D550-J (Ji'^^ Additional Pages FROM An American Cruiser in the East BY JOHN D. FORD FLEET ENGINEER OF THE PACIFIC STATION UNITED STATES NAVY Supplementing Lieutenant Ford's very interesting book entitled "An American Cruiser in the East." These pages give an account of the passage of the forts at Corregidore, the naval battle of Cavite, and subsequent operations in the Manila waters since May i. It is to be remembered that Manila is old, and everything there is old, and we must regard it as an old curiosity shop. What shall be done with the Philippine Islands now that the United States is in physical possession, forms an important subject of this new chapter by Mr. Ford. Should you make extracts, please give credit to " An American Cruiser in the East," by Chief Engineer John D. Ford, i vol., 536 pages, i2mo, cloth, 150 illustrations. Price, ^2.50. Copyright, 1898, by A. S. BARNES & CO., New York, N.Y. ins 5oT Source uaknovn Appendix II MORE ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES THE Philippines lie between 5 and 22 degrees of north latitude and 117 and 127 degrees of east longitude, about six hundred and thirty miles from the coast of China, with the China Sea washing their western shores and the Pacific Ocean dashing its spray against the green-crowned rocks and upon the beaches of their eastern coasts. A glance at a map of the world will show the distance from San Francisco to Hawaii to be about two thousand miles, from Hawaii to the Caroline Islands about as much more, and from the Carolines to the Philippines it is about the same, making the whole distance from San Francisco to the Philippines a little more than seven thousand miles, through summer seas and delightful breezes, on almost the identical track that was traversed by the old Spanish gal- leons in their journeys between Mexico and the Philippines during the first three hundred years after the settlement of the Philippines by the Spaniards. It must be remem- bered that all communication between Spain and the islands was kept up by way of Mexico until 18 18, when Mexico freed herself from Spanish rule. The Philippines are not on the direct course of the regu- lar mail lines which ply along the coast of China, and are seldom visited by tourists, and thus their natural beauties have not been seen and enjoyed to the extent that most other lands have been. Their delightful climate has not 47^ An American Cruiser in the East been known ; and the quaint old city of Manila has not been much explored nor its beauties enjoyed or appreciated, even by many who think they have seen the world. The Philippines consist of some one thousand islands, islets, and rocks, which contain 52,500 square miles of as varied and beautiful scenery and fertile lands as can be found under the sun. The climate is a perpetual summer, where the thermometer ranges between 60° and 90°, and there are three well-marked seasons of the year, — the first cold and dry, lasting from November to March ; when it becomes warm, but is still dry, until June ; when the wet season begins, and lasts until November. The land is clothed with a rich verdure that is interspersed with beautiful flowers and trees throughout the year. The numerous mountains, dark valleys and lowlands, waterfalls, cascades, bays, and streams make it an ideal home for the lounger or health-seeker; and the gentle breezes which spring up at the setting of the sun give strength and life. Almost every form of life thrives here, while about eight millions of inhabitants enjoy its bounty and beauties. The principal islands are Luzon, Panay, Negros, Cebu, Saman, Mindanao, and Levte. Manila, on the island of Luzon, Cebu, on the island of Cebu, Ilo Ilo, on the island of Panay, and Zamboango, on Mindanao, are the open ports for foreign trade ; but the regulations and restrictions are almost prohibitive, except at Manila, where there is more liberality, but many obstructions and hindrances to commerce exist even there. If these regulations were properly modified and intelligently administered, these would become thriving cities of vast proportions, for they are sur- rounded by countries that are proverbially fertile, rich in mineral deposits, and teeming with a native population that is eager to have restrictions to their industry removed. The Spaniards have been in possession of the coast of the islands for more than three hundred years; but the natives Appendix 47 1 in the foot-hills and on the high lands have never been brought into subjection to them, as they have aWays resisted and waged fierce war against their would-be masters. The Spaniards found the islands settled by a brown race, supposed to be descended from Malays, whose ancestors settled here many centuries ago, and who had reached a high state of civilization before their advent. The people of the northern islands, including Luzon, are called " Togalogs ; " those of the middle islands, " Visayas ; " and the southern, " Sulus." The Togalogs are of medium stature, copper- colored, inclining to brown, with pleasant features, black eyes, small, well-formed nose, large mouth, small and deli- cate hands and feet, coarse black hair, and scant beard. They have generous instincts, and are the most civilized and hospitable of all these people. The Visayas, who in- habit the southern middle islands, are descended from the Togalogs amalgamated with the Mussulmans of the far South, and are less civilized, having brutish instincts. Negros was peopled by criminals who fled from Luzon and its neighboring islands, and are the lowest order of people on the islands. They were a lawless set until about fifty years ago, when they committed some terrible atrocities, and extraordinary means were used to subdue them, and they were brought under subjection. These races ha\e always had great antipathy for each other, and the people of each despise those of the others to this day. The people of Sulu and the tribes in the southern middle islands — Basilin, Balibac, Paragua, and Mindanao — reject all authority except that of their own chiefs and the protectorate of the Sultan of Sulu. They are believers in Mahomet, and are impatient at all overtures to change their religion. It is believed that the sultanate was founded, about eight hundred years ago, by Mussulmans from India and China. The present capital of the sultan is at Mayburn. Early in the fifteenth century, Hernando de Maghallans, 4/2 An American Cruiser in the East a Portuguese nobleman of good education, disgusted with the treatment which he received in his own country, abjured Portugal, and became a Spanish subject. The King of Spain received him kindly, and on August lo, 15 19, under the patronage of Charles I. of Spain, and with the blessing of the Pope, he set sail from San Lucae de Banameda on a voyage of discovery, with the ships, "La Trinidad," "San Antonio," "Victoria," "Santiago," and " Concepcion." On December 13, 15 19, he arrived at Rio Janeiro, and from there followed the coast line of South America in search of an opening into the Pacific Ocean. After many hardships, incident to mutinies amongst some of his follow- ers, the rigor of the climate, and lack of fresh provisions and water, on October 28, 1520, he beheld for the first time the open water which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, — the strait which now bears his name, — and vindicated the prognostications of Columbus that a water route must exist from Europe to the far East by way of the west. On November 26, 1520, he found himself on the broad Pacific, and boldly stood to the northward and west- ward ; and on March 16, 152 1, he reached the Ladrone Islands, and sailed along the north coast of Mindanao. During Easter week of the same year he arrived at the en- trance to the Butuano River, where the first mass in the Philippines was celebrated. The natives were curious, friendly, and hospitable; and to show his appreciation of them, he took formal possession of their country in the name of his royal master, Charles I. The Butuano king guided Maghallans' fleet to the fertile island of Cebu, where they arrived on April 7, and built a rude church in which