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ransom of cash to be paid on delivery of his person.
I might numerate a list of Colonels, Captains, and other officers captured, but these are suffi- cient to show what the insurgents are doing. One of the captains of the American fleet said to me that the rebels had made a record in prisoners that any army could be proud of. I have seen General Aguinaldo and interviewed him several times, but he indulges in no boasts, makes no prophecies, and in every way seems to be acting the part of a successful leader. The stories that have reached Hongkong about trouble between him and other rebels are not true. He now has nearly 5,000 men in the field, of whom 3,500 are well armed. If he had the rifles he could put ten times as many into service, as there are volunteers without limit.
Money is coming in to support him. $10,000 was brought in to-day. Receipts are given with the intention of repaying if a Government is eventually organized which can pay it back. yesterday a large tug or small steamboat came into the Bay flying the insurgent flag, which was presented to Aguinaldo by a rich rebel in Batangas province. He has two captured laun- ches which are towing barges across Bacor bay from Cavite loaded with ammunition taken from the arsenal to be used in attacking the Spanish forces in and around Manila.
Credit is due to the insurgents for the way in which they are treating the Spanish prisoners and wounded. After repeated visits to the hos- pitals and prisons I can say that they are shown every consideration they can expect. The rooms are clean, large, and airy and they have enough tofeat no luxuries but solid food, mostly rice and meat. They are allowed great freedom and it is difficult to find the guards. In the hospitals the doctors of the American ships are doing excellent work and many Spanish officers and soldiers owel their lives to this gratuitous and generous service of skilled surgeons of the U.S. Navy.
In considering all these points it must be re- membered, however, that the presence of the American fleet at anchor off Cavite has very much to do with the success of Aguinaldo and the humane treatment of the Spanish prison-
ers.
(June 25, 1808,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
tection of their Consuls and, by permission of boats reported as detailed for this work were Admiral Dewey, on merchant ships in the bar-the Cebu and Querus. On Wednesday morning bour. The Spanish women, children, and the Boston, Concord and Callao reconnoitred priests are being placed inside the strong forts at the entrance to the river, the latter craft saucily San Juan del Moute, where a garrison of several running up right under the noses of the thousand Spanish troops are stationed. Yester- Spanish guns, but no such dangerons ships were discovered. It was first stated that they day 340 bullock carts of supplies were seen wending their way from Manila out to these had come out and run to some hiding spot in forts, which would be beyond reach of the Ameri- the upper end of the bay, or gone out to Mari- cau guns and a protection against the insur- vales or Subig, but a gentleman just from Manila states that no such boats have left the gents' attacks.
On excellent authority I hear that the Cap-river and that the Cebu is still anchored at her tain-General is ready to surrender to Admiral old position as a sort of protection against Dewey, but that the Archbishop and other mem- possible attacks of insurgents. bers of the Council have overruled him.
At this writing fighting is going on a little to the south of Malate. We can hear the re- ports of guns and see the smoke.
General Aguinaldo at this writing is not doing quite so much active fighting as a few days ago in the vicinity of Manila, but he is strengthening his lines every day, until now he has a large force deployed in strong detach. sincements all around the city, cutting off not only communication with the interior but all oppor. tunities of escape or relief.
News just to hand show that the insur- gents have taken nearly 3,000 prisoners they began operations, of whom over half are Spanish regulars.
LATER.
The insurgents here captured the water tanks at St. Olan and may cut the pipes leading into the city, but influence is being brought to bear to prevent this, for the sake of the foreign resi- deuts as well as the Spaniards.
The Governor-General has ordered all male Spaniards and Mestizos over 19 to enroll as volunteers with the penalty of being otherwise treated as rebels.
The German first class cruiser Kaiserin Augusta has just arrived, making three Ger- man men-of-war in port. Naturally this creates some comment on what is meant, for certainly that number of war vessels are not needed to protect German interests.
A big fire is raging in the upper or northern side of Manila. No details are at hand of its cause, but it would appear from the Bay to be quite destructive, with danger to the rest of the
There are in city if a strong wind comes up dications of rain, however, which may subdue the flames.
Manila Bay, 17th June.
No place was ever more at the mercy of a foe than is Manila to the Americans and Iusur- gents. The former by sea and the latter by land have established a cordon that is drawing closer and tighter each day, until this ancient, pround capital of Spain's pride of the Far East -the Philippines-is humbled almost into com- plete submission.
Americanos, and described them as such awful and dangerous creatures that they must all be orushed by the foot of Christian Spain.
