Le-law
for the benefits which the country them, betray her, organising in- sociations whose aim is crime, and perturbation, strife, and desolation to possession of the Epanish Crown.
A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ON TIL-
jun 2 SITUATION,
敏
Macauyan, near Manila, 18th December.
"
}
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
in
akes
must
directed nexp able. the friars, all the more however, be remembered, that many places the padre is the sole upholder and outpost of the Spanish dominion which he personifies, often exercising authority beyond what would be assumed by Government officials, if there were any on the spot. It is admitted as beyond ques- tion that General Blanco was superseded in his office mainly owing to the hostility of the I have hastened back from a journey in the religious orders to his regime. General Polavieja surrounding country, whither I went to see for is practically on his trial now and opinion is not myself the actual position of affairs, in order quite decided as to how he will rule; but most I might supplement my telegraphic des- impressions agree that he is likely to prove a patches of the 12th and 16th, which briefly man of decision and one free from the fatal stated the position in the Philippine Archipe. vacillation of his predecessor, who is freely Ingo
It is necessary to see everything for blamed fo. allowing the rebellion to make such oneself in this country which for downright headway and for a lowing some of its chief lying on everyside beats eren China, the home supporters to escape to places of safety beyond natural mendacity. But in this respect 1 the sea, notably one of the notorious Roxas think that as an "Old China Haud" I must brothers, the other of whom is in prison here award the palm to the far eastern colony of awaiting his final trial by court-martial with haughty Spain. It is impossible to believe any his fate already pretty well decided, the civil resulted thing one hears or reads here where the gauging preliminary proceedings having
on the of the press and the iron hand of the Censor con- bis inequivocal condemnation trol public opinion and stifle truth on every side. capital charge of high treason and rebellion. People who know something worth telling General Polaviejo has certainly lost no time in steadfastly keep their mouths shut, while those showing the people that he is earnest and we who have little knowledge of what is going on have no reason to complain of his want of embellish it so and twist it according to their thoroughness. General Blanco always seemed sympathies with one side or the other that it is to shrink from sentencing a man to death and exceedingly puzzling even for old residents to withheld his signature from the execution order know what to believe. The local newspapers, till the last moment, for which merciful I have indicated, are under the most severe tendency he has been freely censured by all censorship and only publish what the Spanish Spaniards here. The present Governor-General staff officers give out, which is exceedingly is apparently troubled by no such qualms, for in meagre and conveys anything but a correct four days there have been no less than 38 impression of the actual state of affairs. No executions bere in Manila, Cavite, and Par- one will find fault with the Spanish authorities anaque (all within a radius of 8 miles) besides on this score when the seriousness of the situa- four ordinary criminals who were garotted tion and the numbers and determination here on Tuesday last. It seems open to ques- of their enemies are taken into account. tion whether these wholesale battues are likely When we have such a high military authority to impress the nativés very much or incline them as Lord Wolseley condemning war correspond to a more loyal and contented frame of mind. ente as “modern curses of armies" in bis famous The Philippinos, like all Asiatics, have a supreme "Soldier's Pocket-Book we cannot think too contempt of death and all meet their fate with hardly of the severe but not unreasonable re- stoical indifference. Indeed the Spanish soldiers strictions which Captain-General Blanco, late forming the shooting squads seem to be far less Commander-in-Chief of the forces in the Philip indifferent to the painful scenes and become pines and Governor General of the Archipelago, nervous when called out to form the firing parties. imposed upon communications to the press at On Tuesday one of the soldiers fainted dur- home and abroad His successor, Generaling the bloody scene, which I must say was a Polavieja, I am glad to say holds more liberal herrid one, the business having been badly views upon that score and as long as I confine bangled, one of the victims having to receive myself to past operations and disclose nothing five separate shots, after the first volley into his that would help the enemy, I have found him so back and head, to give him his quietus. They are shot from behind in the most fashionable far quite willing to allow me a pretty free hand. I have obtained my permit giving me freedom of drive of the city facing the sea, and the execu. the military lines, but have not until now tions are attended with a great show of military thought it necessary to go to any great distance solemnity and potap. with the small military expeditions that are. As a great many honoured well known rebels ow getting to work in the next province of including the leaders Roxas, Rizal, Luna, all Bulacan which has within the past fortnight men of wealth and influence, though all either gone over to the rebels. The first great task half-castes or full-blooded Indians as the natives of the new Commander-in-Chief will be to clear are erroneously styled by the Spaniards and Cavite province and, the suburbs of Manila foreigners are still lying in prison awaiting courts martial and are certain to be extending by the S. and W. around the bay the
the enemy. But as I have already in-convicted, we may anticipate the enactment dicated by telegraphic dispatches, this cannot of many more of these bloody scenes that have be attempted until the Spanish force now dyed the sands of the Lunetta crimson so many times within the past couple of months. As I numbering 20,000 men is largely reinforced In the course of an interview which I had have infirmed the Herald readers by telegraph with General Blanco last week, be informed me the rebellion bas spread now into several other that further enforcements amounting to 25,0 providres, but they have been very easily cleared resh troops are being mobilized and embarked out of the next province of Bulacan, whither I Barcelona and Cadiz. Several transports have just returned in tinie to close this letter on their way out already, so that within a with a brief mention of General Rios' operations may expect to see the royal arount Macanyan. a village 15 kilometers to
ssive tactice.