to house their sacred vessels and celebrate the sacraments. The natives at Cebu were at war with the people of the island of Magton ; and on April 25, 1521, Maghallans went over to Magton to assist in an attack upon them, when he was mortally wounded by a poisoned arrow. Thus perished Appendix 473 the man who had added lustre to the Spanish flag and the " Pearls of the Orient " to Spain's domain. In 1570, Miguel de Legaspi fitted out an expedition in Mexico and sailed for the Philippines, where he completed the annexation of all the islands to the throne of Castile. While at Cebu, Legaspi heard wonderful stories of a native city further up the coast, called Maynila, whose people did a great trade with the Chinese. In 157 1, he went up to see the wonderful place ; and as his mission was to grab everything valuable, he negotiated with the King of Maynila, and soon made the king accept the protection of the King of Castile. Legaspi was so pleased with the city and its surroundings that he declared Maynila to be the capital of the Philippines, and Cebu was handed over to the ecclesias- tical authority. From time immemorial the Chinese have been coming to Maynila in junks laden with silks and the rich wares of Canton and Amoy, which they bartered to the natives ; and in later years, when the government at Maynila became more stable, the Chinese began to locate there and inter- marry with the natives. They soon became so numerous that a portion of the city was designated for their residence. Several times the Chinese have been in unsuccessful rebel- lion against the Spanish authority. The population of Manila is now about 350,000, of which number 60,000 are Chinese and 10,000 Chinese half-castes; and there are about 40,000 Chinese and Chinese half-castes in the islands outside of Manila. The Togalog, Visaya, Moro, and Chinese languages and some thirty dialects of them are spoken by the people on the islands, but Spanish is the official language. The Philippine Islander is a very matter-of-fact person ; there is very little of the dreamer about him. He sleeps in the middle of the day in a shady place, but is wide awake and enterprising at all other times. He is a reasoning 474 ^^^ American Cruiser in the East creature, who is always asking the why of everything. He loves to be free, — free as the night breezes of his own Philippines; but circumstances make him restless and a wanderer. He is easily managed by honest treatment. He loves to follow a brave leader, but despises a coward. He is as sensitive as a woman, as brave as a lion, and makes a fine soldier or sailor. If he realizes that he has done wrongs, he will make any reparation in his power ; but if he feels that he has been wronged, he will follow his enemv to the furthermost part of the earth for his revenge. This accounts for the wonderfully brave fight he is now making against his Spanish foes. Their motto has been, "The end justi- fies the means ; " and the Philippine Islander believes them to have been the authors of all his woes. Owing to his inability to comprehend a religion of love when administered by torture and by force, he has become insincere, and it has made no further impression upon his mind than that due to its outward observance. He promises all things, but may perform none ; his moral sense has been blunted bv the tyrannical acts of his masters, and a lie is no sin to him. He needs to be grasped by the hand, and to have whispered into his ear the magic words, " My brother," instead of being brained with a brazen crucifix by a " relic of the Inquisi- tion," or throttled with a Spanish bayonet. He will make a good, loyal subject or citizen under a just and honest government, which is his ideal and hope ; but he is now restless and impatient under oppression. The Friars have been the actual rulers of the Philippines since 1517, when they commenced to convert the heathens of these islands. The Augustinian, Dominican, Franciscan, and Recoleto Orders have always had the civil and military to do their bidding, and there have always been jealousies and contentions between them, which have been closely watched by the natives, whose disgust of the foreign yoke has been greatly increased thereby. There have been fierce Appendix 475 and bfttimes bloody contests between the Friars and the governors, in which the latter have almost always been the losers. Any governor-general who displeases the monks is recalled. General Despujolo had to leave in 1892, after only eight months of office, because he did not please the priests, and General Blanco was recalled at their instigation. Foreman writes : — " There has been much discontent amongst the secular native priests because the monks insisted upon holding the incumbencies, notwithstanding the rules of their own orders and the decree of the Council of Trent, which forbade it. The Friars nipped this native ambition by instigating a revolt of the troops at Cavite and charging the plot to the native priests. In 1872 four native priests were publicly executed for it, and it was declared that native priests were incompe- tent to hold incumbencies. Several of the best families of Manila were banished and robbed of their property at the same time. " There are about six hundred and twenty parishes in Manila, of which the Friars unlawfully hold about ninety- five per cent. A Spanish parish priest is above all civil law; he cannot sue or be sued. He is independent of all state authority, and meddles in every affair of the town- ship by recognized right ; if he cannot have things go his way, he singles out his opponent for revenge, and always obtains it. " I remember meeting the expedition sent North from Manila in 1 881, to reduce men who have never been brought under subjection. It was a total failure, but the general was rewarded with the title of ' Conde de la Union,' and a ' Te Deum ' was chanted in the capital in thanksgiving for imaginary victories. The theory which soothed the con- sciences of the first military leaders was that the soul must either be prepared for salvation in the living man, or the body must be annihilated. For generation after generation 476 An American Cruiser in the East raids were repeatedly made on the natives for the crime of passive resistance to what they could not comprehend. With the crv of ' Viva^Castilla ! ' bands of Spanish soldiers opened the way with blood for the monks to enter into the breach and palliate th^ wound with silvery phrases to the terror-stricken converts. The cry of ' Castilla ' has come to represent everything that is terrible beyond all hope of mercy. 'Castilla' in the north, and 'Cochila' in the south mean the same, and it is common to hear mothers frighten their children into good behavior and quietness with the dread word, ' Castilla.' " From 15 1 7, when Legaspi took possession of Manila, until 1 8 19, when Mexico threw off the Spanish yoke, these beautiful islands were virtually dependencies of Mexico, and during all these years there was no direct communica- tion between them and Spain except through Mexico. There has always been a struggle between the merchants of the Philippines and the home country for liberty to trade freely with Mexico and China, — their natural markets, — but the Spanish king and his advisers always restricted this trade as much as possible, as they were anxious to retain the Mexican markets for the merchants of Spain. Their theory seemed to be that Philippine goods must be paid for in Mexican dollars, which would partially close the Mexi- can markets to the merchants of Spain, and, at the same time, supply the Philippines with Mexican dollars with which to purchase the rich silks and fabrics of China, for their own use and for trade with Mexico. The arrival of a junk from China or a galleon from Mexico was an event in the annals of Manila. The traders would swarm about her in their out-rigger canoes, the news would be published, friends greeted, strangers scanned, the wonderful goods displayed, or the rough kegs of Mexican dollars would be sent on shore, while the noise of gongs, tom-toms, and beating drums would be deafening behind Appendix 477 the eyes