October 28, 1896.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Christianity. The torturing of the suspect Manuel Abella, an old man seventy years of age, who as a result is now in a very critical condi- tion, is said to have been done at the instigation of one of the priests.
It should be said in justice to the Governor- General that the number coming under his immediate authority receiving death warrants is proportionately few. In fact, according to precedents established by former treatment of rebels in other countries, the Spanish would be warranted in putting to death any per- sons in the least way implicated. Others not sentenced to death have been banished, some to the Carolines, but the larger number to the unhealthy African coast colonies, in the Gulf of Guinea.
conquer the island. Numerous forts, some armed with guns, have been
built located at different points along roadway which has been built from Iligan, the port, to the big lake Lanao, which is in the centre of the disturbed districts. Four small gunboats, or rather armed launches, built in Hongkong, have just been placed in the lake. These little craft are built of steel, the two larger provided with twin screws, and all armed with modern quick-firing and machine guns, including two of eight centimetres. Upon the rebellion breaking out in the north the white troops who had been stationed in Mindanao were all recalled to Manila, leaving the defences in the hands of native troops, together with a battalion of "Discipinarios," or state prisoners, who are released from confinement upon promise of war duty. It has been reported that these natives. have all revolted and are now in supreme con- trol. If this be so, and it is generally believed to be a fact, the great number of arms, ammunition, modern large arms, and the forts and gunboats; together with the unsettled condition of the whole island, will render the rebels so strong that the island will not be recaptured by the Spanish without a most extensive expedition. which in their present condition will be impos- sible for a few years. The Spaniards will be able no doubt to hold the few coast ports. The struggle that has been carried on in island for the last few years has been one that smacks of The Crusade." The natives are Mahomedans and while the zame people in North Borneo are considered as quiet law abiding natives by the British, they rose in rebellion, which has been continued for years, at the suggestion that they should come under the yoke of the Catholic religion and be subject to government by the Spanish priests.
A small shore detachment of native marines, when a few miles outside of Manila, joined in The rebels are at present strongest în Cavite an attack on a small body of Spanish troops province, but that is by no means the only who were with them. The natives were de- district in which they are found. In the pro-feated, but the reports of the number killed are vince of Nueva Ecija I have it on the best of an- so conflicting that one cannot tell which to thority a great deal of fighting has occurred. place confidence in. It was stated by several About a thousand natives who sympathized that twenty-two marines were killed and two with the rebel party have been killed. To taken prisoners. avoid sending prisoners down to Manila, the authorities have been taking groups consisting of from five to fifteen natives, bound hand and foot, and pitching them into the river to meet death by drowning. My informant also spoke of two prisoners bound in the customary way who upon being brought before the proper Spanish authority were immediately slashed and cut unmercifully by a sword in the hands of that individual, who then called a guard who finished what little life there was left in the mutilated bodies by blowing out their brains with his rifle.
dealt to the fifty-nine unfortunates who were
mothered in the “ Dark hole of Manilà "
It seems the prisoners were let down into death pit from an opening above. The sentry on guard excused the affair by saying that it was raining and as he was afraid the Those suspects who are found or declared inmates would get wet he placed boards over guilty are, if the accusation is one of direct the entranos shutting up the only participation in aiding the rebellion, sen- opening formulation, leaving over four tenced to death. The execution is performed hundred ing creatures fighting each within twenty-four hours of the signing of the other like madmen in their efforts to find death warrant and usually takes place in the breath of air. (How refreshing to find a public park, where the men, bound, are placed Spamard so considerate at the suffering of the on their knees and shot in the back, death not enemy!) The Philippine gaols and prisons are always being instantaneous. During the last not very good even in times of peace, and it execution thirty-four Spanish ladies were is said that corruption had reached such a state counted among the spectators, in fact the kill that after a sentenced man had been placeding is looked upon to a certain extent as a sort -in prison, it was necessary for the injured of exhibition and no doubt compensates for party to fee the jailer that the prisoner might the loss of the ball fights, which have been be confined until the end of his term. Now during these days discontinued Bands of that some of the natives have risen in rebellion music are also present and by a rendition of a against the Spanish very little mercy can be pleasing programme make the performance all hoped for. When a native who is suspected the more enjoyable. to be connected, or whom it is to the advant- age of the Spanish to consider connected, with the rebellion, has been seized, his arms ar bound back by fastening strong cords drawn across the back to each elbow. So tight is this drawn, and so long continued, that the arm is invariably badly lacerated and cases have been noticed, as example one prisoner named Lerma whose flesh was so badly torn that he lost the use of both arms, where the wound was of such a nature as to disable or injure the arm permanently. But this is but the beginning and by far the least of the torture the The Spanish have been accused of arresting suspect has to undergo before his fate a great many of the wealthy natives or half- is settled. The prisoner is usually first castes on suspicion, and confiscating their pro- taken before the