July 23, 1898,1
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
have not seen them, and there is hardly any doubt they have foundered and the 900 souls on board-of whom 16 were priest-have met with a watery grave,
As was expected, the second batch of Ameri- can troops have not been behind their time. The China, steaming ahead of the other vessels, arrived on Saturday afternoon, and on Sunday morning the Boston, which had met the ex- There is nothing special to report with re- pedition to the north of Luzon on the 16th, gard to the encounters between the Insurgents made its appearance leading the Colon, the and the Spaniards. It appears, however, that Senator, and the Zealandia. Needless to say the Aguinaldo is restive under the restraint of the reinforcements were greeted with load and United States forces, and is anxious to prolonged cheers. They had hardly anchored try and capture Manila. Consul Williams, who before the Japanese cruiser Naniwa arrived conducts the negotiations with the Insurgent from Hongkong with a telegram for Admiral leader, has sent a letter to Consul-General Dewey announcing the surrender of the Span-Wildman, who has great influence with Aguin- iards at Santiago de Cuba. The Admiral aldo, strongly urging him to go to Cavite and forthwith ordered the men to be called to quarto endeavour to induce the victorions Filippino ters. The joyful news was signalled and re- to listen to reason. We understand that it is ¦ ceived with tremendous oheering.
quite on the cards that Consul-General Wild- man will go down to the Philippines in the course of a week or so. It depends upon how things turn out.
Another addition to the possessions of the United States was made on the voyage from San Francisco. On July 4th General Green and a number of his officers landed on the little coral island of Weeks, which lies between Honolulu and the Ladrones, and formally took possession of it, the " stars and stripes" being hoisted and a record being left behind. The island is unin- habited, and it is said that it is 60 years since it was visited before. The expedition also touched at Guam but no one landed. Five deaths oc- onrred on the voyage.
The troops brought by the second expedition were about 4,000 in number. They will not be landed at Cavite, but put directly on the field near Manila ready for the final move, for which every preparation has been made. The Cali- fornian battalion has been at Parangue for some time. Their comrades at Cavite can, with the aid of glasses, see them drilling.
When the despatches were posted it was a moot point as to whether the advance would be made within a day or so or delayed until the arrival of General Merritt next week. Before the assault 48 hours notice will be given, so that the women and children can be removed to a place of safety, and the Spaniards will be summoned to surrender. It is expected that it will not take more than a couple of shells to induce them to do this. If not there will be nothing for it but to bombard the city. for it is hardly likely that the Americans will run the risk of losing lives by making a land att.ck when they can secure their object without in curring practically any danger themselves by calling their fleet into play.
In the meantime things in Manila have gone from bad to worse. The news that Admiral Camara's fleet had returned to Spain has filled the Spainards with despair, despair which was deepened when they learned that the deafening cheers which proceeded from the American ships on Sunday were in consequence of the American success at Santiago de Cuba. There are only about 5,000 troops keeping the outer line at Manila. There are some 600 wounded in hospital, and between 3,000 and 4,000 sick, the latter being scattered about the city in churches and other improvised hospitals. The inhabitants can get no water now, the Spaniards being unable to send coal to the waterworks for the machinery on account of the rebels. Well water has consequently to be relied upon. Condensed milk is selling at a dollar and a quarter per tin, a tin of Eno's fruit salt costs four dollars, whilst those who cannot do without a certain popular kind of toilet soap have to
pay two or three dollars for a tablet if they wish to enjoy this luxury. Buffalo meat is getting scarcer, and will
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There were great doings at Bacoor on Sunday. | Aguinaldo has established his Cabinet," and his "Ministers" took their oaths of office on that day. Aguinaldo himself is President, his cousin Baldramoro Aguinando Minister of War," General Trias Minister of Foreign | Affairs," and Leandro Ibara Minister of In- terior." The ceremony was made the occasion of a great demonstration in which some 5,000 persons took part.
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AGUINALDO'S MESSAGE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
A telegram from New York, dated June 19th,
the part of Spain which is so sensitive about one of numberless instances of like policy on her honour. Many insurgent chiefs, as it seems, have been assassinated in the war in the Philip- Whether the effort succeeds this time, or fails, pines for the reward of Spanish money. Consul-General Wildman has accomplished great deal to make the war effective.
his zeal and success in office across the sea. As It is a deep gratification to Elmirans to note a former resident of the city and closely related to leading families there is a natural pride in the distinction which he is gaining, for Agul- naldo himself is first and foremost to express bis obligations to the man who believed in him and helped him when all others suspected lim of duplicity and would do nothing. There is no further doubt now, and the rebel general is proving a most effective ally of the American When our troops arrive they may find little to do after Aguinaldo has got through with his campaign against them. Congratula tions are due Rounsvelle Wildman for his con- spicnons success as Consul-General of the United States at Hongkong.”
cause.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
At the monthly meeting of the General Com. mittee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, the 13th July, 1898. Present: Messrs. R. M. Gray (Chairman), Herbert Smith (Vice-Chairman); Aguinaldo, the leader of the Philippine rebels, A. Haupt, J. J. Bell-Irving, T. Jackson, Al has sent the following authorised message to the McConachie, H. A. Ritchie, N. A. Siebs, T. H. American people through the New York Jour-Whitehead, and R. C. Wilcox (Secretary). nal:-
says:---
America has protected the Cubans, and will likewise protect the Filipinos. She will give us the liberty for which we have struggled for years. All the world will respect us if we have the pro. tection of America.
of its corruption and cruelty, the heavy taxes We rebelled against Spanish rule because
levied on us, and the failure of the Spanish Go- verument to carry out promised reforms.