of the junk ; or the dignified friar would offer his thanks for a safe arrival at the little oratory under the ban- ner of his far-away Castilla. In 1572, Li iVla Han landed at Manila with about two thousand Chinese, but he was defeated and driven out by the Spaniards and natives, under Juan de Solcedo, In 1606 five ships of the Netherlands blockaded the islands, but they were finally destroyed by the Spanish fleet. In 1762, Ma- nila was taken by the British, but was ceded back to Spain in 1764 for a ransom of one million pounds sterling, which was never paid. The public revenue is about fifteen million dollars per annum, of which the larger part is raised from direct taxes, customs, and monopolies, and this could easily be doubled by a liberal system. No matter what the result of the Spanish-American war may be, it would be one of the blackest crimes of history to hand these native people back to Spain, or to give them up to any monarchical government. They have always wanted liberty, and have fought the Spaniards for it on many a hotly contested field since 1522. All they ask is a chance for life, liberty, and the pursuits of happiness, and they care not whether it be a republic of their own, or some form devised for them by the great United States of North America. When Dewey fired his first shell on the first of May, it proclaimed liberty throughout these island seas and bays, and echoed back liberty as it struck down the " Reina ,Cristina" and the Spanish fleet, since which time the natives have been " Coming from the hill-tops Coming from the plains, Shouting the battle-cry of freedom " These people need steamships of from one hundred to five hundred tons to trade amongst the islands ; they need 4/8 An American Cruiser in the East steamships of from three thousand to five thousand tons to trade with the United States and other parts of the world; they need railways, locomotives, and cars for internal traffic; and they need thin dress-goods, all sorts of thin white goods, insertions and laces, black and white prints of thin cotton, silk and woollen goods, thin-woven and knit goods, fancy and staple hardware, tin ware, groceries, canned goods and flour, steam-engines, pumps, sugar-mills, agricultural im- plements, furniture, books and stationery, and our public- school system. They can pay for these with sugar, tobacco, hemp, camphor, rice (which are produced in great quanti- ties), coal, gold, and many varieties of beautiful hard woods. Why should our people not have this trade ? Appendix III NAVAL BATTLE OF CAVITE U. S. S. "Baltimore," Off Cavite, Manila Bay, July lo, 1898. A PAGE has been written in Spanish-American history in Asiatic waters. Two of the proudest nations on earth have met in conflict, in their terrible steel monsters, and the conclusion was short, sharp, and decisive. The Spanish fleet was annihilated, and the starry banner floats over the conquered bay. On the 25th of March, 1898, the U. S. S. " Baltimore " left Honolulu, H. I., with ammunition for the fleet in Asiatic waters, and arrived at Yokohama, Japan, on the loth of April, where she was filled up with coal and other stores ; on the 15th she left Yokohama, and arrived at Hong-kong, China, on the 22d, where she was docked, cleaned, and painted, changing the white of peace for the smoke-color of war. She was filled up with coal, and a beginning was made to strip the vessel for the horrible work that might be before her. "Our British Cousins" at Hong-kong notified us to leave their port, as they objected to our making any prepa- rations for war in their waters, and the following Proclama- tion of Neutrality was issued by the acting Governor of the Colony : — ** Whereas, the Right Honorable Joseph Chamberlain, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, has in- formed the Government of this Colonv that war has unhappily 480 An American Cruiser in the East broken out between the Kingdom of Spain and the United States of America, and has communicated Her Majesty's commands, that all of her subjects shall observe a strict neutrality in and during the said war, and shall abstain from violating or contravening either the laws and statutes of the realm in their behalf, or the laws of nations in relation thereto, as they will answer to the contrary at their peril." Then follow extracts from the Act, which passed in the thirty-third and thirty-fourth year of Her Majesty's reign, and is intituled "An Act to regulate the conduct of Her Majesty's subjects during the existence of hostilities between foreign states with which Her Majesty is at peace," the subjects dealt with being illegal enlistments, illegal ship- building, and illegal expeditions. On the 25th of April the fleet moved out to Mir's Bay (which is on the Chinese coast, a short distance from Hong- kong), where it anchored the same afternoon. On the afternoon of the 27th, Mr. Williams, the U. S. Consul to Manila, who had left Manila a few days before and had taken refuge in Hong-kong, took up quarters on the U. S. S. " Baltimore," and brought us a copy of the procla- mation of the Governor-General of the Philippines. This is extremely interesting in view of later events, and reads as follows : — Extraordinary Proclamation OF THE Governor-General of the Philippine Islands Spaniards : Between Spain and the United States of North America hostili- ties have broken out. The moment has arrived to prove to the world that we possess the spirit to conquer those who, pretending to be loyal friends, take advantage of our misfortunes and abuse our hospitalitv, using means which civilized nations count unworthy and disreputable. The North American people, constituted of all the social excrescences, have exhausted our patience and provoked war Appendix 483 with their perfidious machinations, with their acts of treachery, with their outrages against the law of nations and international conventions. The struggle will be short and decisive. The God of victories will give us one as brilliant and complete as the righteousness of our cause demands. Spain, which counts upon the sympathies of all the nations, will emerge triumphantly from this new test, humiliating and blasting the adventurers from those states that, without cohesion and without a history, offer to humanity only infamous traditions and the ungrateful spectacle of Chambers in which appear united insolence and defamation, cowardice and cynicism. A squadron manned by foreigners, possessing neither instruction nor discipline, is preparing to come to this archipelago with the ruffianly intention of robbing us of all that means life, honor, and liberty. Pretending to be inspired by a courage of which they are incapable, the North American seamen undertake as an enterprise capable of realization the substitution of Protestantism for the Catholic religion you profess, to treat you as tribes refractory to civilization, to take possession of your riches as if they were un- acquainted with the rights of property, and to kidnap those per- sons whom they consider useful to man their ships, or to be exploited in agriculture or industrial labor. Vain designs ! Ridiculous boastings ! Your indomitable bravery will suffice to frustrate the attempt to carry them into realization. You will not allow the faith you profess to be made a mock of, impious hands to be placed on the temple of the true God, the images you adore to be thrown down by unbelief. The aggressors shall not profane the tombs of your fathers ; they shall not gratify their lustful passions at the cost of your wives' and daughters' honor, or appropriate the property your industry has accumulated as a provision for your old age. No ! they shall not perpetrate any of the crimes inspired by their wickedness and covetousness, because your valor and patriot- ism will suffice to punish and abase the people that, professing to be civilized and cultivated, have exterminated the natives of North America instead of bringing to them the life of civilization and progress. 