General the northward. Between 3,000 and 4,000 rebels the office of Capitan, were in possession of a series of quarries a few olavieja is, a, strong, hundred yards to the south of Macsuyan, the energetic temperament thau railway passing through which they menaced: Morgover, he is personu grata | General Riog took 1,500 men made up from irch dignitaries, who are a power; the 70th and 73rd (Native) regiments, the 4th equal, if not quperior, to the Go- and 6th Caza lores (riflemen), 3 batteries of field ernor-General, and the entire official, bier, g ns and half a troop of cavalry. The total hy. Indeed this not easy to over estimate number of his force did not exceed 1,500 men, the enor
luence which the four orders, în all. He divided them into two divisions;
Recolatos. Dominicans, one under Col. Arteaga, *han officer i Philippines has won considerable, distinction during,
recent operations ›{ around;}} Manila. others the Geveral led in person; Artenga's force was pushed forward in to a village called Marilao, about 5. Mina
... the north east of been to advance at an equ
THEY CA
reeks).
assume
General the
an and or
ield
** to-days, what it was
Reformation.
he natives, with the.
Testan
note
|
i
spe
Gene
southe
the
the line of march cut up on all sides few hundreds couple of feet high water when The heat of the day brief as they were but the men behaved advanced steadily over- loose formation until a the east of t
[January 11 1897.
the village of Mace કેમ field pieces to command the riva A few shells were thrown into which acted as a screen to the qu more into the quarry itself, but most feeble reply from the occupan ill provided with weapons, exce and very onrions sort of made cannon which they call of exaggerated Chinese mounted in an embrasure. work formed by the quarried ridges
After the first couple. it was never fired. of shells fell amongst them -- broke and fled to the hills about 5 mile westward, many women and child
The Spanish, seen amongst them.
fired at the fugitives a fow round enemy left a few dead in their trad failed to show the least signs of fighti face of the immeasurably superior face Spaniards. The troops dashed forwa without resistance occupied the tion which could have been held men for a long time if the game w worth the candle. But the rebeln thought it was not, and in the absend tempt to use the Spanish cavalry in the fleet limbed natives escaped Some bodies were found in the quarr amongst the trees, nearly all with th sanguinta paeta mark on the arm to the bodies were sworn insurgent whole affair was a very trivial one an of the expenditure
of, more::Da
But
bels
tho the
it. The headman of the rebels. ramed Francisco, a man of the who had been in a Government many of his fellow-rebels, the upper of whom consist largely of schoolmas doctors, lawyers, musicians, and men held official positions up, to quite re Roxas is a millionaire, Rizal, the chief leade is a doctor of medicine as well. author of distinction and a graduate of a Ger man university. He speaks English, Germa and French, in addition to Spanish native Tagalo tongue. Luna is an a few years ago won a gold medal elever picture at the Paris Exhibitio as an act of simple justice to the troops say before closing that my derived from personal observe Macauyan, Cavite, and other neighbourhood, is directly opp Davidson and one or t ten. Their demeanour most kindly, and strict by the officers. are
who constant! of the Spanish white race,
ande side. ZA13. to the
deed
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