May 20, 1899.]
AFFAIRS IN TH1. PHILIPPINES.
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THE STORY OF THE PEACE
NEGOTIATIONS. .
OTIS FAILS TO AGREE WITH AGUINALDO.
GENERAL LUNA WOUNDED.
[From our coRRESPONDENT.]
Manila, 8th May.
The events of the last fortnight have marked out a place for themselves in the history of the insurrection. Two of the largest and most strongly fortified cities in the enemy's country have been taken with convincing ease and rapi dity, and envoys of Aguinaldo have twice visited General Otis with the object of obtaining a suspension of hostilities.
Just after the Rio Grande trenches at Calum- pit were taken two Filipino officers entered the American lines and, after identifying them- selves to the satisfaction of General McArthur, they were escorted to Manila. The officers were Colonel Arguelles, who is General Luna's chief of staff, and Lieut. José Bernal, an aide. On reaching Manila they were taken before General Otis, and stated that they came from the Commander-in-Chief of the Philippine army, General Antonio Luna, who asked for a suspension of hostilities for a period of three weeks, during which time it was proposed to hold a congress, receive delegates, and in general ascertain the opinion of the people concerning the question of war or surrender.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
́Andaya, and was taken before General Otis. This time the proposition was more impossible than the first, as the commissioners asked in the name of Aguinaldo a suspension of hosti. ties for three months throughout the entire archepelago. It did not like long for Otis to convince them that they had made a mistake and must confine their reasoning to a mat- ter of surrender. However, after a long conference the condition of affairs remained unchanged and the commissioners returned. The day after they had entered their lines again, General McArthur made an advance of some
four miles and captured Santo Tomas, killing several natives and causing the seat of govern- ment to make a hasty move several miles fur- ther up the railroad. The same day General Lawton routed a large force of the enemy a few miles east of the railroad. This was followed up by the capture of San Fernando, a city which has long been a boasted Filipino strong-
hold.
It is believed that General Luna was severely wounded in the fight at Santo Tomas, as all the prisoners tell similar stories.
In the meantime it is possible that the peace makers may return again with a new proposi- tion, but the fighting still goes on.
NEWS FROM SAN FERNANDO,
San Fernando has proved to be the most comfortable place the men have occupied since leaving Manila. A large number of the troops live in houses, well protected from sun and rain, and many of the officers' quarters are better than those enjoyed in Manila.
General Otis promptly put his foot down on
The inhabitants undoubtedly left the place on short notice, for the houses are, or were, the whole matter, refused in the first place to recognize the existance of a Filipino Govorn almost intact, scarcely anything being taken ment, and then told the delegates that the only very funny things are to be seen about the away, even horses being left behind. Some negotiations posssible were those which would concern an unconditional surrender. After streets-black swallowtail coats and stove- the interview the officers were taken in hand by pipe hats walking about on pairs of brown Mr. Schurman, the President of the Commis campaign trousers and leggings and occa- sion, and two hours were profitably spent in sionally a pair of big black army boots stick. striped gaudy shirt. explanation and common sense argument. Aring out from under a guelles gave the impression that his people well. for their houses show the signs of wealth The people of San Fernando evidently lived were tired of fighting and practically admitted and more than the average Filipino culture. that they were on the wrong end of the game, but his main difficulty was how to stop it all and still uphold the dignity of his proud people, "You see," said Arguelles, if it were only possible to grant us time to hold our congress and get an expression of opinion and draw up resolutions and so on
we could easily manage to arrange an official way of stopping the trouble and surrendering with full dignity; but this thing of surrendering and laying down our arms first with a hope of negotiation afterwards, we simply can't entertain." President Schurman reviewed the advantages of an early surrender both in view of the present situation of the Filipinos and the them in the future. By laying down their consideration that would be extended toward arms now, it would be possible for the native leaders to assist in the framing of a Govern- ment, and suggestions which they might make were assured of favourable consideration. Thus
the situation was reviewed, and Colonel Ar- guelles, who is an intelligent man, was greatly impressed, but the next day he joined his colleague and was given safe escort to his own lines,
The town was in a fever of excitement over the visit, and natives crowded out of their doors, and carromata drivers twisted their heads around the corners of their traps, makingadozen tangles and snarls in the Escolta traffic, just to catch a view of the two men dressed in striped white and blue uniforms and straw slouch hats who were driving with A.D.C. Sladen,
Speculation began and bets flew round and became the principal topic in the saloons. Were they prisoners, Aguinaldo, Luna, Sandico, or had they come in for surrender? At last the latter idea become noised about and by seven o'clock half Manila believed that the war was over, the homesick Volunteers were betting two to one that they would be on a homeward bound transport within ten days, and people in general began to celebrate. The daily papers appeared and helped along the good work, but as the days passed and fighting continued the com- missioners werequickly being forgotten. Three days later Arguelles again appeared, with Captain
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Shortly after the occupation a big Chinese it had been noised about that several large vino joint was discovered, and ten minutes after casks were full the joint was crowded. Before long the matter came to the ears of the provost marshal, who caused the casks to be opened, so the story runs, and allowed the stuff to now to the river. Canteens were quickly produced and the river. a fair percentage was caught before it reached
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baggage trains to operate during the hot hours It has been found impracticable for the of the d..y; and night travelling is being tried balls died from exhaustion and heat between as a substitute. The day before yesterday two
dusk a long supply train will leave Calumpit Calumpit and San Fernando. To-night about
and follow the wagon road to San Fernando, o'clock the following morning, which is expected to be reached about one
There has no fighting of note since the occupation, though large numbers of natives are massing near Bacolar,
OHANGES ALONG THE RAILROAD.
