ference to Bincayan, where our passports were demanded for the first time. Between Bincayan and Bacoor the road suddenly terminated in a creek some 200 ft, wide and five or six feet deep. There were evidences of what had once been a bridge, which, however, had suffered the fate of most of the bridges the Spanish had passed over on the retreat to Malate. In response to our calls some natives appeared with รก raft and on this our caromatas and three ponies were ferried
across.
At the next town, called Bacoor, the church and principal houses were almost com pletely wrecked, while barricades across the streets were still untouched. At this place there has been very severe fighting. The rebels gained possession of the church and held it, while at intervals during the three months just previous to the war the Spanish gunboats bom- barded the town. The walls and roof are full of holes, while almost the only parts of the tower that have escaped are the dials of the clock. The ceilings of this building were lined with zinc and immense jagged sheets of it are hanging down where they have been torn off by shells. I spent some time here in the house of Marcelino Gomes, a very intelligent native who has spent some years in England. His being the strongest house in the town was for a time converted into a kind of fort. The place is simply riddled with bullets, though the aim must have been wild, for though the marks ranged up from the cellar the roof seems to have received most attention. The ladies of Mr. Gomez's family are making most of the in surgent flags and ribbons for the sombreros. I photographed them with a handsome silk flag for a hack ground. This flag is a gift to the General Emilio Aguinaldo. Senora Gomez on learning that I was an American begged me to accept an insurgent flag she had just finished. All the gold in the stars and sun and rays of the banner are made from the trappings, braids, etc., captured from the Spaniards. The three stars represent the islands of Mindanao, Luzon, and Viscaya-the eight rays indicate the eight. provinces that have declared war against the Spanish-the red stripes devote the blood that has been shed-and the blue field is emblematic of hope.
Between Bacor and Zapote we overtook a caromata carrying a priest and native driver. He addressed us in Spanish and on learning that our destination was Paranaque, he invited us to spend the night at the convent, as that was his parish. Our surprise was naturally very great at seeing a priest at this date going openly through a rebel country; but for some time we rode on without making inquiries. At Las Pinas, when we changed ponies, the priest asked, Senors, are you "No. Padre, we are English or French or~- Americans." The old priest's face was a study as he devoutly made the sign of the cross, exclaiming Mother of God! saviours of the country! We then learned that he was a Philippine or native priest, Manuel Ocale, much respected by the people and hence dwelling in safety in his convent, while the others had rushed out of the country in fear of their lives. Paranaque was reached at dusk, where we found it as he said. He lives in solitary grandeur, the head of his parish, without a single lay brother and sur- rounded by his people and servants. The church is used as the military headquarters and arsenal, and in the courtyard the men assemble to re- ceive the Padre's blessing before the skirmishes, I and call the roll to ascertain the killed and
wounded on their return.
[July 9, 1898
warfare that is being carried on seems strange and even ludicrous. Every one is a soldier, men, women, and children. Boys of twelve and thirteen years of age carry rifles almost as large as themselves, and carry them long distances with never a murmur. All the troops are bare- footed and clad in costumes more picturesque than useful, especially when the rain sets in. Even the officers, except the General and one or two others, remove their long boots when heavy work is on or fighting to be done; the country is such that one can get over the ground much quicker and with infinitely more comfort without boots. Only about half the fighting men around the Bay are armed with rifles and very many of these rifles are the spoils from Spanish pri- - soners, as the arms of Spain stamped on the barrels attest. The officers almost without ex-
ception wear the swords, pistols, and boots that have been taken from captured Spanish officers. General Norial wears a beautiful gold mounted sword with a cross shaped hilt and a fastening button mounted in the form of the shield of Castile.
THE HONGKONG. WEEKLY PRESS AND
the General, his officers, and about two hundred | men returning, the weather having driven both sides to shelter. We accompanied the men to the church, where the roll was called and arms stored, and then repaired to the General's tread- quarters, where it was arranged we should stay the night. In the morning Lieut. Brice and Mr. Prideaux returned to Cavite. An attack was planned for the afternoon and evening and accordingly about one o'clock I set out for the forts at Malate with General Mariano Norial, Colonel Julian de Ocampo, and a company of 120 men and boys under Captain Gregoris de Gina. Very little attempt is made in the direction of military discipline, the men marching in all for- mations and carrying weapons in the manner most convenient to them.
