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24th June. Counsel having addressed the jury his Lord ship summed up.
The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder and sentence of death was passed.
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.'
IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESSES OF THE INSURGENTS.
OVER A HUNDRED OFFICERS CAPTURED.
GOVERNOR GENERAL'S WIFE AND CHILDREN IN THE REBELS' HANDS.
THE ATTITUDE OF THE GERMANS.
18th June.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
rendering. In consequence he has had a dispute with the Archbishop, and as the result has resigned his military command, retaining only his position as head of the civil government. Among those taken prisoners by the insur- gents are the Governor-General's wife and five children. These, like the other prisoners, are being well treated. The wounded Spaniards have every attention bestowed upon them by the doctors of the American fleet, there being so little sickness among the Americans that their doctors can put in almost all their time at the hospital at Cavite. The other day Consul General Williams visited the prisoners, taking with him a large supply of fruit, which he dis- tributed among the wounded, who were so touched by this kindly act that they cheered the Consul General heartily.
Last week the Archbishop gave out that he had had a communication from God, who had promised that the " Yankee pigs should be driven out of the island and that Spain would be triumphant. By the way, the priests are the pet aversions of the Filippinos. The Insurgents got hold of a couple recently and murdered and mutilated them. They hold five as prisoners at the present time.
In view of the news brought from Manila last week by H.M.S. Swift as to the successful To show how completely the city of Manila operations of the insurgents, the arrival of is at the mercy of the Insurgents we may state further despatches was awaited with great in that the latter have taken possession of the water. terest, it being considered by no means improb.works. They threaten to cut the pipes hourly, able that the next news would be that the capital but Consul-General Williams has strongly ad- of the Philippines was no longer in the hands of rised them not to do so, pointing out that it the Spaniards. Every day since Saturday the would bring about a horrible state of affairs in general enquiry has been Has the Zafiro got Manila and that the children and the neutrals in yet?" and as day sncceeded day and there would suffer most. In cousequence of these were still no tidings those specially interested
representations the Insurgents bave held their began to get anxious. They were, however, set hands for the present. at rest yesterday morning by the arriv.1 af about eight o'clock of H.M.S. Linet with the mails from the Archipelago.
**
The Linnet left Hongkong. arrived at Manila on June . day she commenced a cruis to Cebu, which she reached She left Cebu on the 9th, a8. Manila Bay on Sunday last. quiet at Cebu, and there was be at the other places at which the she cruised along the coast. land the rebels brought on board wich they said was a present for the Cğumnusin, but as the latter knew this was offered mely in anticipation of favours to be returned he did not encourage them in their generosity. They subsequently said they would be obliged if they could be supplied with a pistol or two, as they had only one in the whole party.
On Thursday of last week a small schoouer ar- rived in Manila Bay from Batangas as a present toneral Aquinaldo from a rich native, who - sent him three other small vessels as
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[June 25, 1898.
American papers to hand show that the popularity of Admiral Dewey is increasing in the United States. Some of the papers strong- ly advocate running him as President. Babies are being named after him, while Dewey hats, Dewey ties, etc., are as much the rage as were at one time articles of attire to which the name "Trilby" was attached.
21st June,
In our issue of yesterday we announced that when about sixty miles out from Manila on Tuesday night of last week the captain of the Yuensang descried in the darkness a large vessel which he took to be one of the American trans- ports. The news brought by the Zafiro, which anchored just beyond Stonecutter's Island at eight o'clock yesterday morning, is, however, to the effect that when she left Manila Bay on Friday last nothing had been seen of the re-in- forcements, though the Baltimore had
gone the north-east point of Luzon in the hope of coming across them. There was a rumour in the town yesterday that the Charleston had called at Amoy, but Consul-General Wildman informs us that he does not think there is any- thing in it, or he would have had come official intimation.
to
We may mention that with the view to preventing complications Admiral Dewey gave the captain of the Zafiro strict injunctions to have no dealings with any cargo boats, and to bring nothing whatever back but the consular mails. Therefore anyone wishing to send a letter to Manila by the vessel, which returns on Wednesday, must send it under cover to his consul, who will see to its delivery. No stamp is required.
With regard to the future of the Philippines, Aguinaldo has given out that the object of the Insurgents is to become part and parcel of the United States, or if this cannot be arranged, to become an independent republic, and that if any power other than the United States wish to secure the control of the islands they will have to fight for it.
Laldo has captured a good deal of money, he has sent to the fleet for safe-keeping. Aong the important captures made by the Lels within the past week are Santa Anna, a Last week an attempt was made to poison suburb of Manila, Meroveles, and a fort and Aguinaldo. After a meal he was taken sud- magyagine near Malate. The latter were cap-deuly ill and exhibited symptoms which showed tured in plain view of the fleet, the fighting Leing very bitter.
