The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-28
AO|LO HAS FALLEN.
Uncle Sans Troups Find
it in the Hands Of
Insurgents.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Is. 1s9s.-There is.
a good deal of anxiety in official circles
here over recent events at Iloilo. Two
official dispatches have been received by
the State and War Departments. but 1t is
impossible to gather from them an aecu-
rate knowledge as to the condition there.
1t is not even possible to learn whether
the insurgents or the AInrican forces have
taken the place. This morning United
States Consul Pratt at Singapore, cabled
the State Department.: "Hoilo taken 24th.
Spanish fled to Borneo. This threw the
officials into deeper doubt than before
The American expedition which left
Manila to go to Iloilo, consisting of 1000
troops and the warshps Baltimore and
Callao, would scarcely have had time, It
Is said. to have reached Iloiio by the z4th
So the inference is that the insurgents are
in possession.
Color IS lent to this belief by the fact
reported in one telegram that the Span
iards had retreated to a. strongly forth
fled town on the Island Of Mindanao This
does not agree with Consul Pratt's
statement that they fled to Borneo, the
north coast OF which is a British possess
sion, but ii is believed that the Consul
is in error on this point which might cas-
lily be the case in view Of the distance
from his post to Iloilo. The fact that the
Spaniards have retreated at all, is also
construed as an indication that the town
was abandoned to the insurgents, for it
is believed that Colonel Rios, the Span
ish commander, would have cheerfuliy
surrendered to the American force with a
view to securing the safety of his men
and their ultimate return to Spain by the
American Government, according to the
terms of the treaty.
PROF. d. G.. Worcester was a visitor at
the State Department today in connec-
ton with the Philippine affair. He is
thoroughly acquainted with the condi-
tions in the islands from personal observ-
alton and experience. After talking over
this subject with him for some time
Secretary Hay arranged for an interview
between the. President and the Profess
sor at the White House, which was had
at about noon.
The officials at the War Department still
decline to make public General OTIS tele-
gram of yesterday, but there is no doubt
that he is meeting with great difficulty
in his effort to secure the release Of The
Spanish prisoners held by the Filipinos.
cradle element among the Filipino leaders
probably majority--are disposed 10 use
these unfortunate prisoners as a basis for
negotiations with the United States gov
ernment, making their release conditional
upon certain more or less important con-
cessions demanded by them. 1t is not
vet a foregone conclusion that terms can
not be arranged by private conferences in
Manila to secure the release of these n1esl,
but the United States government being
now pledged by treaty to free them, must
resort to other means if peaceful repre-
sensations fail.
General Otis has been instructed on this
point. and the War Department has con-
fidence in his experience and sound judg
ment, and believing that from his pres
ence on the scene he Is better capable of
dealing with the situation than officials
here, has confined itself to a statement
of what is expected to be done towards
securing the release of the prisoners.
leaving it to General Otis to devise ways
and means and carry out the plans. Until
some progress has been made and stae
Department is aware Of the xact number
of these prisoners, it will not be possible
to proceed to very far with the plans for
the repatriation of the Spanlards.
Just before noon another despatch came
from General Otis that at once confirmed
the fears of the officials of the War De-
partnent as to what had taken place al
1loilo. 1T appears that the American
forces had arrived too late on the scene.
and that the insurgents mad added to the
difficulty of the problems already pre-
sented by hoisting their flag over the city
which they have neen besieging for
months. The news was contained in the
following message from General OTIS
Adjutant General, Washington
Sent Colonel Potter on fast vessel to
Iioilo ON oath. TO communicate with span;
ism General Rios; later evacuated evenilg
of oath. and Potter 80 hours late. Insur-
gents took possession of city on 18th aad
Potter found Aguinaldo's flag dying
Cannot now report probable results; VIII
not hear from there for four days, as nc
cable communications. Spanish forces
have evacuated all stations In Southern
Islands, except Zamboanga, Mindanao,hy
orders, as they say, from Madrid.
EIDE AMI nEhTu