June 11, 1898.]
No, brothers, never make this mistake. Rather blow your own brains out, than fire one shot, or treat as enemies those who are your liberators.
Your natural enemies, your executioners, the authors of your misery and your unhappiness, are the Spaniards who govern you, Against these you must raise your weapons and your odium. Understand well, against the Spaniards and never against the Americans.
Take no notice of the decree of the Governor- General calling you to arms, although it may cost you your lives. Rather die than be an grateful to our American liberators. The Governor-General calls you to arms. What for P To defend your Spanish tyrants? To defend those that have despised you, and even in public speeches asked for your extermination, those that have treated you little better than savages? No! no! a thousand times no !
Give a glance at history and you will see that all the wars undertaken by Spain in Oceania here sacrificed Philippine blood; we have been sent to fight in Cochin-China to assist the French, in an affair which in no way concerned the Philippines; we were compelled to spill our blood by Simon de Anda against the English, who in any case would have been better rulers than the Spaniards; every year our sons are taken away to be sacri- floed in Mindanao and Sulu, pretending to make us believe those inhabitants are our enemies when in reality they are our brothers, like us fighting for their independence.
After having sacrificed our blood against the English, against the Annamites, against the Mindanaos, etc., what recompense or thanks have we received form the Spanish Government? Ob- scurity, poverty, the butchery of our dear ones. Enough, brothers, of this Spanish tutelage!
Take note, the Americans will attack by sea and prevent any reinforcements coming from Spain; therefore the insurgents must attack by land. Probably you will have more than suffi- aient arms, because the Americans have arms and will find means to assist us.
There where you see the American flag flying, assemble in numbers; they are our redeemers.
Our unworthy names are as nothing, but one and all invoke the name of the greatest patriot our country has seen in the sure and certain hope that his spirit will be with us in these moments and guide us to victory our immortal
José RIZAL,
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF LAST WEEK'S FIGHTING.
GENERAL AGUINALDO'S ACCOUNT.
AN AMERICAN CAPTAIN ON THE INSURGENTS.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
PRAISE FOR ADMIRAL DEWEY.
8th June.
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The accounts of last week's fighting in the neighbourhood of Manila are unanimons in stat- ing that General Aguinaldo and those of whom he is in command have shown that they are made of much better stuff than was generally supposed, and that, despite their lack of train ing, when properly armed they are at any rate capable of coping with the soldiers of Spain with a good chance of success Consul-General Wildman has been of this opinion all along, and we believe we are right in stating that it was largely due to his representations that Admiral
Dewey determined to give them a chance and
see what they could do unaided by their Ameri- can allies.
A Captain on one of the American vessels writes us :-"The Insurgents are gaining all the time. They have taken between 500 and 600 Spanish prisoners, who are now in prison at Cavite. They have (June 4th) a small troop of Spaniards hemmed in at old Cavite which a
column of Spanish troops from Manila tried to Tiberate the day before yesterday, but after a spirited engagement of about five hours the Spaniards had to withdraw a very great victory for the rebels, considering the difference
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
in training between their forces and the regular Spanish troops. Every day and almost every hour of the day there is some firing going on, and the rebels seem to gain ground or at least hold their own all the time. My opinion of them has nudergone a radical change since the arrival of Aguinaldo. The Spaniards have certainly lost fill the time since he came, Now they are losing on the North side of the bay, and if our people don't lurry up there won't be any Spanish army for them to fight. The Manila papers have accounts of the late fighting in which they say the Aineri. can sailors took part. I emphatically deny this. No American ships-boats or men have taken any part in the land fights, and all state ments to the contrary are simply bare-faced falsehoods."
The American Admiral has presented Gen. eral Aguinaldo. with a "schou (a small flat- bottomed boat). The insurgent leader has mounted a small gun on it, and mightily amuses the Americans by every now and then sailing in full view of the Spaniards and challenging them to mortal combat.
On the first inst. the British ship Cyrus ar- rived at Manila with 4,500 tons of coal for the American fleet.
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sideration for foreigners and their interests in Manila. All these fine ships would be legiti mate prizes of the American fleet if it took the city of Manila. They are temporarily placed under foreign protection, but Admiral Dewey has the word of the consuls and commanders that no further use than that asked shall be made of them and that they shall eventually be turned over to him.
The most friendly relations exist between these consuls and commanders on the one side and Admiral Dewey on the other, and the former are outspoken in their appreciation of his kindnesses and courtesies, as well as adinira- ! tion of his abilities as a naval officer and of his direction of the blockade.
