446
Undeterred by this refusal, the next day the Governor-General sent a couple of wealthy natives-members of the Provisional Conncil which has been formed-to Aguinaldo. They entreated him as Filippinos not to array himself against "Most Christian Spain" and on the side of those opposed to him in religion. Agui. naldo, however, refused to converse with them on the subject. He informed them that he bad allowed the Jesuit priests to return, but he did not intend to treat them in the same way. No harm should befal them, but for making treason. able proposals to him he should detain them until the end of the war, when they would be tried by process of law. The following day two more native members of the Provisional Council arrived, thinking no doubt that on soconut of the non-arrival of the others their propositions were being entertained. These also were placed under arrest, and Aguinaldo
informed the Governor-General that if he
wished to quarter the whole of the Provisional Conncil on him he was well able to take care of them.
The Spanish Government seek to curry favour with the natives by making them Governors of provinces, the Spaniards who held the posts having been withdrawn, and bestowing upou them the title of Colonel. A Filippino has been made Governor of Cavite province on the understanding that he is to protect that side of Manila from attack against any force Aguinaldo might bring against him. The Pro- vincial Governor, however, sent him word that he did not want any trouble, and accordingly withdrew what troops be bad and went to the other side of the district.
Some little excitement was caused at Cavite on the evening of the 20th of May by a report that the Spaniards contemplated an attack on the city, and in consequence the Americans held themselves in readiness to repulse the attack, the Callao being placed in such a position that she could sweep with her guns the narrow neck of land between Cavite and Manila. The evening passed off, however, without incident. On the night of the 23rd there was some musketry firing, but a couple of shots from the MacCulloch put a stop to it.
In addition to the hospitals at present in existence at Cavite Admiral Dewey proposes to establish a naval hospital there. So far there has been a remarkable absence of sick.
ness in the fleet. As an instance we may mention that out of the 400 and odd men on the Baltimore not ons is laid up. Indeed through- ont the whole fleet there are only between 30 and 40 on the sick list.
When the Zafiro left Carite none of the British residents in Manila had availed them- selves of the permission accorded them by Ad- miral Dewey to remove to Cavite. Apparently Manila is a more desirable place of residence than Cavite, and the British residents will probably not remove until the last moment,
For some reason or other it has been given out as a fact that the Baltimore suffered severely during the naval battle, one Spanish report going so far as to state that she was so riddled with shot that the Americans scuttled her. Consul Williams informs us, however, that beyond the tearing up of some of the slippers (capsing some of the crew to receive flesh wounds) by a five-inch shell the Baltimore sustained no damage, whilst some of the vessels were absol. utely untouched. The Petrel though the sauci- est fighter in the fleet, was among the latter.
Alluding to the reported court martialling of the Spanish Admiral, Consul Williams re- marked, "I do not believe it. Last week he was out driving and seemed all right, and I cannot think the charge is a serious one. As a matter of fact he does not deserve to be court martialled. He fought bravely. If he had not been a brave man he would not have tackled us a second time, after the severe drubbing we gave him before we stopped for breakfast."
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Consul Williams had not heard of the Cap- tain of the Calino being shot yet. He says there is great indignation felt towards him in Manila and there is a demand that he shall be executed, but he cannot think the demand will be acceded to, as it would have been madness for him to take any other course than, he did,
THE NEUTRALITY OF HONGKONG.
SEIZURE OF STORES FOR THE "ZAFIRO."
ARRIVAL OF THE “PIQUE.”
THE FEELING TOWARDS THE BRITISH IN MANILA.
31st May,
Jore 4, 1868.
carious. She reached Iloilo in three days, and after being placed in quarantine for 24 hours was allowed to have communication with the shore. Of the 60 Europeans other than Spanish residents of Iloilo 30 are British, and the latter were delighted to see the Piqué and her officers, They had, however, no apprehensions as to their safety, though there were only about 100 Spanish soldiers in the town. The rebels were encamped about 60 miles away. Some commotion was caused in the town about a fortnight before the Pique arrived by the fact that the rebels ap proached within three miles of the town and raided a planter's place. The people at Iloilo have nothing to grumble at as regards their food supply, the only thing they are short of
but the Spanish gunboat is supposed to be bid- being refined sugar. There is plenty in the
raw state. There are no war vessels at Iloilo,
It would appear that the Hongkong police have got it into their heads that while the des- patch vessels from the American fleet have been anchore in Kowloon Bay the neutrality re- gulations have not been strictly observed by look-ont has been kept on all launches pying some of the inhabitants; accordingly a sharp between the shore and the American vessels. Of course it is necessary as a matter of fair playing up the river. that efforts should be made to carry out the provisions mentioned in the Governor's pro- clamation of neutrality, but this is a duty which should only be entrusted to officers of experience, as
hards are likely to arouse much unpleasantness on account of their lack of the tact and discretion essential in the performance of such a task. If all we bear be true, however, we are afraid some unnecessary friction has been caused by those
raw
upon
who have had this matter in hand. On Sun- day evening Consul-General Wildman with a party of ladies and gentlemen set out for a blow in the Bay, but they had not gone far before A
called police launch
The police then went on them to stand to. board, and notwithstanding Consul Wildman's solemn assertion that there was nothing contraband on the vessel a search was instituted, and no hole or corner passed over, but without result. On Saturday evening, a lighter and one or two junks belonging to the compradore A Tee were seized, together with the steam launch towing the flotilla out to the Bay. The
These
The Pique left Iloilo on May 23rd, and steam- ing slowly along the coast reached Mauila bay on the 25th, finding H.M.S. Immortalité and Swift there. The latter vessels keep up commnuica- tion with the shore by means of a couple of launches, and the officers frequently take ad- vantage of them in order to stretch their legs on terra firma. The officers of the Pique report, however, that—whether by the sanction of the Spanish authorities or not is not knowp-pro- clamations are frequently posted about Manila with the object of rousing a feeling against the British residents.
