yment of the prescribed rates of
duty which may be in force at the time of the importation.

VI. All churches and places devoted to religious worship and to the
arts and sciences, all educational institutions, libraries, scientific
collections, and museums are, so far as possible, to be protected; and
all destruction or intentional defacement of such places or properly,
of historical monuments, archives, or works of science and art, is
prohibited, save when required by urgent military necessity. Severe
punishment will be meted out for all violations of this regulation.

The custodians of all property of the character mentioned in this
section will make prompt returns thereof to these headquarters, stating
character and location, and embodying such recommendations as they may
think proper for the full protection of the properties under their care
and custody, that proper orders may issue enjoining the co-operation
of both military and civil authorities in securing such protection.

VII. The Commanding General, in announcing the establishment of
military government, and in entering upon his duty as Military Governor
in pursuance of his appointment as such by the government of the United
States, desires to assure the people that so long as they preserve
the peace and perform their duties toward the representatives of the
United States they will not be disturbed in their persons and property,
except in so far as may be found necessary for the good of the service
of the United States and the benefit of the people of the Philippines.

_Wesley Merritt_,

Major-General, United States Army, Commanding.

The general orders following are full of curious interest, as they
declare the true intent and meaning of the Philippine Expedition,
and define the situation at Manila, with extraordinary precision,
and are in the strictest sense by authority:

_Headquarters Department of the Pacific and Eighth Army Corps_

Manila Bay, August 9th, 1898.

_General Orders_, No. 3.

1. In view of the extraordinary conditions under which this Army is
operating, the Commanding General desires to acquaint the officers
and men composing it, with the expectations which he entertains as
to their conduct.

You are assembled upon foreign soil situated within the western
confines of a vast ocean separating you from your native land. You have
come not as despoilers and oppressors, but simply as the instruments
of a strong free government, whose p