Directory_and_Chronicle_1919 — Page 1346

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

1276

ILOILO

weekly service to and from Manila, which is some 350 miles distant. The town is lit up by electricity and a telephone system exists.

Iloilo is the centre for the sugar industry which for the most part comes from the island of Negros, and an average of about 3,000,000 piculs pass through the port each year; owing to the facilities granted by the United States, whereby it is allowed in free of duty, the greater part of it is shipped there. Rice is grown on a fairly large scale, but enough is not raised for consumption, and large importations are necessary from Saigon and Hongkong. There is a weekly service between Hongkong and Iloilo via Manila.

On the 23rd December, 1898, the Spanish Governor-General resident in Iloilo resigned, giving over the care of the town to the Mayor, or Alcalde, of Iloilo, preparing with his troops and Government officials, naval, military and civil, to evacuate the place, which, on the 25th December, was accomplished. On the 26th December, 1898, the town of Iloilo, which for over a month had been entirely surrounded on the land side by Revolutionary forces, was delivered over to them by the Spanish Alcalde, and the Philippine Republic flag was hoisted on all the public buildings. On the 28th December, 1898, the United States forces, composed of the U.S.S. Baltimore and three transports with 3,800 troops, under the command of Brigadier- General Miller, arrived in front of Iloilo, but did not land, as the Revolutionary forces. declined to give up the town unless under orders from Aguinaldo, their chief. Affairs in Luzon having come to an open rupture between the United States and the Revolutionary forces, the General commanding the United States expedition advised the foreign Consulates that hostilities would commence after 5 a.m. on the 12th February. The Revolutionary forces set fire to the city, leaving it almost in ruins, and retired outside the eity limits. Iloilo was immediately occupied by the Americans.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1919 — Page 1346

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