The Spaniards themselves in prison and hospital continually speak of this and some of them have even intimated to me that they feel absolutely safe from injury or suffering as long as the American ships are in the Bay. Aguinal How different it is to-day from that hour do knows that Admiral Dewey will not permit when the venerable Archbishop and the austere the prisoners to be cruelly treated-and the Captain-General exhorted the people of the Spaniards know it also, despite the blood curd-island to all kinds of vengeance on the wicked ling, lying proclamations of the Archbishop and Captain-General. Everybody remarks: What would be the case if the conditions were re- versed? Would the Americans and Insurgents The chief news of the moment is that Manila fare as well?
is ready to surrender. Not that the Archbishop Aguinaldo came here under American pro- and Captain-General are going to voluntarily tection; and the moral support of the Americapitulate before they are compelled or vigor can fleet-for the Americans are giving little ously advised to do so, but that the backbone of active assistance, being occupied with their own resistance is unquestionably broken, and that work-bas been of unlimited help and en- upon a real show of force and intention to bom- couragement to him as well as a check and bard the town if it does not give in the element of depression to the Spaniards. In Spaniards will baul down the Spanish flag. I estimating Aguinaldo's strength and ability have intimations to this effect from so many these facts must be borne in mind, and yet I sources that I am confident future developments would not suggest any intention to detract from will prove that I am not far from the truth. I his just dues. I simply review the situation am not located in Manila, but I am in touch impartially so that your readers may know the with those who are and who can be believed. truth.
From all sides I hear kind words for Admiral Dewey. I have talked with: Britishers, Ger- mans, Frenchmen. Japanese, and Swiss, and without exception they speak in highest terms of him and his management of the blockade. The cordial relations between the Britishers and the Americans is most marked, although nothing is being done in violation of neutrality. Every British Cap- tain in the port swears by the Admiral and friendly calls are exchanged every day by the officers. If the British and American naval vessels were near together instead of seven miles apart, the same good fellowship would exist among their officers. The Germans are now coming around under the influence of the Admiral's tact and firmness and giving less canse for observations on their intentions and methods, while the French and Japanese are very quiet,
Manila is almost panicstricken. Most of the foreign residents haye taken refüge under pro-
The most exciting feature of the past week was the look-out for a torpedo attack upon the American squadron on Tuesday night. The re- port had reached the Admiral that the Spani- ards had dropped two small gunboats down the Pasig to its mouth from above the bridges and equipped them with torpedoes for the purpose of attacking the American' men-of-war under cover of night. The Admiral was not to be caught napping, and, although there is extra effort great caution every night, an was made on Tuesday night to keep diligent watch. It was a beautiful sight. The search lights of all the ships were in opera- tion from dusk to dawn, with only short inter- missions now and then. I doubt if any torpedo boat of any flest could have slipped in and landed its missive successfully, or before it would have been riddled with the fire of the smaller guns. If the Spaniards really intended such an attack I could not blame them for being frightened out of it, for the slightest object was visible in every direction. The two
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The latest reports on his campaign show the following disposition of his forces-To the north and north-east he has men who are. operating from Caloorcan, Malabon, and San José de Navotas. All three of these places were recently captured by the insurgents and now they are working closer in from these points. While attacking some Spaniards in the neighbourhood of Tondo the latter set fire to some native huts, which burned so furiously as to get beyond their control and did much damage to very valuable pro- perty. The sight at night as the flames shot up reminded one of the scene after the great naval battle of May 1st. During the skirmish near Tondo a small force of native Spanish guards ran away from the place at which they were stationed and joined the rebels. i But such incidents are happening every day. The Spanish officials in Manila all live in fear of their lives, because they know that the large native population at heart sympathises with Aguinaldo and may revolt in his favour at any hour that is favourable,
To the east and south there are more insur- gents located, waiting any opportunity to harass the Spaniards and capturing one place after another that enables them to get nearer to the heart of Manila.
A safe estimate would be 6,500 men as the number General Aguinaldo has in the field, but he could put 50,000 there if he were supplied with arms. Ammunition for his rifles he has in abundance, to the extent of nearly two mil- lion rounds of cartridges.
The Governors of Batangas and Bulucan have just been captured, together with a con- siderable number of Spanish soldiers. Before this Aguinaldo had in prison the Governors of Cavite and Bataan. Now, with the most recent additions to his remarkable list of prizes, he has under his control all the provinces around Manila Bay except Pampangas on the north and Manila on the east. All the latter outside the city is in insurgent hands and all of Pam- pangas except San Fernando, where the Gover- nor is beseiged, and Angeles, where another small Spanish garrison is completely surrounded. Any day the news may come of the surrender of these two towns.
All the Governors are prominent Spaniards, oftentimes Generals in the regular army. It is not difficult to imagine their chagrin and humiliation at capture by a crowd of half clad, poorly armed, but earnest natives.
Looking at a map of Manila Bay, one can readily understand what splendid work the natives have done, when the provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Manila, Bulucan, Pan pangas and Bataan are practically in their hands, leaving only the city of Manila and two small villages in the country.
The Governor of Batangas gave in without a struggle. 500 Spaniards surrendered to 240 insurgents without firing a bullet. The Spanish prisoners themselves confirm the reports of the insurgents.
Some of the men who are helping General Aguinaldo greatly are. Senor Leyber, Sonor Lagarda, Senor Arevolo, Senor Daniel Tirona, and Baldermo Aguinaldo, a cousin of General Aguinaldo. Senor Tirona is Minister of War, and Baldermo Minister of Finance.
The prisons around Cavite are crowded with Spanish soldiers, and every cot in the hospital is taken, but they are all treated most humanely.
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