THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
miles distant from the capital. As yet they
met with no opposition. The rebel stronghold is of course in Cavite, which has a population of about 300,000, where they hold 19 out of the 22 villages in the province.
The centre in which the rebels are gathering inst the village of Imas, seven miles from Davits city, a place so located that its natural surroundings aid the task with which it might be defended. Fortifications have been built to surround the city and it is thought that the principal stand will be made by the rebels at this point.
The rebels are also fortified at Noveleta, just outside the city of Cavite, and across the bay. The Spanish gunboats have been incessantly bombarding the place for the last month, with- out any apparent result. The Governor- General intends to place his troops in Batangas and La Laguna to keep the rebels from leaving Cavite and will then close in upon them.
•
JAMES W. DAVIDSON.
FROM A CORRESPONDENT.] The following appeared in all the Manila papers." A most touching scene took place in the village church of Guiguinto (Province of Bulacan) on Sunday last after high mass. The schoolmaster of the village, Eugenio Catanding, solemnly abjured, in the presence of all the inhabitants of the parish, his adhesion to the abominable and nefarious sect of Free- masons, to which he had previously belonged,
same time exhorting at the
his fellow villagers never to listen to the doctrines of mch an anolean sect, but defend always the Integrity and honour of our beloved Spain. After concluding this act of abjuration, a heavenly choir of voices chanted the hymn Pardon, oh! my God,' and then the zealous and motive priest of the village, the Rev. Friar Leoradio Sanchez, delivered a most impressive and frevent address to the assembled parishioners, Betting forth the evils of Freemasonry, which he concluded by saying had been introduced by the devil himself.”
On Monday, 12th October, 151 unfortunate natives and half castes were shipped off to Spain en route for Fernando Po by the steamer Manila. Not content with condemning these poor wretches to exile-if they should ever be fortunate enough to reach their destination— and confiscating all the property of those having anything to lose, at the last moment they were robbed of even the little their re- Fatives and friends had provided them with for their long and pitiless journey. Amongst them were many well-to-do natives whose only offence is probably the heinous orime of being Masons, and a most distressing scene occurred on the quay previous to their embarking in the tender, when their wives, fa. milies, and relatives came to bid them probably their last farewell. These bad brought then clothes and what money they could rake to- gether, which the Spanish soldiers and officials ander whose escort they were were condescend- ing enough to allow them to receive without any objection, but once on board the steamer Manila the cupidity of these officials could not resist the templation of securing ill-gotten gain. The exiles were here stripped naked on deck, min- utely examined, and every cent they possessed in money was mercilessly taken from them, amounting altogether to some $1,200, besides All their clothes except those they stood in. Trom one man a valuable gold watch and chain was taken, from another his gold rimmed spectacles, both being told that such luxuries would not be required in the place they were going to! The poor wretch from whom the spectacles were taken begged hard for their return on account of his defective eyesight, but his entreaties were of no avail and he merely received a kick for an answer.
Those unfortunates will arrive in Spain in inter without any but the scanty tropical cloth- ing they stand in, and it will be only natural if many die off with pulmonary diseases. It may be here mentioned that the Spanish authorities either provide food nor clothing for the exiles the places they are deported to, but the unfortunate people are turned loose and made forage for themselves as best they can. This not so much matter when exiled to other inlands in the Archipelago or to the Carolines
or Marianas, where the proverbial hospitality of unlikely and the native race will always stand them in stead, Everything. but in a foreign and sickly place like Fernando | Should Po, with no resources at their disposal, God have pity on them! The Spaniards are openly expressing their hopes that the climate and conditions will soon settle those that don't the way or are allowed to drop die on
This is the treatment such a overboard. glorious, magnanimous, and loving mother extends to her children, which the local gagged and servile press is so effusive in praising!
Large amounts of money have been lately collected for the families of the soldiers killed and wounded in action, but it is doubtful if ever the actual sufferers or their relatives will receive any benefit from the same, more espe. cially the loyal native troops. It is well known that of the immense quantities of cigars and cigarettes liberally given by the different facto ries for the use of the army very little if any
be
[October
a thing be very serious and may be looked for all round
Arrests continue those who have day's official Gase some poor uni be a fine time for penniless officers for the spoils, a golden oppor taken due advantage of. to these people, leaving the skim the Government. It is said the to negotiate a loan of six mi the Banco Espanol Filipino, givi rantee the confiscated property of
A few days back in a nigh Batangas province,
has been distributed amongst the native troops | Spanish column, but a VATAN
who have remained loyal.
