The works of the second line soon gave way to the determined advance of Greene's troops, and that officer pushed his brigade rapidly through Malate and over the bridges to occupy Binondo and San Miguel, as contemplated in his instructions.

In the meantime, the brigade of General MacArthur advancing simultaneously on the Passay Road, encountered a very sharp fire, coming from the blockhouses, trenches and woods in his front, positions which it was very difficult to carry, owing to the swampy condition of the ground on both sides of the roads and the heavy undergrowth which concealed the enemy. With much gallantry and excellent judgment on the part of the brigade commander and the troops engaged these difficulties were overcome with a minimum loss, and MacArthur advanced and held the bridges and the town of Malate.

The city of Manila was now in our possession, excepting the walled town, but shortly after the entry of our troops into Malate a white flag was displayed on the walls, whereupon Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Whittier, United States Volunteers, of my staff, and Lieutenant Brumby, United States Navy, representing

Manila

Capitulates.

Admiral Dewey, were sent ashore to communicate with the captain-general.

I soon personally followed these officers into the town, going at once to the palace of the governor-general, and there, after a conversation with the Spanish authorities, a preliminary agreement of the terms of capitulation was signed by the captain-general and myself. This agreement was subsequently incorporated into the formal terms of capitulation, as arranged by the officers representing the two forces.

Immediately after the surrender the Spanish colors on the sea front were hauled down and the American flag displayed, and saluted by the guns of the navy. The Second Oregon Regiment, which had proceeded by sea from Cavite, was disembarked and entered the walled town as a provost guard, and the colonel was directed to receive the Spanish arms and deposit them in places of security. The town was filled with the troops of the enemy driven in from the intrenchments, regiments formed and standing in line in the streets, but the work of disarming proceeded quietly and nothing unpleasant occurred in the proceedings of surrender to our forces of the Spanish army of defence, and our complete occupation of Manila.

OUR BATTLES WITH THE FILIPINOS.

Aguinaldo Leads a Host of His Followers Against the American

T

Army Occupying Manila.

BY J. W. BUEL.

HE intervention of a superior power to aid a struggling people to free themselves from the oppressions and abuses practiced by their subjugators is invariably attended by ingratitude, which usually

manifests itself in hostile demonstrations against their liberators. This sudden change to enmity of a freed people has its origin in the soulless ambition of thankless leaders, who, conceiving a purpose to become absolute as rulers, promote the military spirit of their followers, which they then employ for their own selfish ends, and often to the ruin of their purblind followers as well as themselves. This is especially true of the semi-civilized, among whom insurgent leaders who once taste the fruit of victory, however small and transitory, may never thereafter be depended upon to yield loyal allegiance to any power above them. The United States Government is in an attitude to feel the effects of this base ingratitude, and that our humane intervention in Cuba and in the Philippines will bring upon us the hostility of those liberated peoples there can be no doubt, and may involve us in a long and costly war, wherein we shall occupy the position from which ou armies have recently driven Spain. Indeed, the first blow has already been struck by the Filipinos, who, mindless of the service which the United States rendered in freeing them from the exactions and cruelty of their Spanish taskmasters, are now anxious to expel their civilized liberators, to disclaim all obligations, and to assert their independence.

Aguinaldo's Assumptions of Authority.

The signing of the Peace Treaty at Paris, December 10, which terminated our war with Spain, was almost immediately followed by acts of arrogance and supercilious conduct on the part of Aguinaldo, who assuming the powers of a sovereign-though without recognition-proceeded to levy taxes, issue proclamations, impose restrictions upon American troops, and conducted himself in a manner that was calculated to irritate our officers and to incense our soldiers to the limit of patience. Refusal by the President and Secretary of State to recognize Aguinaldo's representative, Agoncillo, who visited Washington and memorialized Congress in a vain effort to secure acknowledgment of Philippine independence, so angered Aguinaldo that he made preparations to resume the war against American troops in the Philip pines as invaders. He was able to secure from traders, who were more mercenary than patriotic, 10,000 Mauser and Remington rifles, 3,000,000 rounds of ammunition, two 20-pounder Krupp guns and several pieces of field artillery. He thereupon began active operations by intrenching his 20,000 troops in the vicinity of Manila, and in making preparations for conducting hostilities. The administration entertained the hope that forbearance and kind treatment might influence Aguinaldo to accept the kind offices and sincere good will of America, which, however, instead of being appreciated, served no other purpose than to provide opportunity desired by the insurgents to strengthen their position and to complete their preparations for war.

It unfortunately happened that the administration's pacific utterances and great forbearance was regarded by the Filipinos as an evidence of hesitation and weakness. In practicing toleration to avoid actual conflict with the natives, and to save bloodshed, a certain official recognition was given the Filipinos. A striking illustration of this fact occurred on December 21, when the two forces were very near an engagement. Up to that date the sentries of the American and insurgent forces had guarded opposite ends of the Paco bridge, a stone structure across a ten-foot creek on the outskirts of the city, but in accordance with instructions the American officer of the day essayed to post his sentry in the centre of the bridge. The Filipino guard objected, however, and when a protest was made informed the Americans that at nine o'clock the next morning they would fire upon the American line unless the sentry was withdrawn. At the appointed hour Major-General Anderson and some 4,000 men were on hand, but after a conference the Filipinos were recognized to the extent that the sentry was withdrawn to his former position, and the American troops marched back to their quarters.

