The date of the impression made on General Anderson’s mind as to the displeasure of Aguinaldo is important.  The insurgent chief would have preferred the military distinctions to have been reserved for himself.  General Anderson says of the Spanish attacks on General Greene’s lines: 

“These conflicts began on the night of July 31, as soon as the enemy had realized that we had taken the places of the Filipinos, and began a system of earthworks to the front of their old line.  It may have been merely coincident, but these attacks and sorties began at the time the Captain General of Manila was relieved by his second in command.  For more than six weeks the insurgents had kept up a bickering infantry fire on the Spanish trenches, firing occasionally some old siege pieces captured by Admiral Dewey at Cavite and given to Aguinaldo.  These combats were never serious, and the Spaniards, so far as I know, made no sorties upon them.  But there is no doubt of the fact that the Spaniards attacked our lines with force and vindictiveness, until they were informed that the bringing on of a general engagement would lead to a bombardment of the city.  After this there was for several days a tacit suspension of hostilities.”

As to the situation of General Greene, Brigadier General Merritt says: 

“The difficulty in gaining an avenue of approach to the Spanish line lay in the fact of my disinclination to ask General Aguinaldo to withdraw from the beach and the ‘Calle Real,’ so that Greene could move forward.  This was overcome by instructions to General Greene to arrange, if possible, with the insurgent brigade commander in his immediate vicinity to move to the right and allow the American forces unobstructed control of the roads in their immediate front.  No objection was made, and accordingly General Greene’s brigade threw forward a heavy outpost line on the “Calle Real” and the beach and constructed a trench, in which a portion of the guns of the Utah batteries was placed.

“The Spanish, observing this activity on our part, made a very sharp attack with infantry and artillery on the night of July 31.  The behavior of our troops during this night attack was all that could be desired, and I have, in cablegrams to the War Department, taken occasion to commend by name those, who deserve special mention for good conduct in the affair.  Our position was extended and strengthened after this and resisted successfully repeated night attacks, our forces suffering, however, considerable loss in wounded and killed, while the losses of the enemy, owing to the darkness, could not be ascertained.