Indeed any forma- tion would be almost impossible as the roads are in terrible condition, the constant rains at this season of the year making the inud inches deep, When we reached the entrenchments we found the guard of the previous night driven back some 200 yards to reserve barricades and the men exchanging shots in au irregular manner. There was no order or commanding among them, The houses all though the country bear the it was simply a case of fire when you can see marks of fighting and Spanish bullets, but in someone to shoot at. General Norial sent a de-nearly every home is something that tells of the tachment of men to bring up to the front a large wealthy Spaniards and priests. Pianos are com- rifled Krupp gun, a most valued prize, taken from mon and in the home of the General at Paranaque the Spaniards at Old Cavite. The low-lying two of them have places in the family room. country in the vicinity of Manila and in the Large desks, handsome cane chairs, and beds direction of Paranaque and Malate is overgrown are found in many of the larger houses, statues with tongh vines and creepers and once a and furniture designed for churches and draw- person leaves the road there is nothing but the ing rooms ornament primitive thatch covered zigzag maze through the swamp lands. Over houses, while tapestries flutter from caseless this slippery soft ground the cannon was windows. In one place is an organ too large to dragged by some twenty men and after much be taken into the house and as it stands covered effort was tiually placed in position at a hole with a shed for protection against the rains it hastily opened through the barricade. The presents a striking illustration of the old adage insurgent forts, or rather earthworks, are -To the victors belong the spoils. nearly always on the same general plan. They are formed by digging trenches and throwing up the earth to a height of about six feet, and four to eight or nine feet in width. The soil is held in place by bamboo mattings and poles. They are easily and quickly constructed and quite serviceable. Much of the firing is done oror the top of the work, though some few holes are opened.
(
As soon as the cannon was, in position the men dispersed themselves at whatever points they pleased and the firing soon became general The first shot from the Krupp gun called forth an answer from the Spanish heary guns and shells were soon merrily whistling about the little barricade. At this time the distance between the forces was probably 1,609 yards, the Spanish being outside the Malate fort in intrenchments similar to those of the insurgents. With my glass I could plainly see the men. As the rifle firing at this distance was of practically no account, the
on both sides frequently exposed themselves above the earthworks. At the rate they were firing and the accuracy of aim, shots might have been exchanged for weeks with small discomfort to all concerned.
men
The insurgents have made the jungle full of traps and unexpected trenches, so that they are able to retreat or advance with comparative safety. To one of these flanking trenches entirely hidden by shrubbery and creepers, a number of men
were despatched while the firing continued from the earthworks. Shots sent in from cover at closer range quickly took effect and after firing a number of times in the direction of the jungle where the smoke arose the Spaniards kept nader cover and exposed themselves no more. Just then a heavy slower We spread our dinner in the centre of the came up and during the double advantage the great refectory, once crowded with priests but insurgents moved forward and again" took now deserted save for the Padre, who enter possession of their lost earthwork. The big tained us with accounts of the recent fighting.gun was moved up into position and after the Several messengers came in with reports of the rain had ceased firing once more began and attack on Malate, then in progress, and we was kept up until dark. Two insurgents were hastened to finish our meal and push on to the wounded, one of them a boy of 14 years. As trenches some four miles away. Just at the con- far as I could make out no other casualties clusion of dinner the Padre drew out a Spanish cccurred. As darkness set in the General and flag bearing the arms of Castila and begged most of his officers retired to Paranaque, and insisted upon our using it to wipe our hands, the big gun was taken back to a place of Later on he presented the flag to me and ex- greater safety, and a guard left to defend pressed a hope that it would some day be seen the fort; while on the other side the Spaniards in America. It was taken from the 74th Regi-conld be seen retiring to their stone fort at ment of the line of Manila by insurgents under Malate As it rained and stormed almost with General Norial.
out interruption during the night operations were suspended on both sides.
We had been but a short time on the road to Ma- late when a heavy shower set in, almost blinding in its force. About 24 miles out we encountered
To one who has not actually seen these people, and the condition of the country, the guerilla
|
CONSUL-GENERAL WILDMAN.
In the Gazette it is announced that H. E. the Acting Governor had been pleased to recognise Mr. Rounsevelle Wildman as Consul General for the United States. As a matter of fact Mr. Wildman has been Consul- General for some six months, but the for. malities which have to be gone through are so many that considerable delay is occasioned, it taking from six to seven months for a Consul- General to get his commission from the court of the country to which he is accredited. Mr. Wildman's written exequatur (a recognition) bears the sign mannal of Her Majesty the Queen at the top and that of the Marquis of Salisbury at the foot. To begin with the appointment is made by the President of the United States. After going before the Senate for confirmation it is sent back to the President for signature. It then goes to the State Department, by whom the commission is transmitted to the American Ambassador in London, who takes it to the British Foreign Office, where a new commission is made ont. This new. commission, together with the exequatur and the old commis- sion, is forwarded to the American Am- bassador in London, and at the same time. the Governor of the colony is notified that the exequatur has been granted.
The position of Consul-General enables the holder to use the title Consul-General when writing to the Colonial Government, entitles him to a salute of niue guns from men-of-war | in barbour, and to the relative ranks of Com. modore in the Navy and Brigadier-General in the Army.
The honourable post of representative of the United States in Hongkong comes third on the list as regards importance so far as the United States are concerned, the representative at Lon- don coming first and the one at Paris second Hongkong being a Crown colony and the Am- erican Ambassador at London farther away State Department, with whom than the
is in communication
consequence direct. For this reason the adoption of the more pretentious title has been in contemplation for some time. Independent of this, however, the splendid manner in which Mr. Wildman has performed the onerous duties devolving upon him at this important crisis in his country's bistory has fully entitled him to this recognition.
Rounsevelle Wildman, MA., M.L., was born at Batavia, New York, on March 19th, 1864, and is the son of Rev. Edwin Wildman, M.A.,
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