The issuance of General Otis' proclamation regarding the intentions of the Americans in the Philippines gave Aguinaldo the opportunity desired, and in less than twelve hours after the former was published the Filipino's response was posted on the walls of the city. Its effect was instantaneous upon the natives generally and their attitude was such that it was deemed advisable to keep the entire ariny of occupation in quarters and under arms, in order that they might be ready should an emergency arise.

Two trivial incidents which occurred simultaneously in different parts of the city occasioned a false alarm at 2.30 o'clock, January 6, 1899, and the entire troops were called " to arms." Within fifteen minutes after the echoes of the bugles had died away the whole force was under way, every company of every regiment being in its allotted position ready for action. While this created somewhat of a sensation temporarily, the promptitude with which the troops responded to the call had the effect of restoring confidence.

In response to the conciliatory proclamation of Major-General Otis, issued January 4, Aguinaldo issued an official manifesto in which he says:

Aguinaldo's
Manifesto.

"General Otis calls himself in the proclamation referred to, 'Military Governor of the Philippine Islands,' and I protest once and a thousand times and with all the energy of my soul, against such authority. I solemnly proclaim that I have never had, neither in Singapore nor in Hong Kong, nor here, in the Philippines, any undertaking or agreement either by word or by writing, to recognize the sovereignity of America in this, our loved country. On the contrary, I say that I returned to these islands on board an American warship on the sixth of May of last year, with the decided and manifest proposition to carry on the war with the Spaniards, to reconquer our liberty and our independence.

"In the proclamation of General Otis, he alludes to instructions written for him by His Excellency, the President of the United States, referring to the administration of affairs in the Philippines Islands. I solemnly protest in the name of God, the root and foundation of all justice and of all right, and who has given to me power to direct my dear brothers in the difficult work of our generation, against this intrusion of the Government of the United States in the sovereignty of these islands. Equally, I protest in the name of all the Philippine people against this intrusion, because when they gave me their vote of confidence, electing me, though unworthy, as president of the nation, when they did this they imposed on me the duty to sustain to the death their liberty and independence."

Ratification of the Treaty.

It was against such sentiment that the American authorities had to contend, which appeal for the right of self-government had a powerful influence in the United States Congress, and among a large proportion of the American people, which manifested itself A Plan to Defeat in an opposition to a ratification of the Paris treaty strong enough to postpone the vote until February 6. Aguinaldo persuaded himself to believe that a hostile demonstration by his troops immediately before the time set for senatorial action would cause a rejection of the treaty on the final vote. This vain belief he put into effect on the night of Saturday, February 4, by making an attack on the American lines guarding Manila, entertaining no doubt that he would be able to surprise Major-General Otis and under the cover of darkness achieve an easy victory.

The situation was precarious for a long while, though the Filipinos sought to quiet suspicion of their designs by profuse assurances whenever they were discovered in a hostile act. They maintained a strictly belligerent attitude, however, and their sentries were posted within a few yards of our outposts, while day and night a large force was industriously Irritating Conduct engaged increasing their intrenchments and otherwise preof the Filipinos. paring for an attack upon Manila. Such strained relations could not endure indefinitely, and the rupture was finally precipitated by an invasion of the neutral zone by a small party of insurgents who passed the American guards and refused to halt or turn back when challenged. At this time the fighting force of the insurgents was estimated to be 30,000 men, of which number 20,000 were before Manila, fairly well armed and occupying strong positions. Our total force in the Philippines was about twenty-one thousand, two thousand of which number was incapacitated, by sickness, or on leave, and less than ten thousand were in Manila, the others being distributed at various points in the islands.

When hostilities began by an attack made by the Filipinos on the night of Saturday, February 4, 1899, the American army encircled Manila in two divisions. The first division was commanded by General Anderson, the First brigade of the First division being under command of BrigadierGeneral King, and the Second being cominanded by Brigadier-General Ovenshine. The lines extended from the sea along the line of Spanish blockhouses to the Pasig River, in Samapaloc. The Second division, under General MacArthur, with the First brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General Harrison G. Otis, and the Second brigade, by Brigadier-General Hale, occupied a position to the north of the city from Pasig River to the

sea.

The most extreme point inland occupied by American troops was the camp of the Nebraska regiment, at Santa Mesa, where the first fight began on Saturday at 8.45 p. m. The Nebraska outposts challenged and fired on an insurgent company, which was advancing into the neutral zone, but the Filipinos disregarded the command and a few moments later another company swept across the neutral zone as if by preconcerted signal which drew the fire of our sentries and the battle opened. A heavy force of insurgents on the north of the city began a sharp fusillade on the Nebraska camp, to which the regiment responded with spirit. Springfields flained in the half moon all about the camp, while the enemy's Mausers gave no flash.

Across the Bridge.

At four o'clock on Sunday morning, with the shout Tried to Rush of "Viva la Republica !" the Filipinos tried to rush across the bridge, over a road leading to the waterworks, opposite the American camp. One company of Nebraska men met the advancing insurgents at the bridge and drove them back. Twice the Filipinos, with