A special train brought three companies of the 3rd United States Infantry to the Bagbag River yesterday afternoon. From this place they marched to Calumpit, where they relieved the Iowa men, the latter having been ordered to strengthen the force at San Fernando.
Late in the afternoon three companies of the 9th United States Infantry went out to Caloocan to fill the gap left by the 3rd Infantry.
The road is now well protected as far as Calumpit, but from there on no soldiers are stationed until San Fernando is reached.
FILIPINO GOVERNMENT CHANGES.
Latest news from the Filipino headquarters is that Aguinaldo has had to dismiss his right- band man, Mabini, from the position of presi. dent of the council, and has got Dr. Joaquin Gonzales, a very moderate and liberal minded man, to form a new ministry.
Paterno is in high disfavour. His life is threatened.
This is considered to show that the anti. American feeling is weaker than it was, and the war sentiment is losing its popularity.
The chief portion of the rebel army is con- contrating towards Cabanatuan, with the iden of taking refuge in the Irriga hills.
Mabini, if out of office, may still exercise dan- gerous influence.
Nothing can stop the uplit between General Luns and Mascardo.
The American river boats, which cleared the country up to Guagus yesterday are establish- ing a base of operations there to-day. San Fer nando is to be the base for the wet season.
A QUARREL BETWEEN THE LEADERS, News has sifted in through the lines that Generals Luna and Mascardo have had a severe quarrel which concerns not only themselves but their respective armies. The trouble is an old standing affair, but for some time matters were peaceful as Luna was busy at Calumpit, while Masoardo's headquarters were Bocalar. How ever, as Luna was driven out of the trenches, he fell back to Santo Tomas and San Fernando, which latter place is close to Bacolar. After Luna was wounded he retired to ÷ Angeles, taking many of his troops with him. Mascardo was thus left in a position to face the Americans at San Fernando, an opportunity of which be quickly availed himself, Friends of both parties have tried to heal apparently without success.
bresch, but
At present certain "spheres of influence" may be said to exist. Mascardo rules on the left of the railroad, this is between the road and the sea end, and controls the important town of Bacolar, while Luna commands the district between the road and the mountains. ---
Manila Times.
SUPREME COURT.
15th May.
IN ADMIRALTy JurisdictioN.
BEFORE HIS HON. W. M. GOODMAN (ÁCT- ING CHIEF JUSTICE), WITH COMMAX- DER W. C. H. HASTINGS, RN., NAUTICAL ASSESSOR.
WING FAT CHOY V. CALLAGHAN. His Lordship delivered the following judg- ment
fishing junk Kwong Loong Tai, licensed No. This is a suit brought by the owner of the 3346, against the Commander of H.M.8. Her mione, claiming damages for the loss of the plaintiff's junk, occasioned by a collision be- tween the Hermione and the junk, which co- curred shortly before 1.30 am. on the morning of 7th March, 1899, on the high ses, off Chilang also claims damages for the loss of his wife, his Point on the coast of China. The plaintin
two sons, aged respectively eleven and three,
which was lost owing to the collision. and his daughter aged five, who were, unfor tunately, drowned by the capsising of the junk,
At the time of this collision, H.M.S. He- mione was on a voyage from Wei-hai-wei to Hongkong and, according to the defendant's preliminary act, was about 70 miles from Hong- kong in a north-easterly direction. The night was fine and clear but very dark, as no moón or stars were visible. The defendant given the direction of the wind as about 8. W. while the plaintiff says it was E. 8. E., but, in any case, it was very light, not exceeding force one. The Hermione was steering South, 62 degrees West, and going at a speed of 10 knota an hour, 12 knots being her ordinary economical speed and 18} knots her speed. She was carrying all the proper lights, the white steaming light being 60 feet above the deck and the side lights placed 30 feet above the water. The lights were elec. trio light. According to the case for the Her. mions, the junk was not seen till she was about 30 or 40 yards distant, about one point on the starboard bow, when the collision was inevitable although the engines were stopped and reversed. Ten knots an hour means, roughly, a thousand feets minute, so that the junk was not seex till some few seconds before the collision and all could be done was to avoid striking stem on by putting the helm hard As regards the junk, she was a l masted fishing junk about ser and of a little over a the
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