The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-13
SLY AGUINALDO.
He Has Some characteristics of
the Yankee.
Answers a Question by Asking
Another.
HIS PLANS UNCERTAIN
Dewey Considers the Situation
to Be Critical,
And is Reported to Have Asked
For More Ships.
LIS PLANS UNCERTAIN

Manila, Sept 18.-Rear Admiral
Dewey says he considers the situation
critical It is understood he has asked
for an additional cruiser and a battle
ship.
The Spaniards assert that Germany
will take a coaling station here and
that Spain will retain the remainder of
the islands.
The last Spanish garrisons at Iolocos
and Laguna have surrendered and the
whole island of Luzon is in the hands
of the insurgents except at Manila and
Cavite.
Aguinaldo went to LelolIos on Fri
day. He has announced his intention
of converting an assembly of the Fill
plnos on September 10 in order to de-
eide upon the policy to be adopted by
the insurgents
The correspondent here of the As
ISOLATED Press has had an interview
with Aguinaldo who said there were
81, 900 insurgents armed with rifles. He
answered he could raise 100000 men.
Indeed, the insurgent leader pointed
out, the whole population of the Philip
pine islands was willing to fight for
their independence.
Continuing, Aguinaldo said the ''pro-
visiOna1 government was now operat-
ing % provinces. He asserted that on
August 20 they elected delegates, in
numbers proportional to the population.
AS to the Americans, Aguinaldo re-
marked that he considered them 'as
brothers, and that two sovereign re-
publies were allied against a common
enemy"
When questioned as to whether the
future Filipino policy would be abso--
lutte independence, Aguinaldo excused
himself from replying and asked what
America intends to do
The correspondent, being unable to
answer this question, Aguinaldo con-
tinued:
I'VE have been fighting for indie
pendence for a long time. The natives
who profess to favor annexation are
insincere. 1t is merely ruse to ascer-
tain American views"
Asked if the F'ilipinos would object to
the retention of Manila, Aguinaldo de-
clined to answer.
would the FfIipinos object to Amer
leans retaining a cOaling station, II
recognizing the independence of the
islands or establishing temporary
prOtectorate over them?'
Aguinaldo again refused to answer
Pending the conclusion of the assem-
bly,. Aguinaldo said he was confident
there would be no trouble between
America and the Filipinos.
He denied having received request
from General Otis and Rear Admiral
Dewey to withdraw his troops to a
prescribed distance from Manila ana
Cavfte. and he declined to discuss the
effect of such a request Agu1naldo Iur-
Their asserted that he had never con
ferred with the American autnorllleS
=
that he had never authorized the IN
surgents to search or disarm Americans
crossing the line. .
The correspondent closely questioned
him about last Saturdays incident
when the Pennsylvania troops proceed
ed to establish a new outpost me
F1iliDinos objected and nearly preclpi-
tated hostilities, ordering the Amerl-
cans to withdraw in twenty minutes
They issued ammunition and inter-
ceDted the American reinforcements-
FINALLY General Hale ordered all the
Pennsylvanians to advance, ana the
rebels withdrew.
The local governor has explained that
the incident was a complete mistake
and has regulated his subordinate
action Ag1inaldo declared to this cor
RESPONDENT that the Filipino who mace
the trouble merely pretended to be an
officer and is entirely uncOnnected Win
the insurgent army. Agu1naloo com
DIained that the Spaniards We're as
terminating false reports for the pur-
nose of fomenting antagonism between
fbe F7ilipinos and the Americans.
The whole interview conveyed the
iroDression that AguinaldO desires aD-
eolute independence, regards the ms
SION of the Americans here as accom-
I1Iished and expects their W1thdraWsI;
t1i11st as the French with Lafayette olu
otter helping the Americans in the war
~ indeDendence, a war of humanity
inst now Aguinaldo maintains the
role of extreme friendship