The
ably ensconsced in the Bay. The vessels are be- In the meantime the Americans are comfort- sieged by small boats offering fruit and other acceptable commodities for sale, the humane conduct of Admiral Dewey baving aroused the greatest confidence in him and his men. sick list continues very low, though a communi- cation received yesterday from a Spaniard in Manila speaks about small-pox, dysentery, and other afflictions having broken out among the men. By this time, however, we have learned to take all accounts with regard to the Ameri. can fleet from the Spanish side cum grano salis.
The Pique left Manila on Friday night, and will probably leave for England this week end.
THE BLOCKADE OF MANILA.
FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT,
Manila, 27th May, 1898. The blockade of Manila still continues, the U. S. squadron anchored off Cavite keeping a close guard on the buy facing the city of Manila. At the same time, through the courtesy of the Americans, the residents are allowed many facilities, and the Ameri- cans have even gone so far as to carry a mail in the transport Zafiro from Manila to Hongkong. The Spaniards are undoubtedly profiting by the delay in the arrival of the American troops, for the greatest energy exists in every military department. Rifle trenches are being dag in such places as the Spanish an. ticipate their foe will land at, mostly facing the sea, and modern 9-pounder Krupp field pieces are being mounted. All the mountain batteries are being called in from the interior and the field
total value of the stores seized amounts to about $5,000. There seems to be some mis- apprehension as to the nature of these stores. We are informed that before the Zafiro left Manila, the officers of the various U.S. cruisers commissioned one or two of their number to bring off some of the luxuries of life of which they have been deprived by their prolonged stay in Philippine waters. are not naval stores in any sense of the word- merely personal effects, luxuries for the most part, of the American officers. We are in formed there was nothing contraband, and the seizure is likely to cause much irritation, so much so that the base of supplies of this nature will probably be transferred from Hong- kong to Amoy or some other of the coast ports. Already, we have good authority for stating, the U.. squadron has spent over one and a-half millions of dollars in Hongkong; and, if nothing contraband is being smuggled on board the despatch vessels, it will be a pity if this lucrative business is lost to the colony. On Sunday afternoon the police seized, and de- tained in the basin at Tsimshatsui, three cargo boats with provisions, the property of the Man Loong firm; a launch, the property of the batteries from the outskirts, and everything Ching On firm, No. 7, Jubilee Street, and a
points to the fact that the Spanish intend to cargo boat, belonging to the Fuk Kee firm, make a serions and vigorous defence. Amongst The master of a the soldiers, both officers and men, the greatest No. 9, Pottinger Street. launch containing coolies, who were engaged enthusiasm appears to exist, and they one and to transfer the coal from a lighter alongside all look forward to meeting their American The soldiers are all well armed with the Zafiro to the ship, was arrested, and at foes. the Magistracy yesterday was fined $25 for Mauser rifles and the Government appears to a breach of the harbour regulations, in hav be treating them much better in the way of ing left the waters of the colony without hav-rations and quarters, etc., than it hitherto has ing the necessary permit. Yesterday morning, thought necessary. In an interview I had H. E. Major-General Black (the Acting recently with Captain-General Augustin, who Governor), Mr. T. Sercombe Smith (the Act is a remarkably fine type of a Spanish sol ing Colonial Secretary), and Captain Superinten. dier, he gave me to understand that he had dent May, held a cousultation, and the result of confidence in his officers and men that conference was that the cargo boats and mined to fight to the sand and is deter- the Spanish the launch in the basin at Tsimshatsui were point of view it is a great pity that their posi released. The Zafiro left for Manila yesterday tion is not stronger, as they have only four afternoon, Consul Williams being on board. 8-inch guns of 1870 pattern mounted on earth- Yesterday morning H.M.S. Pique arrived in works on the Luneta to reply to the fire of the the harbour, preparatory to going home. As many more modern and powerful guns of the American fleet. The bombardment, which pre- our readers will be aware, she is being re- placed on the China station by the Hermione. sumably will take place to cover the landing The Fique left Hongkong somewhat hurriedly of the American troops, will mean once more at noon on May 16th, the authorities having the wreck of Manila, and its quaint old fort had an inkling that the position of the British and handsome cathedral will unfortunately be residenta at Iloilo had become somewhat pre-speedily knocked into ruins.
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