The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-28

trees having been cut down to construct
Notifications. The native troops. Of which
there is considerable number, are de-
sorting daily. Two weeks ago hfteen native
deserters were lined up and shot.
The natives attack the Spanish outposts
almost every night. From Cavite we can
see the flash of cannons and hear the rat
tie of musketry.
The Spaniards are using an immense
quantity of ammunition in resisting these
attacks, but their fire against the instur-
gents does little harm since they are pro-
tected by entertainments and the Span
iards are pitiably poor marksmen.
Natives and spaniards
The natives now have about 5000 Spanish
prisoners captured in the provinces and va
rious outposts The prisoners are we'll
treated, as the natives are held responsible
for the lives of all of them. Most Of the
prisoners were held in Cavite when we ar.
rived. but the number has increased and
food has become so scarce that it has been
necessary to move many of them into the
provinces.
The Sparliards show very poor spirit In
fighting, and often surrender without FIR
ing a shot. Three days ago word, reached
here that 600 soldiers were quartered at
Subic bay sixty miles north of Manila,
The Concord and Raleigh went out there.
and as soon as the Spaniards. sighted tho
American vessels they raised white flag
over the garrison.
he hoe
a Spanish relief expedition under Admiral
Camara is on the way here, the soldiers
have picked up a little courage and, have
been terrifying the city with considerable
energy.
About Aguinaldo
The chief man among the insurgents at
present is Aguinaldo an educated Span.
ish mestizo, who has established himself
over the nation as the august gobierno
dictatorial. He has made his headquar.
ters in Cavite and has surrounded himself
with a motley crowd Of his undrilled and
undisciplined soldiers. At first Aguinal-
do was very gracious to the Americana
but now he has grown somewhat cooler.
He was formerly easily found "at leisure"
by the newspaper correspondents, but now
a visit to the august dict ator is attended
with about as much difficulty as it would
be If one went trying to see the emperor
of China.
After two unsuccessful visits, was ad.
mtted to the presence of the dictator in
his chamber in the executive building.
Aguinaldo was the essence of politeness,
He babe me be seated and at once began
asking me questions about our army.
Whenever l turned the conversation to
the affairs of the Philippines he would
evade my questions and never commit
himself to direct statement.
In personal appearance Aguinaido resem-
bles a Japanese. He is about the average
size of the Filipino and has delicate fea-
turse. He says that he is Is years old,
but looks several years younger.
Aguinafdo first came into prominence
two years ago, when he was made chief
tain of the insurgent forces that were then
fighting the Spaniards. He had consider
able success as a military leader and SO
greatly harrassed the Spaniards that they
made an effort to buy him off rather than
put down the insurrection by force OF
arms. Subsequently, last December, q
deal was closed by which the Spaniards
agreed TO grant liberal reforms to the ma
tives and pay the leaders 100000 If they
and thdrty-five of the leaders submit to
voluntary Punishment.
An agreement of this sort, which merely
called for cessation of hostilfties for six
months seems preposterous, but it $50
illustrates the consummate selfishness Of
certain Spanish officials. Primo de Riv-
era was at that time governor general of
the Philippines and had only five more
months to serve. By securing peace dur
ing the rest of the term of peace he would
be undsturbed in collecting tribute and
robbing the provinces, and then he could
retire with a comfortable fortune and with
"honor." His successor would look out
for himself as he had done. When Gen.
eral August was made governor of the
Philippines he imagined he was leaving
Spain to come to a tropical paradise where
he would have nothing to do but grow
rich. He found Manila anything but the
place he had expected. The Spaniards
had not kept faith with the natives In re-
gard to the reforms which had been prom
ised by General Rivera, and the natives
were in most threatening state or insur-
rection.
The money which Governor Primo bar
gained to pay the natives Tor an arm1s-
tice was only partly paid Six hundred
thousand dollars was actually turned over
to the insurgents The disposition OF this
money resulted in quarrel between Agu1n-
aldo and Attacho, a chieftain in command
of the insurgents in the northern part Of
the island of Luzon, who ranks next in
importance to Aguinaldo himself. Two
hundred thousand dollars of the peace
money was paid to Attacho and 100000 was
maid to Acuinaldo in Hong Kong. At
-, dixddad the money he received among