The instructions to Noriel or Cailles read as follows:—­

“At eight o’clock in the morning of Wednesday, the 14th, withdraw your command from the town of Malate as indicated on the enclosed plan, from the bridge in Singalong and in a straight line from there to the branch of the river in Paco will be the line of our jurisdiction even though we may not be of one mind in the matter.  On receipt of this proceed to determine the most suitable places to post our troops even if they are not supplied with batteries; on posting the detachments give instructions to have intrenchments made immediately without resting, especially on the days of the 15th and 16th.  Since affairs have a serious aspect, do not lose vigilance and be on the alert at all times....

“Concentrate all the forces and have a call to arms in Cavite so that all the troops may be in Pasay on Wednesday night.

“In case the Americans attempt to order you out do not leave your posts, happen what may, but exercise prudence and be prepared leaving them to give the provocation.  Answer them that you have no instructions given you with regard to what they ask.” [191]

Obviously the maintenance of peace at this time hung by a very slender thread.  On September 14 the governor of Cavite telegraphed Aguinaldo as follows:—­

“Most urgent.  I desire to know from you the result of the ultimatum.  Advise me if we must prepare our troops for action to-morrow.  I await a reply.” [192]

But war was not to begin at this time.  On September 23 Bray wrote to Aguinaldo advising him to maintain a defensive attitude until the result of the negotiations at Paris should become known, giving way to the Americans and not showing his teeth.  He could take the offensive later if advisable and should have little difficulty in settling accounts with the American soldiers. [193]

Bray suggested the possibility of an alliance between the American and the Spanish soldiers if a conflict should arise before the departure of the latter. [194]

Meanwhile preparations for the attack progressed.  During September, Sandico wrote Aguinaldo suggesting the urgent necessity of reorganizing the “masons” and the Katipunan, [195] and that all be furnished with knives, to be kept hidden so that they might be “ready for any event.”

In spite of efforts to keep the Insurgent soldiers in hand, feeling among them ran high, and they wanted to fight. [196] On November 30, 1898, General Mascardo telegraphed from San Fernando to Aguinaldo asking if he might begin firing in order to prevent the American troops from disembarking, and Aguinaldo promptly answered in the affirmative. [197]

On December 5 Malvar telegraphed from Lipa that according to a despatch from Batangas, American divers were working unceasingly and that a subordinate had ordered that they be fired on if they attempted to land.  Aguinaldo replied that he did not mind their working at sea, but that they must not be allowed to land under any circumstances. [198]