114
FIGHTING AT MANILA.
COLLISION BETWEEN THE AMERI- CANS AND THE INSURGENTS.
THE INSURGENTS DEFEATED AND
DEMORALISED.
Hongkong, 7th February.
A short telegram was received in the city on Sunday which showed that the long-expected had happened at Manila, the Americans and the Insurgents having at last come to blows. The telegram, which was received by Consul-General Wildman, gave no details, and some time elapsed before any confirmation was received. Yester. day, however, a private telegram was received from Mauila which ran as follows:-
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Out-post affair Saturday night resulted general attack Americans Sunday. Natires defeated and demoralised. All well here."
Before the receipt of the above wire there were not wanting some who doubted that anything seri- ous had occurred. The Filipino leaders here con- sidered it highly improbable, as Aguinaldo had given strict orders to his followers to refrain from fighting, at any rate until yesterday, when the final vote on the Treaty of Peace was to be taken in the Senate, and they expressed the opinion that if a collision had occurred it had been forced by the Americans so as to affect the the vote referred to.
The Filipinos complain of the severs censor. ship of telegrams imposed by the Americans. contending that it is contrary to the agreement entered into. In the meantime we shall have to await the arrival of a vessel from Manila before we get full details.
Another telegram is said to have been received in town to the effect that the American fleet co-operated with the land forces in repulsing the attack of the Filipinos and that the loss of the latter amounted to 1.900 men.
Ilongkong, 8th February. Though in the United States and at home details of the fighting between the Americans and the Insurgents at Manila on Sunday have been published we know comparatively little in Hongkong, what messages which have been received being of a most meagre description.
Apparently, however, the collision was not expected any more than it has been any time during the last few weeks. Indeed when the Sangkiang, which arrived here to-day. left Manila Bay at half-past five on Saturday night affairs if anything seemed more settled, and it would appear that the authorities did not anticipate any immediate trouble seeing that some half-dozen American officers came over with the Sunghiang intending to proceed home. Under the circumstances, however, their plans may have to be altered.
Hongkong, 9th February. The German steamer Knivsberg arrived from Manila yesterday, but she left on Friday, 3rd inst., before the collision between the Philippine and American forces occurred. We ceived by her the following letter from our correspondent, which describes the position prior
to that event:-
TH-
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
other places in the vicinity of the city are met with unfriendly looks, and a few days ago a party of cyclists who managed to surmount the obstacles of the road for some ten miles were detained and bothered in many ways. It is rumoured that a consignment of arms and machine guns has been landed along the north coast of Luzon and is now in the hands of the Filipinos; but here is no way of ascer taining the truth of the report. The arms are supposed to have come from Japan.
A NEW GUNBOAT ON THE PASIG, '
On January 29th the side-wheeler Laguna de Bay went into commission as an American gun- boat on the Pasig River.
From its ordinary condition as a passenger boat it has been armed and converted into quite a formidable affair. A six foot protection of double plates of steel, and of an inch in thickness has been put around the vessel.aud onthe bridge two three inch navy guns have been mounted forward and two Hatchkiss 1.65 rifles aft. On the protected, bridge are four modern gatling guns, and in addition to the crew there are twenty five riflemen. Captain Randolph, of the 3rd U.S. Artillery, is in command. The dimensions of the boat are, length 110 ft., breadth 36 ft.. and as she draws only 34 ft.. all parts of the river and lake can be reached. Each night patrol trips are made that are perplexing to the insurgents, who occupy all the outlying country.
cruiser with a monstrous ram is on exhibition The model of a wonderfully constructed in a window on the Escolt. All day it is watched by curious crowds of Filipinos who say that the original, the Independencia, is being built for Aguinaldo. The call to arms, in reponse to another supposed terrific attack of the natives which so upset Manila a few days since, has demonstrated beyond a doubt the im- possibility of creating a panic in the city or of drawing off the troops on false alarms. In less than ten minutes every street and bridge was so thoroughly patrolled and guarded that a gathering of any kind or disturbance would be absolutely impossible and in each section the troops there would be more than able to meet all emergencies.
In anticipation of the additional regiments soon to arrive, several hundred men are at work levelling and ditching the large square opposite of accommodating four or five regiments. the Luneta. When completed it will be capable
The knowledge of the nearness of the day, 6th February, on which an effort will be made to ratify the treaty in the United States, has spread the idea among a large number of people that. Aguinaldo must cause an attack or bring on a fight in the intervening days, or lose s strong point for his independence; for if a rapture occurs and the news can be widely cir- oulated in America, it will certainly bear io- fluence at Washington.
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"?
THE BALTIMORE COMING TO HONGKONG,
About the end of this month the U.S. cniser Baltimore may be expected at Hongkong, where she will meet the Commissioners from America and convey them to Manila. there to settle the fate of the Philippines.
16
re-
THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION,
Manila, 1st Feburary.
