made a mockery of, with impious hands 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' honour, or appropriate
the property that 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 valour
and your patriotism will suffice to punish and abase the people
who, claiming to be civilized and polished, have exterminated the
natives of North America instead of bringing to them the life of
civilization and of progress.

Filipinos, prepare for the struggle, and united under the
glorious Spanish banner, which is ever bedecked with laurels,
let us fight with the conviction that victory will reward our
efforts; against the shouts of our enemies let us resist with
Christian decision and the patriotic cry of "Viva Espana!

_Manila_, _23rd of April_, 1898.

Your General,
_Basilio Augusti y Davila_.

The volunteers and guerilla battalions which had been so recently
disbanded by General Primo de Rivera, because they terrorized the
peaceful inhabitants, were now publicly thanked and praised for their
past services and called upon again to serve their country. The Mayor
of Manila issued his own proclamation, exhorting the inhabitants
to help the Spaniards against the Americans. Archbishop Nozaleda
also made his appeal to the people, assuring them that four Spanish
battleships were on their way out (although, as a matter of fact,
only one existed, namely, the _Pelayo_ 8,500 tons, built in 1887),
and that from direct communication with the Almighty he had learnt that
the most Christian Spain would be victorious in the next engagement.

There was a general stampede of those who could get away; numbers
of families fled up the Pasig River towards the Lake of Bay. The
approaches to Manila from the north were held by the rebels; Cavite
Province threw off the cloak of pacification and sent fresh levies to
invest the highroads leading from the south to the capital. General
Augusti's wife and children, who had been conducted for safety to
Macabebe (Lower Pampanga), were kidnapped by the rebels. All Americans
(about 25), except one family, took refuge on board forei