484 An American Cruiser in the East Philipinos ! prepare for the struggle, and, united under the glorious Spanish flag, which is ever covered with laurels, let us fight with the conviction that victory will crown our efforts, and to the calls of our enemies let us oppose, with the decision of the Christian and patriot, the cry " Viva Espana ! " Your General, (Signed) Basalio Agustin Davilla, Manila, April 23, 1898. At 2.15 P.M., on April 27, the fleet was formed in line in the following order, — flagship "Olympia," " Baltimore," " Raleigh," " Petrel," " Concord," and " Boston," with the revenue steamer " McCuUoch " and the transports " Nanshan " and " Zafiro " on the off side of the war ves- sels, — and started for the entrance to Manila Bay. Soon after dark the commanding oflicers were called to the flag- ship, and when they returned the following telegram was published : — Dewey, — Hostilities have commenced ; begin operations in the Philippines ; capture or destroy the Spanish fleet. — Long. On the afternoon of April 30, the " Baltimore " fired the first gun of the war in the Eastern hemisphere. The "Con- cord " and the " Boston " were making a reconnoissance in Subig Bay under the protection of the " Baltimore," when a schooner flying the Spanish flag was made out on the opposite side of the entrance to the bay. The " Bal- timore " fired a shot across the schooner's bow from one of her small guns, when the astonished skipper hauled down his sails and hove to. A boarding party from the " Balti- more " brought the skipper and four of his men on board, where they were examined and permitted to leave, as they did not even know that a state of war was existing between Spain and the United States. When the three vessels Appendix 485 rejoined the fleet, about dark, the commanding officers reported on board the flagship, and when they returned, the ships' companies were informed that the forts at the entrance to Manila Bay were to be passed that night. The fleet steamed along slowly, under a beautiful moonlight that was now bright, or now hidden by fleecy clouds; and at 10.30 "Battle Stations" was sounded for action, when officers and men jumped to their places as the Star^Spangled Banner was set at each mast-head and on each side of the after rigging. Soon we were to the south of Corregidor, the Gibraltar of the Philippines, and after the flagship " Olympia," the "Baltimore," and the " Ra- leigh " were well headed up the channel, the batteries of Restinga, or Fraile, and on Corregidor opened their fire upon us. The moon had sunk low, but was yet above the horizon. Hissing shells chased each other over us, or fell short, as we steamed slowly on, and only returned the fire when we thought we could locate a flash, as we were re- serving our ammunition for bigger game in the morning. In about two hours the entire fleet had slowly passed the batteries, had passed over the torpedoes and the mines un- harmed, and was heading for Cavite, the Spanish naval station, which is about twelve miles below Manila. By the time we were well inside of the bay, the moon had set, and we were in darkness, only relieved by the twinkling stars which showed us the way as we timed our speed so as to reach Cavite at early dawn. The scenes on board the "Baltimore" were novel and strange, even to a sailor's eye. The bulkheads had been torn away from the officers' quarters and given into old Neptune's keeping, and temporary hangings and curtains were improvised to screen the inmates from public gaze. Men of the gun's crews watched by turns, and slept about the decks, belted and ready; the men of the powder division slept, spoon fashion, upon the hard deck of the ward-room ; 486 An American Cruiser in the East and some were in uniform, but many were begrimed and stripped to the waist for the past and the coming fray. Below, in the depths of the vessel, the firemen toiled be- fore the great boiler fires, where intense heat and weird flames gave the place the appearance of a hell, and they looked like begrimed imps of very darkness, dancing and panto- miming, as they worked their fires, or threw on more fuel; and the engineers and machinists watched and handled the great engines of the smoke-colored monster that was carry- ing horrible war up the peaceful bay on this beautiful first May morn. At 5.05 in the morning, which was calm, clear, and as beautiful as any that has ever smiled upon the Philippines, the flagship made signal : " Prepare for general action." The "Baltimore" had been ready all night, and the men and officers jumped to their guns and stations, the click of the breach-plug could be heard as others manned the am- munition hoists, while a few poor firemen who had been let out of their hot holes to get a few lifegi\'ing breaths of the fresh morning air, rushed down to their infernal-like compartments about their fires, and the marines mustered about the after eight-inch guns, all ready for the fray. Our vessels steamed very slowly, in the same order in which they had passed the forts at Corregidor, except that the " McCuUoch " lay off in the bay with the two transports. At 5.15 a challenge shot was fired at the head of our column by one of the batteries on Point Cavite, which was immediately followed by the Spanish vessels "• Castilla " and " Don Antonio de Ulloa " using their port batteries, as they were moored bow and stern off Point Cavite. The flagship " Reina Cristina," a protected cruiser with a main battery of six 5.2 inch guns, the cruisers " Isla de Cuba," "Tsla de Luzon," and the " Don Juan de Austria," and the gunboat " Isla de Mindanao," were under steam, Appendix 487 and occasionally retired behind Point Cavite, — no doubt trying to lead us in over their torpedoes, which were be- lieved to be planted in the entrance and bay. The gunboats " General Lezo," " Marques del Duero," " El Correo," and another one were inside the basin behind Point Cavite, from whence they could fire upon us without our being able to see just where they were. Our vessels steamed in column up past the forts and fleet, turning and passing down again, making five long loops during the first engagement, our range varying from five thousand to twenty-five hundred yards, which could not be shortened on account of the shallow water. Early in the fight, a torpedo boat was gallantly dashed out from Point Cavite at high speed, evidently intending to torpedo the flagship or the " Baltimore;" but the secondary batteries of those vessels were handled with such precision, skill, and rapidity that the boat was hastily turned and headed for the shore, when a well-directed eight-inch shell from the "Baltimore " soon finished her. Still the cruel work went on, each vessel of each fleet taking every advan- tage possible to destroy its adversary. During the entire engagement there was no breeze, and the dense black smoke from the funnels hung like a pall about the slow-moving vessels, and for more than two mortal hours the carnage reigned. Shot and shell flew through the air from the ves- sels of both fleets and the shore batteries ; huge tongues of black-red flame licked into the dense smoke, and the quick, sharp crack of the rifle, the thunder roar of the enemy's guns, the hissing of flying shells, the prayers, the moans, and the curses of the wounded and the dying, and the lusty cheers for a successful shot, all mingled and went up with the great smoke-crowned columns of flame, as vessel after vessel was fired, and finally exploded and sank, making a scene of wreck and death that could only be produced by cruel war. 488 An American Cruiser in the East At 7.35 the signal was made by our flagship: "With- draw from action." The Spanish flagship " Reina Cristina," Admiral Mon- tojo commanding the station, was set on fire early in the action, but continued steaming and fighting until we with- drew, when she burst into flames all over and soon blew up. The Spanish admiral was slightly wounded, and her commander and 136 others were killed. One of our officers, who watched an eight-inch shell enter her side and explode, says, " It looked like a barrel of hell-fire going into her." One other vessel was set on fire during the interval between actions, and three of the Spanish gun- boats withdrew behind Cavite Point, and kept up their fire