"We ask for the sympathy of the Americans, and hope to work together with them to expel the Spaniards and establish good government in the islands.
"We thank Admiral Dewey and Consuls Wildman and Williams for their help."
CONSUL-GENERAL WILDMAN AND
AGUINALDO.
An American contemporary (the Elmira Advertiser) has the following:-
"The work of the American Consul-General at Hongkong is attracting world-wide attention from the successes of the insurgent general, Aguinaldo, in his attacks on Manila. That leader is very frank in giving large credit to the Consul-General for trusting in him and aiding him in gaining an equipment for service against the Spaniards on land while Dewey assailed them by sea. Even when the admiral doubted the rebel, Mr. Wildman was so cou- fident of his fidelity and so sure of his ability that he has given him indispensable aid and made him of the utmost value to the American Without any American troops to be landed at Manila Admiral Dewey has been com- pelled to await reinforcements from home, but the Consul-General, 600 miles away, has been able to give the rebel leader such aid and finally to win Dewey over so that with the arms ob- General Monet is being feasted and entertained at Cavite the insurgents are carrying all tained by the Governor-General for the part before them toward the capital. he took in connection with the liberation of his wife and family. The Spanish officers, however, look upon him with disgust on account of his having deserted his troops.
soon be out of the market.
cause.
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting (held 15th June) were read and confirmed.
NEW MEMBERS, Mr. Paul Brewitt had been elected to mem
bership of the Chamber since last meeting.
STORM WARNING.
In accordance with instructions, a letter was on the 17th June addressed to the Government calling attention to the loss sustained by the cessation of the receipt of weather telegrams from Manila, and suggesting the advisability of endeavouring to secure warnings from South Cape, Formosa.
Read reply, received 21st June, stating that the Government was endeavouring to obtain meteoroligocal observations from Labnan, Ton- rane, &c., but the South Cape Lighthouse hav ing been destroyed, and the cable from Formoss to Foochow out, observations could not at pre- sent be obtained from thence.
Decided, when acknowledging receipt of this reply, to express the Committee's satisfaction with the action of the Government in the matter.
THE PINNACLE ROOK FUND. Read letter from Lieut.-Comdr. Pudsey Watson, R.N., of H.M.S. Waterwitch, stating that he would shortly be leaving for the north”: on surveying work, and asking for informatión concerning the rewards given from the Pin nacle Rock Fund.
The Secretary stated that, in reply, Com mander Dawson had been made acquainted with what had been done and supplied with a copy of all the correspondence on the subject, mat
In acknowledging receipt of Chamber's letter, Commander Dawson said he would do his best to make the existence of the Fund knownto among the Chinese fishermen.
Also read letter from Capt. Hall, of steamer Haitan, expressing surprise that a reward for discovery of the "Namoa" Rock should have been awarded to Capt. Pi, who he averred had nothing to do with finding this danger.
By direction of the Committee a letter was written to Capt. Hall putting him in possession of the information (supplied by the Commis sioner of netoms, Foochow) on which the Committee acted in making the award in ques- tion.
The Spanish Governor-General has offered $25,000 reward for Aguinaldo, dead or alive. That's the highest compliment that a Spaniard can pay to an enemy. He always hires an The capture of the Leyte has already been assassin to murder him, if he dare. Aguinaldo mentioned, but there is another incident in shares at least one distinction with William the connection with it which has not yet been Silent, the great Dutch statesman who was mur- made public. The Leyte had towed three dered for the price set on his life. Neverthe- vessels down the Pampangas River and along less, it should not be forgotten that that sort of the coast, with the intention of getting thing is not done without the consent of the those on board into Manila or surrender sovereign. Local commanders do not offer re- The Chairman said he hoped Commander ing them to the Americans. The boister wards for the assassination of able opponents Dawson would be able to make use of the credit ous weather compelled the Leyte to leave without the consent of their rulers. Queen given him. It was satisfactory to see one of them. was on her way to Manila, where Christina's case excites commiseration, but it is a Her Majesty's vessels again employed in surveye she was
· going for assistance, when she was false sympathy that is given her as long as she | ing duties on the coast. With regard to Capt captured. An American man-of-war was sent
Hall's statement about the discovery of the to look for the three vessels, but they were
"Namos" Rock, he had made no rejoinder so nowhere to be found. The Insurgents say they
far to the Chamber's letter.
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tolerates the policy of starvation and murder which characterizes the work of her subordinates. This attempt to rid herself of Aguinaldo is only
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