The Spanish officials and the Archbishop are doing all in their power to make the natives join with them, but they are not meeting with success. Aguinaldo and his followers are in- creasing their forces every day and now have strong ontposts in the north of Manila as well as near Cavite. The railway is practically ent and the company promised compensation for their losses by the insurgents.
small quantities, despite reports to the contrary, Supplies are coming into Manila only in and the outlook is growing darker every day. The fleet have a good view of Mount Taal, Valuables are being sent away or hidden, and which is now in eruption, and the sight, parti-every one lives in expectation of riot and loot- cularly in the evening, is said to be a beautifuling at the hands of the unpaid and unfed Spanish soldiers. The regulars captured and detained at Cavite are a sorry looking lot, and if they are a true sample of the entire force they will be no match for the American soldiers en roule, despite adverse conditions of climate. and health.
one.
Admiral Dewey writes Consul-General Wild- man that he does not intend to send another despatch boat until about four days after the departure of the Swift,
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]
Manila Bay, 3rd June. General Aguinaldo and his assistants are bringing order out of the masses of the rebels Serere fighting has gone on for several days, the and are making things-lively for the Spaniards. most business-like exchange of arms taking sides were visible to the fleet on the bay shore place on Wednesday, when operations of both
between Cavite and Manila. Firing of both the night. The work was not very deadly, as rifles and field guns continued all day and into
far as can be learned, but the insurgents came off with flying colours. It is known that they captured at least 400 Spanish regulars, includ- ing seren officers and a lieutenant-colonel of the line. Other reports which have reachell the flagship state that as many as 1,000 Spanish regulars and native forces were captured. Cavite is fall of prisoners that are plain evidence that the insurgents did good work.
General Aguinaldo reports that not over eight of his men were killed, but the Spanish loss must be much larger in view of the result of the battle.
Imus, an important point at the back of Cavite, has been captured by the insurgents from the Spaniards. This means a serious loss. to the latter and a gain to the former, because it is an outlet to the surrounding country and through it supplies were brought into Manila. It will also be a station from which to make further advances. Old Cavite, on the way to Manila, is also practically in the insurgents' hands, being occupied by them, with the excep- tion of an old stone church in which are a force of Spaniards trying to hold out against the insurgents, but who will soon be compelled to surrender. Spanish troops seeking to relieve this beseiged garrison were among those cap tured by the insurgents during the last few days.
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they will have the way well prepared for the If the insurgents continue this kind of work American troops when the latter arrive.
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The news of this defeat of the Spaniards has cast a gloom over Manila, and foreign residents seem to Le more anxious than ever to get away. At least the action of the consuls in chartering ships, by permission of Admiral Dewey, upon which they can come as refugees if necessary shows the state of feeling in Manila. Within the last few days several more Spanish vessels have been allowed to come out of the Pasig under the British, French, and German flags, and have taken anchorage near the respective war ships.
In these transactions Admiral Dewey is show ing great confidence in the consuls and naval commanders of other Powers as well as con-
Consul Williams has been on shore at Cavite to-day, in conference with General Aguinaldo,
The Zafiro arrived yesterday with the follow- ing passengers-Lieut. Maclean, in command Fleet Paymaster Smith and Assistant Long the Admiral's Secretary, Ensign Caldwell the late U.S. Minister to Bangkok, Mr. John Barrett; Dr. Page, of the Olympia; and Mr. Johnson.
The Swift leaves to-day for Hongkong and takes the mail.
FROM THE INSURGENT CAMP. According to a letter received from General Aguinaldo by one of his friends in Hongkong, dated 31st May, the insurgents had captured the towns and villages of Bacoor, Dasmarinas, Rozario, Mendez, Marigondon, Bailen, Alfonso, Magallanes, Amadeo, Tansa, Carmona, and Imus, all in the province of Cavite. The insurgent leader before opening the attack on any village or town gave notice to the officer commanding the Spanish forces and summoned him to surrender. In one case a reply was received stating that requesting that the attack might be kindly the garrison was not quite ready to fight and deferred for three hours, which request was. complied with.
The first engagement took place in the village of Cavite, on the 28th May; when the insurgents captured in the and ammunition, and towards evening they morning 19 Spanish soldiers with their arins hemmed in 190 Cazadores and 70 loyal native soldiers and volunteers. In this engage. ment the insurgents lost four killed, the loss on the Spanish side being 16. killed, including one officer.
Cavite province, with the result that up to Fighting then became general throughout the date of this letter more than 2,000 Spanish
soldiers with their officers had been taken
surrendered, handing to General Aguinaldo his prisoners, and the Spanish General Leopolelo Pena, Governor of the province of Cavite, had sword, revolver, and gold lace belt, together with a letter formally stating his surrender.
In the meantime General Aguinaldo had sent to the province of La Laguna his officers Mas- cardo, Martines, and Aguinaldo (General Aguinaldo's nephew), who surrounded the villages of Binang, San Pedro, Tumasan, Sta. Rosa and Babuyan. He also sent to the pro- rince of Bulacan General del Pilar, who had already at the date of the letter succeeded in taking some of the villages there,
The total Spanish loss in killed and wounded is said to have been 800, while the insurgents lost 30 killed. 2,500 rifles were taken by the insurgents from their prisoners.
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