You will have already heard of the abomin. able atrocities committed by the authorities to extort confessions from the arrested persons whether innocent or guilty, Anything that may be written is not severe enough and it is to be hoped that Europe will raise her voice in protest, as she has done before on the Bulgarian atrocities and more recently with reference to the Armenians and Crete. The Black Hole of Manila surpasses even that of Calcutta, and In justice to the the incident is perfectly true. Captain-General be it said that on hearing of it he was so disgusted and annoyed that he kioked the Lieutenant on duty down the stairs and threatened the Lieutenant-Governor with
arrest.
On 13th October 1,100 more troops arrived from Spain in the steamer Anto Lopes, making about 3,000 since the outbreak,
The idea prevalent in Hongkong, according to last papers received, that the rebellion was put down is the very opposite of the truth. Far from this being the case matters are daily becoming more serious. The inexplicable delay in attacking the rebel stronghold at Imus, in Cavite province, has allowed the natives to assemble there in large force, variously estimated between twenty and thirty thousand, most of whom are armed, many of them with the most modern Mauser rifle, as the wounds inflicted on Spanish soldiers testify. They have thrown up earthworks on the most approved mo- dern principles and strongly entrenched, clearly denoting that they are not devoid of European assistance. It is openly stated that some Spanish officers have gone over to them. Imus is one of the most commanding positions around Manila; from it branch off roads to Manila, Cavite, the villages to west of Cavite, to the province of the Laguna, and, what is far more important, to the hills giving communication to the pro- vince of Batangas, which latter communication is evidently being made free use of, as daily skirmishes are taking place between the rebels and the Spanish troops, with very the latter. So far doubtful results for there can be no doubt the rebels have decidedly the advantage, and on the 13th October, near Talisay, in Batangas, and between this and the Lagnua district, a very sanguinary battle was fought, in which the Spaniards lost their colonel and two captains killed, one lieutenant severely wounded, besides 80 rank and file killed and 100 made prisoners, and the rebels captured As usual, the 5,000 rounds of ammunition.
on this papers guard an absolute silence subject, but from the feeling observable in the Escolta it is evident a depression exists, and this morning (15th) at 5 a.m. 500-Spanish soldiers were despatched in all haste by steamers to the Laguna, about the same number of Indian troops being sent yesterday. Away to the east, in the province of Morong, about 25 miles from Manila, some heavy fighting has taken place within the last few days, and yesterday a further outbreak occurred near Bocane, în Bulacan province, and on the line of railway from Manila to Dagupan, some 14 miles from Manila. A party of rebels 1,000 strong attacked and captured the fillage of San José, in Nuevo Ecija province, some 60 miles from Manila, also to the north. It is also reported that a steamer has landed a cargo of arms and ammunition on the Pacific coast of Luzon, a thing
|
up to the latter's assistance, the retired and the two Spanish colum ether for the enemy, kept up a loss of 19 killed and 42 mistake was found out,
The banqueting and enterta newly arrived officers from Spain order of the day, and some of t herewith enclosed will serve to give idea of the Spanish feeling towards th and will enlighten the world somew the cause of the dissatisfaction the rebellion. It is idle to compare natives with the Malay race of Java and the Malay Península or with the native of India. In intelligence they are quite to the Japanese and had they been under Eng rule for half the period they have been su to Spain they would unquestionably have their mark in the world. They are doc tractable, require only to be ruled wi and give very little trouble. They st fairly honest and had it not been examples set them by dishonest ru have for ages made them a target for systematic plunder, thieving would be hardly known. As a proof of this I call attention to the various Igorrote tribes in the mountain districts of North Luzon, still only partly subdued. There, away from baneful Spanish – influence retaining teir own faith, thieving is a vice quite unknown.
and
present
Many writers wish to attribute the revolution to the extortions of the Friars This is not quite right; on the whole their influence has been for good, and although they have no doubt ignored their vows of chast and poverty, still they have often bee means of preventing greater extortions on part of the Spanish officials, especially in the provinces, and if they have sometimes sinne against the sixth commandment they are simply mortals like the rest of us and it is unjust to cast the odium of the present state of affairs entirely on them.
A man who has shone high thing in the present troubles General Blanco, of whom Spain
may justly nation serenity and calmness Spa moment owes her pos the white race probably their the wholesale shooting of susp olamoured for by the majority of the first ebullition of exciter the populace would have turned a wholesale slanghter of Europes in retaliation.
Wholesale arrests of promin tinue to take place and steamers just known people,
rrived
hose on very heinous one in Spa money.
The Governor
nell
belongs