August 27, 1898.]
fort so that the army could enter. No shots were fired at or into the main city. The only real fighting was in the trenches outside of Malate. During the attack the British ship Immortalité took up. a position between the Germans and Americans. This may not have meant anything but it was interesting. The Germans gave no indication of interfering. The foreign fleet will probably salute the American flag to day or to-morrow. The insurgents di! not succeed in entering the city ahead of the Americans and the latter took up positions to protect the whole of Manila from plundering. Everything was accomplished almost in a peaceful way. Merritt and Dewey are both pleased with the result.
Manila, 18th August. Manila is quiet as far as any disturbances are concerned but the streets are full of life, the hotels and cafes are crowded, the river is busy with large and small boats, and carriages are rashing about in every direction. American and Spanish soldiers pass and re-pass on the side walks, ent side by side in the dining rooms, and generally mix, with very little sign of any ill feeling. Manila certainly presents a more animated appearance to-day then it has before in years.
What with the incoming of 10,000 American soldiers, the disbanding of a force of 8,000 Spaniards, the influx of 100,000 natives who had fled to the country, and the return of foreign residents who had temporarily forsaken Manila, the situation is assuredly interesting. There is some confusion. That is to be ex 'pected. Great changes cannot be effected in a day or in several days where all of the chief elements of the change is a manana" people who want to put off everything until to-morrow that can be done to-day. Food is still scarce and it is impossible to get a good square meal outside of private houses and the clubs. The hotels are putting up miserable fare.
The water has been turned on again from the
water works and generally the situation is greatly improved, but food is not coming in fast enough from the outside and the demand still exceeds the supply, causing high prices and poor quality.
The difficulties of turning over the govern ment from Spanish to American bands are far greater than most now appreciate. The con- duct of the affairs of a great city and country like these is complicated as it is, in peace times, but when it is necessary to completely alter the control thereof in a day or a few days all kinds of difficulties and perplexities arise. However, Gen- eral Merritt and his staff of assistants are doing as much as possible to convert chaos into cosmos and are succeeding admirably. He has issued his proclamation to the people of the Philip- pines, which was published Tuesday, the 16th, in all the daily papers, not only in Spanish but in English and Tagalo. It was favourably received by Spaniards, natives, and foreigners. It is a well worded, firm, frank, and judicious statement of the position, intentions, and policy of the United States Government as repre sented by General Merritt. Its effect is very noticeable throughout the city and it is the chief topic of discussion.
Major-General Merritt has ordered Brigadier General Andersen to resume his post at Cavite, where the 4th Expedition will be landed when It arrives. It is now due. Brigadier-General McArthur has been appointed Provost Marshal. General Commandant of the walled city of Manila. Colonel Smith and Colonel Ovenshine have been named as deputies for other portions of the city, and will exercise due jurisdiction. Colonel Summers will probably act as Collector of the Port Lieutenant Elliott is acting as Captain of the Port. General Greene has charge of the fiscal or financial part of the Government. All these military officers are selected for their respective labours with a special view to their abilities and experiences
The Monadnock, towed by the Nerp, arrived on the 16th after being out 32 days from Honolulu. She experienced rough weather the last few days but on the whole had a favourable passage. She stopped at Guam en roule. The officers and crew are greatly disappointed because they missed the fall of Manila, but are consoled with the knowledge that there was little work for the ships.
This morning there was a meeting between General McArthur and the Mayor and members of the City Council, in which an effort was made
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
to come to an understanding about carrying on the city government. They were unable to agree and it is probable that no satisfactory torms can be arranged. This will mean a delay, which is unfortunate, but it is difficult to prevent it. What will be the result I do not know, but as long as the Spaniards stay here it is as much for their interests to have the municipal government run smoothly as it is for
the American.
179
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD,
A meeting of the Hongkong Sanitary Board was held on Thursday afternoon. The chair was occupied by the Vice-President (the Hon. F. H. May, Captain Superintendent of Police), and there were also present: the Acting Re- gistrar-General (Mr. A. W. Brewin), the Acting Director of Fublic Works (Mr. W. Chatham), the Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer (Dr. J. A. Lowson), the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. F. W. Clark), and Mr. E. Osborne.
MINUTES..
The minutes of the previous meeting were submitted and adopted as a correct record.
WELCOMING MR, OSBORNE,*
The VICE-PRESIDENT- Before we proceed further I wish to say that Mr. Edward Osborne has been appointed a member of the Board by His Excellency the Acting Governor. I am sure we all welcome Mr. Osborne amongst us and that the Government, the public, and ourselves will derive great benefit from his assistance on the Board. (Hear, hear.)
