and at this point the foes coufront one harmony with the rebel programme. What the another. Here their usual mode of entertain- Insagents are now doing, and doing success- ment is volley firing, though it is doubtful if fully, is worrying their opponents night and day much damage is done on either side. The rebels and sniping them from under cover at all times, cannot be expected to be good marksmen, only with the result that the Spanish soldier is having had their rifles for a week, and the value wearied, unnerved, exposed to all weathers, and of the Spanish soldier as a shot may be gauged generally his system is being worn out. In ad- when a Spanish naval officer confided to me this dition he is ill-fed, to put it in its most respect-week that three parts of his men did not know able phase. The hospitals and churches are over crowded with sick and wounded- and there are not a few churches in Manila- and when one comes across the soldiers and sailors on outpost duty sleeping on wet roads and fields, their blankets saturated with a heavy still descending rain, varied with a tropical evapora- tion in the morning and a broiling sun in the day time, it is really wonderful bow any sound men are left standing to fight at all. This description of affairs is not imaginative; it can be seen at anytime if one takes the trouble to occasionally visit the outposts.
At the present moment on either side of the house in which I am writing, a fight is pro- ceeding. The Spanish are doggedly holding on to their position, which bars the victorious onrush of the rebels to the walls of old Manila. The ancient Polvorriu, or powder- magazine, on the road at the end of Malate, Manila, 13th June. which leads to Cavite, is occupied by the Within probably a few short days Spain will Spanish, who there, with troops scattered out. lose possession of one of her few remaining side in its close vicinity, have about 2,000 men, colonies, the Philippine Islands, which if not supported by several field pieces and mountain the richest of her possessions, are islands guns. For a week nearly right after night abounding in wealth and easy to rule if the this has been the object vi erce attacks by administrative faculties of its successive gov- | the rebels, but as the other side of the road ernors had proved a trifle more developed, The is bounded by an impassable swamp, and statesmen of Spain are most likely, if now the advance must come by the road, they be at all reflective, regretting the spirit of charity which led their colonials here to spend a few fortunes on churches and allowed only the financial crumbs that fell therefrom to be devoted to the navy as represented by the squadron in the Philippines. Or rather the squadron that was. Had the Spanish expended sufficient money to keep that fleet in fit con- dition to perform the duties for which it
and intended, persumably oreated adequate defences at the entrance to the bay of Manila, the assumption in most ordinary minds is that the American squadron would have been kept at a respectable dis. tance from Corregidor instead of being about to take possession of a colony of such
Was
moreover
the
how to use their rifles! One point I have noticed is that when the Spanish cazadore is firing at a foe, imaginary or otherwise, be it 100 or 500 yards, his foresight is generally flat!
In the suburbs of Manila the exodus of resi- dents towards the protecting walls of the old city continues, and rents in that ancient quarter must rule high. With the consent of Admiral Dewey and Captain-General Augustin large numbers of Spanish women and children have embarked on four steamers, one steamer being placed under the protection of the four men-of-war, English, French, German and Japanese. The steamers are crammed with refugees and an idea of their crowding may be formed by the fact that one vessel which it was decided should take 150 Chi nese to Hongkong contains at present 200 families. The majority of foreign residents have embarked upon the steamers in the bay, in which there are now twelve in all.
The latest news as I conclude is that the wife and family of the Spanish Captain General have been taken prisoners by the rebels at Macabebe, and measures are being taken to obtain their release through the insurgent chief Aguinaldo.
General Monet, with 600 Spanish soldiers, has been surrounded at. Calumpit, and it is be lieved he and his men are now prisoners.
To-day the British Consul's launch, flying the blue ensign with a white flag in the bows, pro ceeded to Guadalupe to bring down about fifty Spanish wounded by permission of the Insur gent commander.
offorts of the rebels have been without success. At this moment aro heard the fierce rattle of small arms, the screeching of the rebel machine guns, and the heavy booming of the artillery with the his- sing of the shells as they force a passage through The Spaniards who held possession of the the air. To the east with the same impetuosity convent at Old Cavite have been taken pri- the rebels have thrown themselves repeatedly soners, being compelled to yield. The rebel on the trenches and stockades at St. Ana, with- flag was seen flying yesterday on the first vessel
of the out success, and their shooting as suddenly
navy of the Philippine Republic," drops as its commences, but only to be renewed
on the steamer Bulusan, of about 100 tons, again later. Sta. Mesa, a little further to the also on another small steamer of 70 tons.
The north-east, is also kept engaged, for in that di- flag consists of three triangles, red, white, and rection, protecting the new powder magazine blue respectively, on presumably a white ground and father on the water works, the Spaniards or a ground formed by the old rebel flag of the have many men. There is not much doubt if'sun rising from the hills.
11
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