Civil-Governor and Mili-perty whether there be sufficient proof of their tary Court, where he is subjected to examina-guilt or not. In this way the Government tion. If his answers are not satisfactory, and said to have acquired a great deal of valuable they ordinarily are not, unless guilt is confessed, | property. he is taken to the torture chamber. After being stripped he is first subject to whipping with rattans. Two hundred blows or more if the victim is specially obstinate. If this is not successful good old fashioned thumb screws are brought into play and the poor wretch, already half dead from the beating, is obliged to undergo the exquisite pain that these little instruments can so readily produce. These torturing ma- chines were actually those used in the days of the Inquisition and preserved to this time in the Monastery of St. Augustine at Manila to be brought into use at this day when the world calls for mercy and compassion! The above is well known by all to be a fact; the natives add more tortures which may or may not be true. They say that prisoners have been placed against a board wall and small nails driven through each finger, holding the arms out as in a crucifixion, until the suffering man ories out a confession. Again, the suspects have been bound and fastened in one position from which they cannot change while a tap of water is so arranged above them that drop after drop falls on their heads, causing great torture. But even putting aside these native accounts-and yet they do not appear so impro- bable there is plenty in the beating and thumb- screws, to which can be added the hanging up of the suspects by the thumbs and hanging them up by a rope fastened to their bound arms behind them, to criticize and condemn. What do the Spanish say to this? Why simply this, and it is certainly one way to look at it: the natives have no fear of simple imprisonment. To their minds there is not the shame and degra- dation with which we regard it. Consequently some other form of punishment must be resorted to. That torturing is effective is proven by many cases, for from confession and information secured from guility parties who were being subjected torture the names of many of the leaders and other prominent rebels have been divulged. But while the Spaniards may gain much in this way it is equally certain that many innocent persons, unable to bear longer the pain, would clain guilt or readily accuse guiltless ersons for the sake of temporarily saving them- elves from torture. This is the case often oe- in China. Why not in the Philippines, bout the same, class of torture is prac- Spain, makes great pretensions as a nation and yet she, with the conni
Church, indulges in oruel practices most contrar to the merciful teachings of
So far, with the exceptions I am about to mention, the native troops have been loyal. They make good appearing soldiers, marching with perfect order and preserving while on duty a stolid and determined appearance, which speaks of constant attention to dutý and a regard for discipline.
It was these plucky fellows who were sent to Cochin-China to aid the French, where they did such effective work that it has been stated by some officers they did more in quelling the resistance than the French did themselves. If they should turn about and join their countrymen, with their knowledge of organization and drill, the Spanish would find a very difficult task before them.
Would it not be a good idea for the Spanish to send these native soldiers to Cuba to fight, bringing back an equal number of white troops to be used in the Philippines? The Philippine natives could stand the Cuban cli- mate well, would require less care, and could get through the country with less difficulty. In fast they could fight the Cuban rebels with their own weapons.
Having no common interest with the Cubans there would be very little probability that they would desert the ranks.
The most alarming report of desertion is that from the island of Mindanao, in the extreme south, although of this no particulars are at hand. The Spanish have never been masters of this big island and the last three Governors-General have been carrying on a constant warfare against the natives. Of late the Spanish have been especially energetic in their attempts to
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the
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In the southern province of Camarines, in the island of Luzon, a carefully planned conspiracy in which the Spanish were to be killed and certain natives were told off for the work- was discovered. Among the arrests made in consequence were those of two Spaniards, who have been brought to Manila, Manuel Pardo, a proprietor of a large steam rice mill, and the other named Marti.
While Spanish troops were marching towards Imus, a village occupied by the rebels, they came across a body of rebels. Anxious to display his strategetical ability the Commander divided his men, sending à column round to surround the natives. He was successful and the two columns gradually closed in about the enemy, but the latter, fearing that someone would get hurt, gently withdrew from the scene, taking the advantage of a near bit of forest to hide their action. Spanish continued to surround, pleased with the fact that they were having everything their own way, and coming within range commenced to fire, and the loss was considerable before the Spaniards discovered that they had been firing on each other.
The
Spanish troops to the number of 1,500 while in the province of Batangas marching towards - the lake were on the 18th of October, at early morning, surrounded by rebels, who fired upon them from the underbrush on every side, inflicting a loss of about fifty killed. The Spaniards were eventually able to disperse the rebels, who retreated, leaving, according to Spanish accounts, about two hundred dead on the field.
The rebels were in possession of the Gov. ernment powder magazine at Binacayan, near Cavite, and Spanish troops were sent to dislodge them, but according to their own reports "thought it more prudent to retir The Spanish reports published int official paper were given as four wounded, although it is a significam thirteen dead and forty two won landed on the quay from the eI
The rebels have been incress and have established themselves at San Mateu,
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