The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-12-29
COMPLICATED
situation in the Philippines
Takes Another Serious
Turn.
Toilo Evacuated by Spaniards
and Insurgent Forces Take
Possession.
The Detachment Sent by Gen.
eral Otis Arrived Too
Late.
Issue Between Americans and
Insurgents May Now BE
Precipitated.

ggyl ledI " 0IAiets III
here over recent events Mt lloilo. Two
ahcial dispatches have been received
hy the state and war departments. but
], j. impossible to gather from them an
accurate knowledge as 10 the condition
There. 1t is impossible TO learn whether
The insurgents or the American forces
have taken the place. United States
Consul Pratt at Singapore has cabled
tn state Department.:
"lloilo taken 24,h. Spanish fled to
Drnco."
Deeper Doubt Than Ever.
This threw the officials into deeper
doubt than before. The American .x-
pcdi,ion which left Manila to go to Ilo-
10. 1000 troops and the warships Balti-
more and Callao. scarcely had time,
il is said, to have reached Iloilo by
the ai,h. So the inference is that the
insurgents are in possession. Color Is
lent 10 this belief by the fact reported
in one telegram that the Spaniards had
rc,reated to strongly fortified 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 British possession. but II Is be-
leycd that the consul is i'll error on this
point. which might easily be the case in
view Of the distance from his post to
lloilo. The fact that the Spaniards
nav. retreated ut all is also construed
as an indication that the town was
abandoned to the insurgents. for 1t is
believed that Colonel Rios, the Spanish
commander. would have cheerfully sur
rendered to the American force, with
View 10 securing the safety Of his men
and their ultimate return To Spain 10y
The American government, according 10
the terms Of the treaty.
Their Fears Confirmed.
Just before noon dispatch came from
General Otis that confirmed the fears OF
the war department AS to what had
taken place at lloilo. 1t appears that
the American forces had arrived toe
late on the scene. and that the insur'
gents had added to the difficulty OF the
problems already presented by hosting
their flag over the city which they nave
been besieging for months. The news
was contained in the following message
from General Otis:
Manila. Dec %. Adjutant General
Washington. Sent Colonel Potter OF
ias, vessel to Iloilo on cath to communl
cate with Spanish general. Rios. Inc
latter evacuated evening OF :4th aho
Potter 30 hours late; insurgents tooh
Possession of city on 26th and Potter
found Aguinaldo's flag flying. oanno
now report probable results; Will no
hear from there for four days. as III
cable communication. Spanish forces
have evacuated all stations in Southeri
islands. except Zamboanga, Mindanao
by orders, rs they say, from Madrid
The evacuation by the Spaniartis o
all the Philippine ports reported =!
General Otis, although doubtless IN
spired by Q desire to secure their saietl
by concentration, undoubtly has don'
much to compNcste the problem a.
ready presented to the war depaE.mea1
Of extending the military 5urisdictlo'
Of the United States over the isianos
1t will now be necessary to expedite Tn
execution Of the original plans, ana
may be fully expected that WITHIN
week important events will have nep
pened In the Philippines. ~ Ps
sumed that General Otis will demsn'
the surrender Of Iloilo into his nanus
and this demand may at once raise tn
issue between the insurgents ana y"
own government, Of possession OF 'h