CODE CABLEING SUSPENDED, The committee of six presided over by Ramon
On January 28th notice was served on Avanceña has arrived here from Iloilo and
the Cable Company prohibiting the gone on to Malolos, where the affairs of the District ceiving or sending of code cables whether com of Bisayas will be laid. or probably delayed, mercial or political, and all messages of a before General Aguinaldo. As soon as they political nature were forbidden. For several have reached a conclusion it is expected that
hours the Cable officials and United States they will meet and discuss the question with Censor were kept busy answering questions. the American Commission in Manila. This To day the restrictions have been somewhat latter body is composed of Brigadier General moderated; the following notice has been Hughes, Colonel J. F..Smith, of the 1st Cali-issued and considerably relieves the situation :- fornia Volunteers, and Lieut.-Colonel Crowder
'Code telegrams can be received by all. For several days they have talked over the situa-
Unauthorized
persons or firms must exhibit tion with a number of officials representing the
code book." Republica Filipina, but apparently without definite results. The whole matter has been raked over and a deal of talking done by both sides, so there is reason to auticipate the early reaching of a conclusion. Meanwhile warlike preparations continue with unabating activity. Aguinaldo discourages tourists, correspondents, and others who would venture into the country beyoud Manila. Men who have gone to Malolos have not been allowed to alight from the train, but were advised to return to Manila. Many Americans and Englishmen who have been accustomed to ride out to the waterworks and
AFFAIRS AT HOILO. — THE CUSTOMS MUDDLE
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Two of the American transports have re turued to Manila the Pennsylvania with the 51st Iowa Regiment and the St. Paul carrying & company of the Tennessee Volunteers. The other ships are still in the harbour with the troops on board and their return is indefinite, No attempt has been made at a landing and place reigns. Iloilo remains quiet and well governed under the Filipinos. ln a few da there will be no activity in any cirole, as the export trade is practically over and no more produce can be expected. The customs ques-
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February 11, 1899,
tion is causing no end of complication and the clearances of the ships now loaded in the harbour may turn out to be curios. The Filipinos claim the duties, amounting, to about 42,004), under promises from the shipping firms. These had to agree to a payment or receive, no goods; now they wish to pay under protest, to which the Filipinos most naturally objent. To go right to the bottom of the question, the United States has no more right to collect customs to-day in Iloilo thán Spain, and Spain has no representative there. It will be interesting to know how foreign Powers will receive Filipino clearance.
papers. MĂ, FLEMING's murderi RS
EXTCUTED.
(OFFICIALA DEGRADED. [SPECIALTELIZIRAM TO THEM DAILY PRESS,"]
Shanghai, 5th February. Mr. Fleming's murderers were executed, on the 20th.
Six officials have been degraded. – ádzētas 3 their degrees.
The leading gentry have been deprimed; of
The head man escaped.
[Mr. Fleming, of the China Inland Mission, was murdered, together with a native onangé. list, near the village of Tsunguarohanges in
Kweiyang. The village of Panghai had pre- ber, while on his way from Pátighuile to Kweichow province, on the 4thị lovem-
viously, during Mr. Fleming's absence on a trip to another village, been burned by robbers, but up to that time Mr. Fleming had foticed no hastility to himself. After: Mr. Fleming had got back a military offlciuknamed Lin arrived with a number of soldiers aud, surrounded the mission, and 5t: was the attitude of his official and the conduct of the soldiers that made Mr Fleming afraid of his own and his companions safety. He nó- cordingly left for Kweiyang, but on leaving the village of Tsunguanobang, where he had rested for lunch, he was followed by a number of mey. and hardly had they gone, balf a li when the leader, who was armed with a cavalry sword,.at- tacked the evangelist, killing him instantly. Mr. Fleming, who was riding oua mule, dismounted to go to his companious assistance, and he also was out down. The officials afterwards, pût forward the exense that the... orime, was; the work of rebels, but there were no rebels ingtlie place. The murder had clearly been armuged by the geutry, and the officials took 15 steps to prevent it, if indeed they were hot concerned in promoting it.] *= look mati ed kyodan vene
THE VOLUM, kelvikkhaki
The members of the H Hongkong Volunteer Jorps are to be congratulated on
great success which attended the ball, given by them in the City Hall on Tuesday evening. Everything passed off in a mauner, wlioh lelt nothing to be desired. “As usual on such occa- sions, the decorator had been for several usys previously busily engaged, and though the decarations were not as elaborate as at soine other functions of the kind they were exceed. ingly tasteful and could to have been torg appropriate. In the vestibule was, a liberal display of greenery from the* midst of which peeped several pieces of cannon. The grand staircase was lined with fine plants, but the Most striking display of all was made of the first landing. Here was a capital represents- tion of a sand bag battery
wil verlooking
a harbour, the "get... being rendered all the more realistic by Maxims and seven-pounders Each this with their mazzels in embrasures.*. Above t the wall was covered with Union Jacks in the of the ante-room were adorned with the portraits centre of which was a star of swords. The walls of the present popular. Commandant of the Corps (Major dir J. W. Carrington, U.M.G.) and two of his predecessors in the post, Jerrard and Major Pemberton. The most pro- Colonel minent decoration in St. George's Hall, wat a transparency bearing the crest of the corpe with the motto “ Nulli Suonndus in ( which frequently met the eye na one, strolled in Oriente," a device about the different rooms
As zome 700 invitations had been isqueç aud the ball rooms were would probably' be 'about, 8501 pert
ant, ccordingly somewhat
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