On August 7, a few months later, and after several contigents of Americans have arrived, General Wesley Merritt and Admiral Dewey jointly sent the Spanish commander the following notice:

"... the operations of the land and naval forces of the United States against the defenses of Manila may begin at any time after the expiration of forty-eight hours (August 9) from the hour of receipt by you of this communication, or sooner if made necessary by attack on your part. This notice is given in order to afford you an opportunity to remove all non-combatants from the city ..."

Manila surrendered on August 13, 1898 after a brief and actually only a token bombardment of the outer fortifications by the fleet and an attack by the troops. This event is referred to by some Filipino historians as the "Mock Battle of Manila".

General Arthur MacArthur was appointed Provost-Marshal-General and Civil Governor of the city.

During the next four years the government established by the Americans in the Philippines was headed by four successive Military Governors, all Major-Generals, Merritt, Otis, MacArthur, and Chaffee, although civil administration by Americans under the direction of the military commanders began immediately after the occupation of Manila.