from under its cover. During the first action our fire was wholly directed at the enemy's ships, and their forts were ignored. At 10.40 the signal was made to " Form column on the flagship." At this time the "Baltimore" was steaming full speed after a suspicious vessel sighted in the bay. Then the signal was made to form column on the " Balti- more." The " Baltimore " signalled : " Strange vessel is flying the British flag." "Olympia" then made signal: " Destroy enemy's fortifications and batteries." The " Bal- timore " alone steamed up to within twenty-five hundred yards of the forts, and for about thirty minutes poured in broadsides with wonderful precision and terrible execution, making her bow and stern almost dance, to the extent that our engineers thought perhaps she was amongst torpedoes. Later, the other vessels of the fleet came up and co- operated in the destruction of the forts. The little "Petrel," followed by the " Boston " and the "Concord," and later by the remainder of the fleet, steamed past Point Cavite, and in toward shore, destroying shipping and the remaining guns in the fort. When this was done Appendix 489 she was sent inside to follow the enemy up, soon after which the enemy hoisted the white flag. The " Concord " started after a large Spanish transport, the " Isia de Mindanao," which was supposed to have mu- nitions of war, and which had been firing upon us during the morning. The "Concord" sent a shot across her bow, which was unheeded ; then she sent a six-inch shell into her, setting her on fire. The transport still endeavored to escape, but the "Olympia" headed her off^, and sent an eight-inch shell through her, when she burst into flames and was run aground, where she soon blew up. The saucy little " Petrel " went in amongst eight vessels and brought off five torpedo boats in tow. On the afternoon of May 2, the " Raleigh " and the *' Baltimore " went down to Corregidor and demanded the surrender of the forts. The commandant was a little obstinate ; but when informed that his forts were to be destroyed whether he surrendered or not, and that " the demand to surrender was in the interest of humanity and to save bloodshed," he made an unconditional surrender, and his three hundred and eighty officers and men were paroled ; whereupon the " Raleigh " and the " Baltimore " returned to the fleet. Corregidor, Cavite, with its vast shops and stores, and the bay are ours in two days ; and we have a home in the far East if we choose to hold it. Manila means the Philip- pines, but we must await the arrival of troops to hold it. The Spanish made a splendid fight for their country and their king. They poured out their blood like water, and freely gave their lives to their duty. More than one half of the men engaged were either killed or wounded. Their greatest loss was in their engine departments, where in some cases the entire force went down with the ship. Yankee pluck and Western daring were too much for their brave foes. Not one of the Spanish ships hauled down 49 o An American Cruiser in the East their colors, every one of them being either sunk or aban- doned with colors flying. The Spanish loss was 480 killed and 520 wounded, while the American loss was but eight slightly wounded, all of the " Baltimore." The Spanish fortifications were as follows : — Forts and Batteries at the Entrance to Manila Bay. Punta Gorda Battery. Lasisi Point Battery. Corregidor Forts and Batteries. Pulo Caballo Island Battery. El Fraile Rock Battery. Restinga Point Battery. Forts at Cavite. Canocao Battery. Sangley Point Batterv. Forts at Manila. Luna Fort, — ten-inch Krupp Guns. Walls of the old city, twelve feet thick, and strengthened with three thicknesses of bags of sand laid lengthwise. The lighthouse fort at the mouth of the Pasig River. Spanish Vessels at Cavite., May /, i8g8. Admiral Montojo. Guns. Commander. Reina Cristina (flagship), 21 L. Cardosa. (Burned.) Castilla, 22 A. M. de Oliva. (Sunk.) Don Antonio de Ulloa, 13 E. Robion. (Sunk.) Isla de Cuba, 10 J. Sidrach. (Sunk.) Isla de Luzon, 10 J. L. Human. (Sunk.) Don Juan de Austria, 13 J. de la Concha. (Burned.) El Correo, 7 F. Escudera. (Burned.) Appendix 491 Guns. 6 Commander. F. Benovento. S. M. Guerra. J. M. Estanga, General Lezo, Marques del Duero, 5 Villa Lobas, 4 Unknown Gunboat, Manila (transport), 2 J. Ozamiz. General Alova, Rapido, Hercules, Ilo Ilo, Isla de Mindanao (armed transport). (Burned.) (Burned.) (Burned.) (Burned.) (Captured.) (Captured.) (Captured.) (Captured.) (Captured.) (Burned.) United States Vessels at Cavite^ May 7, 1808. Commodore George Dewey, U. S. N., Commanding. Guns. Commander. Olympia (flj igsh ip), 14 C. V. Gridley, Baltimore, 10 N. M. Dyer. Raleigh, II J. B. Coghlan Boston, 8 Frank Wildes. Concord, 6 Asa Walker. Petrel, 4 E. P. Wood. On the 20th of May, Aguinaldo, the native insurgent leader, with members of his staff, arrived at Cavite, and immediately began to assemble his followers ; since which time these brave people have captured nearly all the Spanish strongholds in the province of Cavite, taken thousands of prisoners, and armed themselves by their captures. They have worked their way to the outposts of Manila and control all the country about it. On the 30th of June, U. S. transports, convoyed by the U. S. cruisers " Charleston " and " Baltimore," arrived in the bay with the first instalment of U. S. soldiers for the occupation of Manila and the Philippines. They were composed of a battalion of the Fourteenth Regular Infantry, 492 An American Cruiser in the East the Third Oregon Infantry, the First California Infantry, and a detachment of CaHfornia Heavy Artillery, all under the command of Brigadier-General Anderson, U. S, Army. The troops were speedily landed at the Cavite Arsenal, and quartered in the Spanish barracks just outside of the Arsenal. Aguinaldo's native forces moved into old Cavite, the adjoining towns, and closer to Manila, to make room tor our troops, who soon fraternized with their native aux- iliaries. The natives regard our people as their liberators from Spanish cruelty and oppression, and do everything in their power to help on the good cause. The following Spanish account of the naval battle of Cavite, taken from the " Diario de Manila" of May 4, 1898, is interesting : — A Naval Surprise When the enemv's squadron was sighted in perfect line of battle through the clouds of a misty dawn on the morn- ing of the first of Mav, gloom and surprise were general among the people of Manila. At last these ships had strained their boldness to the point of appearing on our coast and defying our batteries, which showed more courage and valor than efi^ect when they opened fire on the squadron. It needs something more than courage to make projectiles penetrate — indeed, it does ! Every Man to his Station The inequality of our batteries when compared with those of the squadron which alarmed the inhabitants of Manila at five in the morning was enough to transform the tranquil character of our tropical temperaments. While ladies and children in carriages or on foot fled in fright to seek refuge in the outlving suburbs and adjacent Appendix 493 villages around the capital, from danger multiplied by their imagination, every man, from the stately personage to the most humble workman, merchants and mechanics, Span- iards and natives, soldiers and civilians, — all, we repeat, sought their stations and put on their arms, confident that never should the enemy land in iManila unless he passed over their corpses. Yet from the first moment the strength of the enemy's armor and the power of his guns demon- strated that his ships were invulnerable to our energies and armaments ; the hostile squadron would never have entered our bay had not its surety been guaranteed by its manifest superiority. Spectators and Observers The city walls, the church towers, the roofs of high buildings, and all high places convenient for observation were occupied by those who were not retained by their military duties within the walls, on the bridges, or at the advanced posts. The slightest details of the enemy's ships were eagerly noted as they advanced towards