There is trouble between the American au. thorities and Aguinaldo, but I hope and have reason to believe that it is not sufficiently serious to cause a clash of arms. Aguinaldo objects to any Spanish officials remaining in office and demands the appointment of natives to a portion of the places, expects that the! Americans will bold no country outside of Manila, asks them to evacuate Cavite entirely, and says that the Philippinos wish the use of Manila Bay free of all custom house and tariff regulations. General Merritt is inclined to give attention to Aguinaldo's representations, but not in any degree to yield to thein unless entirely consistent with his own plans and pur. poses. He is firm, will do what is right, but
Mr. OSBORNE-Thank you, Mr. Vice-Presi- will not be dictated to under any circumstances.dent, and gentlemen, for your welcome. I shall
The steamer Oxus, Captain Rowland, had the
do my utmost to justify my appointment by honour of receiving the first clearance papers
His Excellency the Acting Governor. from this port under American Military ocen. pation. His certificate is marked No. 1. I have advised him to have it photographed or at least copied. Lieutenant Elliott, of the navy, as cap- tain of the port, signed it. Work is going rapidly ahead in clearing the entrance to the Several vessels which have been sunk there will be either blown up or removed. Inside of five days the port should be able to conduct its business with dispatch and take care of all steamers coming and going with less red tape and trouble than characterized the former days of Spanish rule. If any com- plaints are made against the conditions that remembered that such remarkable changes as exist under American occupation, it should be
are necessary to permit things to run smoothly cannot be accomplished all at once.
river of obtructions.
The news of peace was welcomed here in view of the fact that Manila had been taken. Had it come prior to Manila's fall there would be a disquieted American army and navy in the Philippines. Fortunately the cable was not working and although peace was agreed to on the 12th Manila was taken on the 13th. This makes an interesting incident in history and will ever be associated with this campaign.
The action of Captain Chichester of the Immortalite, in saluting the American flag raised over the city of Manila, is generally commended; even friends of Germany admit that he scored a point for England in her relations with America by showing deserved honour to the Stars and Stripes. He ordered a national salute in honour of the American colours, which was fired with the usual English precision and vim. But the German, French, and Japanese admirals failed to follow suit, thus losing au opportunity to gain the good will of a great nation by sticking too close to some indefinite technicality of international law. Captain Chichester is much the same kind of an interna- tional lawyer as Admiral Dewey. And it seems to me that such men are the ones whose names go down to history. They are doers not theorists.
e of their vessels
The Germans in sending to Hongkong post hasto immediately after the American flag was raised over the city were guilty of marked discourtesy towards Admiral Dewey, They sent this vessel off without either taking the admiral's dispatches or re- gularly informing him of the intention to Bud a man-of-war to Hongkong.
The steamer Juan arrived at Singapore late on Saturday, 13th August, from Wilhelmshaven with a cargo of patent ful for the German Davy, leaving the following morning, after coaling, for Kiaochau, where she will be used as a coal halk, having been built in 1864. Considering her great age, it is to be Loped she will meet with no typhoon in the China Sea. The Juan was, it will be remembered preceded by the Trinidad and the Mourino, the former proceed- 'ing to Kiaochan via Manila.--Free Press.
THE SALE OF POISONS,
Dr. CLARK said the bye-laws for regulating the sale of poisons, were brought before the Board on the 28th July last and adopted. On their being submitted to the Legislative Council the Attorney-General suggested certain altera- tions, and under the circumstances he thought
it better to cancel them and remake them.
On the motion of the VICE-PRESIDENT,
seconded by Dr. CLARK, the bye-laws were re- pealed.
On the motion of the VICE-PRESIDENT, seconded by Dr. CLARK, the bye-laws 88 ameuded on the suggestion of the Attorney- General were adopted.
THE REGULATION OF SLAUGHTER-HOUSES
AND MARKETS.
The following additional bye-laws for the re- laid on the table:— gulation of slaughter-houses and markets were
"No person shall convey or attempt to convey any dead carcase of any animal into any of the slaughter-houses of the colony for any purpose
whatever.
14
in any market and no unlicensed person shall
No person shall make use of any unlet stall · make use of any part of any market for the sale or storage of food.
"No beef or mutton shall be brought intò any market or be sold therein unless bearing the official mark showing its fitness to be used for human food or unless it has formed part of
a carcase so marked."
The VICE-PRESIDENT—With regard to the first it seems to me it is an offence already to convey a dead animal like that. It has to be slaughtered in a proper place, has it not?
Mr. LADDS (Colonial Veterinary Surgeon)- I do not think there is anything in the Ordinance to that effect.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-You cannot slaughter swine or any other animal anywhere; you have to slaughter them in a slaughter-house.
Mr. LADDS-Yon can if you say they are not for sale.
The VICE-PRESIDENT said they were always making a bye-law here and a bye-law there, and the result was that if they wanted to find out what the law was they had to go through half a dozen amending ordinances and amending bye-laws. Were there any other amendments which Mr. Ladds thought might be made at the same time?
Mr. LADDS thought there were some. Mr. BREWIN thought the Attorney-General had made some remark about this.
Mr. LADDS-I saw the Attorney-General myself and he said he was proposing to make a new ordinane altogether and consolidate all these amendments. I think it looks as if it would be best.
The VICE-PRESIDENT moved that the bye- laws be referred to the Colonial Veterinary Sur- geon so that he could see what additional bye- laws or amendments are desirable. Then they could bring the bye-laws up to date, or they could have an amended ordinance.
Mr. CHATHAM seconded, and the motion was carried.
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