of combined attack
arranged between General Merritt and Admiral Dewey was explained. For
some hours a storm prevented the landing of more American troops
with supplies, but these were later on landed at Paranaque when the
weather cleared up, and were hurriedly sent on to the camp, where
preparations were being made for the assault on the city.

Whilst the Protocol was being signed in Washington the American troops
were entrenched about 350 yards from the Spaniards, who were prepared
to make their last stand at the Fort San Antonio Abad (Malate). From
the morning of that day there were apparent signs of an intended
sortie by the Spaniards, and, in view of this, the rebels marched
towards the American lines, but were requested to withdraw. Indeed,
the native forces were only too anxious to co-operate with the American
troops, or at least, to have the semblance of doing so, in order to
justify their claim to enter the beleaguered city as allies of the
invaders. General Merritt, however, discouraged any such alliance,
and issued precise orders to his subordinate officers to avoid,
as much as possible, all negotiation with the Aguinaldo party.

Why the Spaniards were still holding the city of Manila at this date
is perhaps best understood by the Americans. To the casual observer
it would have appeared expedient to have made the possession of
Manila a _fait accompli_ before the Protocol of Peace was signed. The
Americans had a large and powerful fleet in Manila Bay; they were
in possession of Cavite, the arsenal and forts, and they had a large
army under Maj.-General Merritt and his staff. General Augusti was,
for weeks previous, personally disposed to surrender, and only refused
to do so as a matter of form, hence the same means as were finally
employed could apparently have brought about the same result at an
earlier date. [201] The only hope the Spaniards could entertain was a
possible benefit to be derived from international complication. From
the tone of several of the Captain-General's despatches, published
in Madrid, one may deduce that capitulation to a recognized Power
would have relieved him of the tremendous anxiety as to what would
befall the city if the rebels did enter. It is known that, before the
bombardment, Admiral Dewey and his colleagues had given the humane
and considerate assurance that the city should not be left to the
mercy of the revolutionary forces.

The next day, Saturday, August 13, the Ameri