Cavite in a line parallel with the beaches of Manila, as though they had just come out of the Pasig River. There were no gaps in the line, but the curious public hardly realized the disparity between their great guns and the pieces mounted on our fortifications. Some had glasses and others were without, but all seemed to devour with their eyes these strangers who, while brave, were not called upon to show their courage, since the range of their guns and the weak- ness of our batteries enabled them to preserve their impu- nity, while doing as much harm as they pleased. Remarks of the People All who appreciated the impunity with which the hostile ships manoeuvred, as if on a harmless parade, were full of such rage and desperation as belongs to the brave man who can make no use of his courage ; to whom remains no 494 ^^^ American Cruiser in the East remedy except an honorable death rather than a cowardly inactivity. A soldier of the First Battalion of Cazadores gazed at the squadron sweeping over the waters out of reach of the fire of our batteries, looked out and at the ships, then toward heaven, saying, " If Holv Mary would turn that sea into land, the Yankees would find out how we can charge in double time," And a crouching native staring out at the ships said, " Just let them come ashore and give us a whack at them." On they stood at full speed in column of battle, heading for Cavite with the decision due to a sense of safety and a firm assurance of success. The Fight seen from Manila For more than an hour and a half the bombardment held in suspense those whose souls followed the unequal struggle, in which the Spanish ships went down with their glorious banners flying. What was going on in the waters of Cavite ? From Manila we saw, through glasses, the two squadrons almost mingled together in the clouds of smoke. This was not far from a triumph for our side, considering the weakness of our batteries. For once alongside the enemy, the cry of "Boarders Away!" and the flash of cold steel might have enabled our devoted seamen to disturb the calm in which watches and instruments were regulated and direct- ing those engines of destruction. In the blindness of our rage how should we paint the heroic deeds, the prowess, the waves of valor which burst forth from our men-of-war? Those who fought beneath the Spanish flag bore themselves like men, as chosen sons of our native land, who never measure forces, nor yield to superior force in the hands of an enemy; who would rather die without ships than live in ships which have surrendered. Appendix 495 To name those who distinguished themselves in battle would require the publication of the entire muster-rolls of our ships, from captain to cabin-boy. To these victorious seamen of ours we offer congratulations ; laurels for the living ; prayers for the dead ; for all, our deepest gratitude. Since we cannot reconstruct the bloody scene which was exhibited last Sunday in the waters of Cavite, we will not attempt a description, which would only be a pale shadow of great deeds deserving a perpetual place in the pages of history. When the hostile squadron turned toward Cavite, the crew of the steamer ^ Isla de Mindanao " heard the drums beating to quarters, and answered with enthusiasm, three rounds of cheers for the King, for the Queen, and for Spain, which echoed along our line. Later, until a quarter to five, absolute silence reigned. Everything was ready. The idea of death was lost in ardor for the fray, and every eve was fixed on the battle- flags waving at our mastheads. In perfect and majestic order — why should we deny this? — the nine Yankee ships advanced in battle-array. The " Olympia," bearing the admiral's flag, led the column, followed by the other ships, steering at full speed towards Cavite. The " 01\'m- pia" opened fire, and an instant reply came from the battery on the mole, which kept on firing at five-minute inter- vals, while the iron-clad shaped her course for the " Reina Cristina " and " Castilla." Into both these ships she poured a steady and rapid fire, seconded by the ships which followed in her wake. Another ship which directed a heavy fire on our line was the " Baltimore ; " and so the cannonade went on until a quarter to eight. At that moment the " Don Juan de Austria " advanced against the enemy, intending to board the " Olvmpia," and if a tremendous broadside had not stopped her self-devoted charge, both ships would perhaps have sunk to the bottom. 49^ An American Cruiser in the East The captain of the " Reina Cristina," seeing that the resolute attempt of his consort had failed, advanced at full speed until within two hundred yards of the " Olympia," aiming to attack her. Then a shower of projectiles swept the bridge and decks, filling the ship with dead and wounded. Heroes and martyrs whom the nation will remember as long as it endures ! A dense column of smoke from the bow-compartment showed that an incendiary projectile, such as the law of God and man prohibits, had set fire to the cruiser. The ship, still keeping up her fire on the enemy, withdrew toward the arsenal, where she was sunk to keep her from falling into the hands of the Yankees. The desperation of the men of the " Reina Cristina " was aggravated by the sight of the " Castilla " also in a blaze, from a similar use of incendiary projectiles. The principal ships of our little squadron having thus been put out of action, the Yankee vessels, some of them badly crippled by the fire of our ships, and the batteries at Point Sangley, stood out toward Mariveles and the entrance of the bay, ceasing their fire and occupying themselves in repairing injuries until ten o'clock, v/hen they began a second attack to complete their work of destruction. In this second assault the fire at the arsenal was ex- tinguished, and they continued to cannonade the blazing gunboats. One gunboat, which seemed to have nothing more venturesome to undertake, detached herself from the squadron and set to work to riddle the mail steamer " Isla de Mindanao." Now that the ships were in flames, the admiral, Senor Montojo, who had shown his flag as long as there was a vessel afloat, landed, and hostilities ceased. The only Spanish ship which had not been destroyed by Appendix 497 fire or by the enemy's projectiles, sunk herself so that she could in no wise be taken. Such, in broad outlines, which we cannot correct at this moment, was the naval battle of Cavite, in which the last glimpse of our squadron showed the Spanish flag. A thousand sensational details have reached us, which we would reproduce gladly, after the necessary corrections, if our pen would serve for anything except to sing the glory of these martyrs of the nation. Perhaps to-morrow or another day, with fuller knowledge of the facts, we can furnish our readers with many inter- esting details. To-day we limit ourselves to a sketch of the grand picture which was unrolled before us on the first of May, begging our friends to excuse the defects which they may note. The Killed and Wounded Killed : The Captain, Chaplain, Clerk, and Boatswain of the " Reina Cristina." Wounded: The Captains of the " Castilla " and "Don Antonio de Ulloa." The Executive Officer of the "Reina Cristina." A Lieutenant of the " Don Juan de Austria." The Paymaster of the " Ulloa," the second Sur- geon of the " Cristina," the Surgeon of the " Ulloa," and Chief Engineers of the " Cris- tina" and " Austria." Vigilance By naval authority the most careful watch was kept In the river as well as on the coast, to secure the defence of the port. Batteries The gunners of the batteries defending Manila and Cavite showed the highest degree of energy and heroism. Every 3-: 49 8 An American Cruiser in the East one applauds the brave artillerymen who, by their calmness and skill, did all that was possible with the guns assigned to them, allowing for their deficiencies and imperfections. The battery that did most harm to the enemy was the one on Point Sangley made up of Hontoria guns. From one of these guns came the shot which the " Boston " re- ceived, while four ships which had altogether sixty-five guns were pouring their fires