Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-09-13
-OM|NOUS OF TROUBLE
The Situation in the Philippines,
Where Aguinaldo Has Views
of His Own.
SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT HE WANTS,

Which Is That the FiIiPInos Shall BE
Free, and Independent of All Nations.
Including Uncle Sam-Snggests a His
torical ParaIIeI--AdmiraI Dewey Com
siders the Situation Critical and Asks
for Rein forcements.
Manila. Sept. 13. Rear Admiral
Dewey says he considers the situation
critical. 1t is understood that he has
asked for an additional cruiser and a
battIeship. The Spanfards assert that
Germany will take cOaling station here
and that Spain will retain the remain
der OF the islands. The last Spanish gar
risOns at IIocos and Laguna have sur
rendered, and the whole island of Lu-
zon is in the hands of the insurgents.
except Manila and Cavities AguinalCo
went to LeIollos on Friday. He has an
nounced his intention of conven.ng an
assembly OF the Filipincs on Sept. IS. in
order to decide upon the policy to be
adopted by the insurgents. The CORE
spOndent here of the Associated Press
has had an interview with Aguinaldo.
who said there was s. Geo insurgents
armed with rifles. he added that he
could raise 100000 men. Indeed. the in
surgent leader pointed out. the whole
population of the Philippines Islands
was willing to fight for their independ-
ence.
Wants to Know Our Intentions.
Continuing. AguinaldO said he had
1900 military prisoners. including 5.0OD
in the vicinity Of Manila. besides civil
prisoners. Later Aguinaldo said the
provisional government was now op-
Grating twenty-eight provinces. He as
serted that on aug. they elected dele
gates in numbers propOrtionate to the
population. AS TO the Americans
Aguinaldo remarked that he conside red
them as brothers and that the two
sovereign republics were allied against
common enemy" When questioned
as TO whether the future Filipino policy
would be absolute independence, Aguin-
aldo excused himself from rep!s .ng. and
asked what America intends 10 do.
Evidently Wants To he Independent.
The correspondent being unable to an
swer this question guinaldo continued:
We have been fighting for independ-
ence for a long time. The natives who
profess to favor annexation are insin-
cere. 1t is merely a rCse to ascertain
American views"
Asked If the Filipinos would object
to the retention of Manila Aguinsldo
declined to answer. Would the Filipinos
object to Americans retaining a coaling
station If recognizing the Independence
pOrary protectorate over them?" Aguin-
aldo again refused to answer. Pending
the conclusion of the assembly Aguin-
aldo said he was confident there would
be no trouble between America and the
F'ilipinos.
Nearly Precipitated HostiIities.
Saturday the Pennsylvania troops
proceeded to establish a new outpost
The F1Iipinos objected and nearly pre-
cipitated hostilities. ordering the Amer
leans To withdraw in twenty minutes
They issued ammunition and inter
cepted the American reinforcements
Finally General Hale ordered all the
Pennsylvanians to advance and the
rebels withdrew. Aguinaldo declared to
this correspondent that the Filipino who
made the trouble merely pretended to
be an officer and is entirely unconnected
with the insurgent army.
But That's Another story.
The whole interview conveyed the i'm
preston that Aguinaldo desires abso-
lutte independence. regards the mission
of the Americans here as accomplished
and expects their withdrawal. Just as
the French with Lafayette withdrew
after helping the Americans In the war
of independence. a war of humanity"