The record-union., 1897-01-04
POLIEVIEJA'S VICTORY.
HE SET FIRE To THE BRUSH TO
UNCOVER AN AMBUSCADE.
Japan Said by Prisoners to Have Fo-
mented the Disturbances and
Promised Recognition.

MADRID, Jan. 3.-Queen Regent
Christiana and the Government have
sent messages to General Polievieja,
Captain-General of the Philippine
Islands, congratulating him upon his
great victory over the insurgents on
the nights of Cijeron, Province of
Bulascan- In the first engagement the
loss of the rebels was 600 killed.
The troops captured a large quantity
Of munitions of war and a factory in
which the rebels had been making
cartridges.
While the Spaniards We're pursuing
the fleeing rebels it was suspected that
the latter, pursuing the methods of
warfare followed by the Cuban insur-
gents, would attempt to lead the troops
into an ambuscade in the dense thickets
through which pursuit led. The troops
were therefore ordered to set fire to the
bushes in many places in order to drive
out amy rebels who might be lurking
in them.
The flames spread with great rapid
ity, and it was soon learned that the
suspicion of an ambuscade was well
founded. A large number of the in
surgents were in hiding in the bushes,
pass, when they would have attacked
them in the rear. Many of the rebels
succeeded in making their escape for
the time being. but 200 of them per-
ished in the fire In the meantime
ether Spanish columns had been hur-
riedly dispatched to outf1ank the flee
ing insurgents and in this they were
successful. The rebels were utterly
routed, losing 500 killed
The total insurgent loss was 1900, 200
in excess of the number given in yes
terday's dispatches These 200 were
without doubt those who We're burned
to death. The Spanish loss was one
officer and twenty-three privates killed
The victory, which it is believed will
prove a crushing blow to the insurrec-
tion, is hailed everywhere with delight,
and General Polieviejas' prompt bring
ing about of results favorable to the
Spanish arms is compared with ex-Cap-
tain-G General Blanco's dilatory tactics.
much to the disparagement of the lat
ter.
General Poiievieja has confirmed the
sentence of death imposed by a court
martial on eleven rebel chiefs, includ-
irg three priests. They will be shot
IL.
A court martial, sitting at Manila
has commenced the trial of eighteen
alleged rebels. The evidence thus far
adduced shows that the accused were
in correspondence with patrons in ia
Fan who We're interested in fomenting
and aiding the insurrection The pros
ecutor asks that sentence of death be
passed upon the whole eighteen pris-
onerS.
The trial of eighty other men accused
of completely in the revolt is impending.
and sentence of death will be asked
in the case of each of them.
The dispatches from Manila state
that a great sensation has been caused
by the revelations that have been made
by conspirators now under arrest One
of the prisoners has stated that he
knew that Japan intended to send a
squadron of warships to Philippine
Islands, and that she would recognize
the belligerency of the rebels in all the
provinces revolted. This confirms the
belief that has been entertained ever
since the outbreak of the insurrection
that Japan is very anxious to secure
possession of the islands and is re
sponsible for much, if not all, of the
trouble.