on this battery to reduce it to silence. One gun having been crippled, the other kept on playing, firing whenever damage could be done and avoiding waste of ammunition. To one of its shots is attributed the hurt which turned the " Baltimore " from the fight. This gun must have greatly annoyed the Yankees, to judge by the efforts they made to silence its fires, following it up until six gunners had been killed and four wounded. On this account it is proposed to demand the bestowal ot the laurel-wreathed cross of San Fernando to the valiant gunners who ser\'ed this battery. The Luenta batterv at Manila, which assailed the Yankee ships with much vigor, was the object of the enemy's special attention as he stood past the fortifications of Manila, head- ing for Cavite. Guns were also mounted at the entrance of the bay on Corregidor and Caballo Islands, on El Fraile rock, on the south shore at Point Restinga and at Mariveles, Punta Gorda, and Point Lasisi on the north shore. The guns on Corregidor Island were of about six-inch calibre ; similar guns were mounted on the rock and on Point Restinga. The other batteries had guns of smaller calibre and short range. Kind Treatment The Spanish Club, ever earnest in remedying misfortune, gave liberal help to the refugees who survived from our ships of war. Appendix 499 Bread and Water Doubtless the Civil Commission has arranged to secure supplies tor the city, but it is certain since Sunday there has been great scarcity of everything, and speculators ha\'e got what prices they cared to ask for articles of prime necessity. Already people are growing calmer, and the shops are open, and it is to be expected that Manila will go on resuming her usual lite and animation. The Country responds The great masses of the rural population of the Philip- pines, as well as the leaders of the nation, have responded like loyal sons of Spain, sharing our pains and assisting in our labors. Telegram The admiral, Seiior Montojo, has received a telegram of congratulation from the Minister of Marine, who, in his own name, and in the name of the Oueen of Spain, felici- tates the navy of this archipelago for gallant behavior on the day of Cavite. These are the terms of the telegram referred to : " Honor and glory to the Spanish Fleet which fought so heroically in the bav." No Papers After two davs of silence, in which our paper failed to see the light, bv reason of exceptional circumstances oc- curring in Manila, and well known to all the public, we return to our regular issues, trusting in the good-will of our subscribers. Appendix IV THE CAPTURE OF MANILA AND THE PHILIPPINES BY THE COMBINED SEA AND LAND FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, AUGUST I3, 1 898 U. S. S. " Baltimore," Manila, August 18, 1898. As soon as the Spanish fleet had been annihilated, the insurgents began to assemble about Cavite, and on May 20, General Aguinaldo and staff arrived from Hong-kong, and began operations against the Spaniards on the land side. The people of the neighboring provinces were soon under arms, and the investment of Manila was begun. Captures of small detachments of Spanish troops were of almost daily- occurrence, and the arms and ammunition captured in this way supplied the insurgents with the means of continuing the warfare. Many of the insurgents were armed with machetes, spears, axes, or bows and arrows, and their com- missary was of the poorest kind, — a handful or two of rice, a few eggs, and an occasional fowl, which were contributed by friends of their cause, was about the extent of it ; and on this fare they made long weary marches, built earthworks, burrowed trenches, and fought a hand-to-hand fight with their enemy, right up to the Malate fort and magazine. The insurgents soon had the neighboring provinces in their possession, and invested Manila on the land side, and a struggle for the possession of the magazine and Fort Malate went on day and night with varying success. Appendix 501 On June 30, transports arrived from San Francisco, under convoy of the U. S. S." Charleston," bringing Brio-- adier-General Anderson and about four thousand troops, who were landed at Cavite Arsenal, the insurgent forces moving out of old Cavite to make room for the Americans. On July 16 and 17, the second detachment of United States troops arrived. These were landed, some at Cavite and others at Tambo, and the men of the first detachment were moved up from Cavite Arsenal to Tambo, where they encamped under the guns of the U. S.S. " Raleigh." The insurgents held many meetings in the church at old Cavite, and on July i, General Aguinaldo proclaimed the Republic of the Philippines with the following declara- tion : — 1. The independence of the Philippines shall be proclaimed. 2. A republic shall be established with a government designated by General Aguinaldo, and approved by the admiral and general commanding the United States forces. 3. The Government will recognize the temporary intervention of Commissioners designated for the present by the United States. 4. The American Protectorate shall be recognized on the same conditions as arranged for Cuba. 5. The Philippine ports shall be opened free for the universal commerce of the world. 6. Precautionary measures shall be adopted against Chinese im- migration, so as to regulate the competition with the work of the natives. 7. The corrupt judicial svstem at present existing shall be re- formed, intrusting at the commencement the administration of justice to competent European legal officials. 8. The complete liberty of association, as likewise that of the press, shall be declared. 9. There shall be a general religious toleration, but measures shall be adopted for the abolition and expulsion of the religious communities who with an iron hand have hitherto demoralized the actual civil administration. 502 An American Cruiser in the East 10. Measures conducive to the working, development, and pros- pects of the natural resources of the country shall be adopted. 1 1 . The development of the public wealth shall be facilitated, together with the opening up of roads and railways. I 2. The existing obstacles to the forming of commercial enter- prises and investment of foreign capital shall be suppressed. 13. The new Government will keep the public order, and will be obliged to prevent every act of reprisal against the Spaniards. 14. The Spanish official element shall be removed to some other safe and healthy island until the opportunity is presented for them to return to Spain. On July 25, Major-General Wesley Merritt arrived on the transport " Newport " and assumed command of the United States land forces. The United States troops were advanced from Tambo to Pasai, and during the week of August 6 they were advanced to the trenches which had been made by the insurgents within a few hundred yards of the magazine and Fort Malate. The new-comers were as disagreeable to the Spaniards as were the men who dug the trenches ; so the Americans were assaulted on the last three nights of the same week, with the result that some thirty of the Americans were killed and a larger number were wounded, which seemed to be cold-blooded murder, as such work could not be decisive of the final result, and could not be called war. On Sunday, August 7, General Merritt and Admiral Dewey sent a joint note to the Governor-General, as follows : — Manila Bav, August 7, 1898. To the General-in-C/iief, commanding the Spanish Forces in Manila ; Sir, — We have the honor to notify your Excellency that the operations of the land and naval forces of the United States against the defences of Manila mav begin at any time after the expiration of forty-eight hours from the hour of receipt bv you of this com- munication, or sooner if made necessary bv an attack on your part. Appendix 503 This notice is given to afford you an opportunity to remove all non-combatants from the city. Very respectfully, (Signed) Wesley Merritt, Major-General, U. S. A., comiiiandi)ig Larid Forces of the United States. (Signed) George Dewey, Rear-Admiral, U. S. N., commanding U. S. Naval Forces in Asiatic Station. To which the Governor-General