On Monday Aguinaldo held a coune f Filippinos at Old Cavite for the purpose of organising a provisional Government. Consul- Ceneral Williams, however, adrised him to adjourn the council for two months, as he would then be better able to grasp the conditions.
The news of the sad death of Captain Grid-
sincere regret by the fleet, the captain, who did splendid service at the naval battle, being a great favourite. All the flags were hoisted half-mast on the reception of the news.
When the Linuet steamed out of Manila Bayley, whilst not unexpected, was received with on Tuesday it was evident that whether the troops from. San Francisco arrived early or late the city must soon succumb, and the officers are of opinion that this has taken place by now. The rebels were carrying everything. before It will be gathered from the foregoing that them, and there was fighting within a mile and on the arrival of the troops from San Francisco a balf of the English club. The foreign ladies the Americans will have no difficulty in secur- had taken refuge on the ships in the harbour, ing Manila. Admiral Dewey has not been an- whilst many of the men were living at the xious for the place to surrender before then, club. A great many residents had booked pas-not feeling in a position to adequately police it. sages in the Yuensang, which goes to Amoy with a number of Chinese and then comes to Hongkong. Fires-the work of the rebels- were of frequent occurrence, and on blonday evening a huge blaze could be seen on the out- skirts supposed to be caused by the firing of some petroleum works.
•
Quite a budget of news was contained in the despatches brought by the Linnet. One matter touched upon is the attitude of the Germans in Manila, the idea being that they have some thing up their sleeve. Says one corres- pondent:-"The Germans are disposed to be meddlesome. When the war-ship Kaiserin Augusta came in she saluted the Spanish forts on the Luneta.
It is reported that the Germans and the Spanish are very chummy, inviting
one another to dinner parties and going about arm in arm everywhere. It is also reported that another German warship is on its way here." Whether there is anything in this or not the United States Government have thought it advisable to strengthen their fleet at Manila, Consul-General Wildman in- forming us that they are accordingly sending out two of their big men-of-war-the Mianto- nonch and the Monadnoch.
20th June.
The Yuensang, which arrived at Hongkong yesterday morning, brought with her about 58 Europeans, mostly British, and in addition about 30 nuns from Manila. She landed about 80 Chinese passengers at Amoy. The Yuen-
sang
left Mauila at about eight o'clock on Tues- day evening of last week, H.M.S. Linnet sailing for Hongkong on the same day. Nothing special appears to have happened in the meantime. The Insurgents, however, had drawn still closer to the city, and were within a quarter of a mile off. In consequence overy body was anxious to get away. Practically all the foreign women and children had been got out, but some of the men still remained inside. At about 12 o'clock on Tuesday night, when about 70 miles ont, the Yuensang came across a large ship sup- posed to be one of those bringing troops from San Francisco.
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clearly that poison bad been mixed with his food. He was bad for two days, at the end of which time he seemed to have practically got all right again.
Since he took over the command of the In- surgents in Luzon the Insurgents have taken nearly 4,000 Spanish soldiers prisoners and nearly 1,000 natives under Spanish officers, or nearly 5,000 in all. All the prisoners have been taken with rifles, so that Aguinaldo has now 10,300 rifles in addition to eight field pieces. One of the last places to fall into the hands of the Insurgents is Bulu- the capital of the province of that name. They are also in possession of Balango (across the Bay from Manila in an opposite direction to Cavite), the next place in import- ance to Manila. The Insurgents now control all north of Manila and the Bay.
can,
Thirty. Carabineros who deserted from the Spaniards last week were re-captured and shot. The Spaniards have sunk the cruiser Cebu in the channel to obstruct the River Pasig.
Bugler McSweeney, of the Boston, died last Thursday. This is the first death among the Americans since they entered the Bay.
The Americans at Manila purpose to fittingly celebrate "the Fourth," next month.
Admiral Dewey has forwarded to Consul- General Wildman an acceptable gift in the shape of a large case of mangos.
The Crown of Germany, which was at Manila with coal, is by permission of Admiral Dewey, taking 1,000 coolies to Amoy.
The Zafiro passed the Kaiser just outside Corregidor. She probably arrived at Manila on Saturday.
22nd June.
The American despatch boat, the Zafiro, which arrived from Manila at eight o'clock H.M.S. Bonaventure left for Manila yester-
on Monday morning and anchored in Chinese day morning, her departure having been post-waters just beyond Stonecutter's Island, has poned until the arrival of the French mail. returned to the Philippines earlier than was Another vessel will leave shortly, either the at first intended. It had been arranged | Pigmy or the Plover, both of which are to be that she should not depart until Wednesday, but
kepl ready for sea at a moment's notice. The
she left on Tuesday night at about six o'clock. The Governor-General, who recognises the Bonaventure will remain at Manila until re- An unexpected step taken by the Chinese hopelessness of resistance, is in favour of sur-lieved by the Iphigenia, ordered from the north. Government is responsible for this. At about