The Monte Vista journal., 1898-10-15
PHILIPPINE REBELS.
ARE coNouERlNo sPANlARps.
Hstiag s.eossssul Attacks IL the se.sAsr.
lsiaads-They Are Anxious - H A.
aexsd to the Ualted staees,

Chicago. Oct. 1O.-A cablegram from
lloilo. Philippine islands, to the Record,
says:
The insurgents of the island Of Luxon
have invaded the island Of Panay and
are moving on lloilo, which 1t Is ex-
pected they Will attack before the
peace conference at Paris shall have
arrived at decision regarding the fate
Of the Philippines.
General Rios, acting captain general
Of the Spanish forces IN these islands.
10 concentrating troops on Panay to re-
sist the rebels. hut he frankly admits
that he regards such resistance AZ
hopeless, because OF the number and
enthusiasm Of the native forces and
the lack of spirit manifested by the
Spanish soldiers. To protect IlOilO
General Rios has withdrawn the Span
ish garrisons from Mindanao and
Paragna, leaving those islands prac-
tically defenseless In his desperation
General Rios has cabled Madrid advo.
eating the granting OF autonomy to the
natives Of the Philippines, this being
last resource. the Spanish forces be-
Ing utterly unable to cope with the In
surgents. The Madrid government re-
fused to grant autonomy on the rec
ommendatiOn Of the ncting captain gen.
eral, whereupon General Rios immedi-
ately resigned his Office. and now u
new governor for the islands is coming
from Spain.
The insurgents from Luzon nre land
Ing In large numbers on the west coast
Of Panay and are moving In force
from the west to the east coast to at
tack Iloilo. Spanish troops are being
hurried out Of Iloilio to intercept the
lnsurgent advance. The Spaniarls.
however, have already been badly
beaten by the insurgents on the west
coast OF Panay, and they expect no bet
ter fortune in future engagements.
The defenses OF the city are very
weak. the garrison consisting Of less
than n thousand soldiers. n majority
OF whom are natives and thoroughly
unreliable. since they have no love for
Spain.
The proposition which seems to find
favor In the United States, that Ameri-
ca retain only the island OF LuZon.
leaving Spain 10 rule all the other isl
ands of the Philippines, IL regarded
with the greatest possible disfavor In
this city. not only by the large COM
merclal firms. which believe that
America is responsible for the future
welfare of the islands and should hold
all of them, but also by the natives
themselves. The Filipinos of Panay are
acting independently OF AguinaldO and
his provisional government and they
are heartily In favor of American an
nexation. So also are the spanish bus.
mess men. for existing conditions have
convinced them that II Ia impossible
for Spain ever to regain control OF the
southern Islands OF the Philippines. II
A Atnnri.n Shnt,lI iS1.
ern Philippines the result IL sure to be
q prolonged rebellion by the natives
against Spain. leading ultimately to
the overthrow Of Spanish rule.
The commercial possibilities Of the
southern Philippines are fully equal to
those OF Luxon. the Islands Of NegrOs
and Panay being the greatest sugar
producers of the entire group. The
island Of Mindnnno is the largest Of the
Philippines. and the possibilities there
Of growth In important industries are
very great.
A large number Of priests are dis.
posing of their property and leaving
lloilo In citizens clothes. the threats
OF the insurgents and their impending
attack on the city rendering II very un-
safe for them 10 remain.
Three small Spanish gunbonts nrc
cruising among the southern Philip
pines and have driven most Of the In.
snrRcnts back 10 Manila for safety. A
report was started recently that the
Gunbont Fl Cnno had fired on and sunk
the insurgcnt vessel E'ilIpnnns. which
figured In the Irene incident In Subig
bay. hut this report IL untrue.
II In positively known here that a
large steamer IL on It's way to the Phil.
ippinc~ from Spain bringing nmmu1!
tion and supplies for ;hc Spanish
troops.