This notice is given to afford you an opportunity to remove all non-combatants from the city. Yours Respectfully, Wesley Merritt, Major-General U. S. A., Commanding. George Dewey, Rear-Admiral U. S. N., Commanding. To this the Spanish general replied in a polite note; that on account of the fact that he was surrounded by the insurgents he was without "a place of refuge for the increased number of wounded, sick, women, and children" within the walls. He doubtless hoped that his mention of this fact would put off the attack altogether. And it did delay it for several days. However, General Merritt then issued the following order, which was translated into Spanish: In view of the extraordinary conditions under which this army is operating, the commanding general desires to acquaint the officers and men with the expectations he entertains as to their conduct. You are assembled on foreign soil, situated within the western confines of a vast ocean, separating you from your native land. You have come not as despoilers or oppressors, but simply as the instrument of a strong, free government, whose purposes are beneficent, and which declared itself in this war champion of those oppressed by Spanish misrule. It is therefore the intention of this order to appeal directly to your pride in your position as representatives of a high civilization, in the hope and with the firm conviction that you will so conduct yourself in your relation with the inhabitants of these islands as to convince them of the lofty nature of the mission you have come to execute. It is not believed any acts of pillage, rapine or violence will be committed by soldiers or others in the employ of the United States, but should there be persons with this command who prove themselves unworthy of this confidence, their acts will be considered not only as crimes against the sufferers, but as direct insults to the United States Flag, and be punished on the spot with the maximum penalties known to military law. It was decided to begin the attack on Saturday morning, August 13th. Accordingly, a little before nine o'clock the fleet began to move in close to the city. The Olympia led the way, followed by the Raleigh and the Petrel, while the Callao and the launch Barcelo hugged the shore. The Monterey, with the Baltimore, Charleston, and Boston formed the reserve. The ships were all cleared for action, and moved majestically and silently forward. It was raining heavily.