replied : — Manila, August 7, 1898 To the Major-General of the Army and the Rear- Admiral of the Na'ual Forces of the United States : Gentlemen, — I have the honor to inform your Excellencies that at half-past twelve o'clock I received the notice with which you favored me, that after forty -eight hours have elapsed you may begin operations against this fortified city, or at an earlier hour if the forces under your command are attacked by mine. As your notice is sent for the purpose of providing for the safety of non-combatants, 1 give thanks to your Excellencies for the humane sentiments you have shown, and state that, finding myself surrounded by insurrectionary forces, I am without a place of refuge for the increased number of wounded, sick, women, and children who are now within the walls. Respectfully, and kissing the hand of your Excellencies, (Signed) Fermin Jaudenes, Governor-General and Captain-General of the Philippines. Our troops were not molested after this correspondence. A parley began, and at half-past eight on Saturday morn- ing, after a heavy down-pour of rain, the vessels of our fleet, — flagship " Olympia," "Baltimore," " xMonterey," " Raleigh," " Charleston," " Boston," " Petrel," " Callao " (captured Spanish gunboat), and the "Olympia's" steam tender, — with colors set at each masthead and with ships* 504 An American Cruiser in the East companies at battle stations, began to form in battle order. While we were forming, the band of the British flagship " Immortalite " played the "Star-Spangled Banner," after which the " Immortalite " and the "Iphigenia" went over and took positions, one at each end of the line of the foreign men-of-war. The Japanese war vessels remained ofF Cavite. The "Olympia," "Raleigh," " Petrel," " Callao," and the " Olympia's " steam tender headed slowly toward Fort Malate, while the " Monterey " went close in to the front of the city to draw the enemy's fire, and the " Baltimore," " Charleston," and " Boston " acted as a reserve division, and the " Concord " remained near the Pasig River. At half-past nine, it still being thick and raining, the " Olym- pia," " Raleigh, " Petrel," " Callao," and the " Olympia's " steam tender opened fire upon Fort Malate, and by five minutes past eleven the guns of that fort were silenced. Then the left wing of our army, under the command of Brigadier-General Green, rushed out of their trenches and made a dash for the fort. After a hand-to-hand encounter, which lasted for some minutes, the enemy stubbornly fell back, disputing every inch of the ground, as our troops ad- vanced. The little " Callao " kept ahead, and threw shells into the enemy's lines to clear the way for our troops as they advanced along the beach and through the streets of Malate (a suburb of Manila). The Luneta fort was found to be evacuated ; when our men turned by it and returned to the beach, fighting their way up to the gates of the old walled city. In the mean time the " Monterey" patrolled the entire water-front, and the other vessels of the fleet proceeded along very slowly, so as to have our troops, at all times, well under the protection of our guns. At the same time the right wing of the army, under command of Brigadier-General MacArthur, advanced along the roads further removed from the water-front and fought Appendix 505 its way to the gates of the old city. Then the steam launch of the Belgian Consul, which had been following our fleet during the action, took a representative of General Merritt from the army flagship '<• Zafiro " and a representative of Admiral Dewey from the " Olympia " into the old city of Manila, under a flag of truce, where they demanded the surrender of the Philippines. At half-past two in the after- noon the preliminary terms of surrender had been agreed upon, and the launch returned, and at nine minutes past five the United States flag replaced the Spanish flag on the plaza of the old city. The guns of each ship thundered forth twenty-one guns, the Spaniards ceased to rule the Philippines, and Major-General Wesley Merritt of the United States Army became the first American governor, and took up his headquarters in the palace of the Spanish royal governor in the old city. Thirty soldiers were killed and seventy wounded in the battle, and it is supposed that the enemy's loss was about eight hundred killed and wounded. Incidents. Not a man of the fleet was injured in the battle. It is believed that this last defence of Manila was made by the native troops who remained loyal to Spain, as the Spaniards were not anxious to renew their experiences of the first of May with us. While the artillery of the right wing of the army was advancing, the Astor battery made a sharp turn in the road when they found themselves ambushed under a galling fire, and the situation was such that they could not swing their guns around to use them ; so they jumped from their guns, and with sabre and revolver in hand dashed at the enemy in the bush. In a few moments the regulars were in the melee, and the Spaniards fell back, but still kept up a hot fire with their rifles. The Spaniards had scattered "block" "log" houses, with loop- holes for small arms, about the country to command the roads of approach to Manila. At block house No. 14 there was a hotly 506 An American Cruiser in the East contested light for some minutes, where several were killed and many were wounded on both sides. Just as the Philippines were surrendered to us, the Spaniards celebrated the event by burning one of their gunboats and scuttling another, besides several smaller craft, just inside the entrance to the Pasig River. The Spaniards were warned against doing any more work of this kind ; and when it was explained to them that they would not look very dignified when dangling at the end of a piece of Manila rope, they took the hint, and there were no more acts of vandalism. The Spanish troops were all disarmed and paroled ; their officers being allowed to keep their side arms, which they continued to wear about the town while puffing cigarette smoke and explaining how it happened. When the sun had set behind the western horizon, and darkness had fallen over land and sea, the German flagship " Kaiserin Augusta" steamed out of the bay with the late Governor-General Agustin and family on board, and conveyed them to Hong-kong. Sunday was a quiet day, and most of the vessels having refugees on board returned to the mouth of the Pasig. Father Dougherty, of General Merritt's staff, celebrated mass in the cathedral to an immense congregation. While the service lasted, it was well ; but when he made his address in the English language, there was con- sternation amongst the vast throng. On Monday morning the British flagship " Immortalite " steamed over from her place in the foreign iieet, hoisted the Ameri- can flag at her masthead, and saluted it with twenty-one guns, while her band played the " Star-Spangled Banner " and " Yankee Doodle." She then took a new anchorage near our fleet, and was soon joined by her consort, the "Iphigenia." The English seemed as much pleased over the victorv as our own people. The Civic Guard, loyal natives, are policing the city under our control, and the custom-house and post-office are practically operated by the people who were in charge under Spanish rule ; everything goes on as usual, and the business of the city is being rapidly resumed. Some of the women show a spiteful feeling against us, but that will soon disappear, — at least, in the open manifestation. The city is very short of provisions and goods of all kinds Horses, mules, and water-bufi^alo were used for food ; and vegeta- Appendix 507 bles and fruits have been almost unknown for more than a month, — ever since the insurgents invested the city. There is very little friction, no more than would be expected in getting an army of thousands of men settled in a captured city and the islands in working order. The insurgents have retired from this neighborhood. At noon on August i6 an English steamer came in to the fleet with news that hostilities had ceased. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ■iii 010 231 732 4