Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-12-30

| sidered Quite Adequate-Detaiis of the
EyacuatiOn of noiio-Commept on. the
| Situation by a Correspondent in Hong
| kong-Cubans Disgusted with the Pro-
gramme for Evacuation Day.
| Washington, Dec. 5o.-The war de
] partment is expecting definite word
| from General Otis within the next TWEEN
| ty-four hours as TO what has occurred
| 1t Iloilo. BY that time General Otis
| Will have heard from General Miller. in
! command of the American force sent on
| this expedition The officials about the
war department do not appear to be
| apprehensiye over the results. and there
| is no evidence OF tension or alarm, al
though il is recognized that the situa-
ton at IloiIo is one which may bring
| about a sharp and possibly a decisive
issue between the insurgents and the
United States forces. Up to the close
Of Office hours yesterday il was said at
the war department that nothing had
been received from General Otis bear
ing on the military situation. All that
had come was a response to an earlier
dispatch conveying orders. the reply
giving assurance that definite news
could be conveyed within the next
twenty-four hours.
In the Event of "A Clash.
What General Miller will do as to TAX
ing possession of the city-either with
force or without-is not officially dis
closed. and indeed it is likely that con-
siderable discretion is lodged with the
commanding officer as to what steps
should be taken. But in the event of q
clash between the United States forces
and the insurgents war department Of
fcials say there could be no doubt as TO
the outcome. the Seventeenth in
fantry is enc OF the regular regiments
having a reputation for their fighting
ability. The American force numbers
about 2.5G0. against estimated
force of some 10000 insurgents. but no
doubt is expressed as To the adequacy
of our force.
Filipino Occupation of Iloilo.
Manila, Dec. 30. - Details regarding
the occupation of Iloilo by the insur-
gents have just been received here. The
American expedition. commanded by
Brigadier General Miller. arrived there
Wednesday and found that the Span
iards had evacuated the place Saturday
on the steamer Churnca and had been
transferred TO the Island of Mindanao. |
in accordance with an agreement ar |
rived at with the insurgents. The lat |
ter entered Iloiio and occupied the |
trenches Monday at noon. They imme- |
diately established a municipal gov
eminent and placed guards over for |
eign property. The insurgents were |
fairly quiet and orderly. although there !
was some footing at night. but the |
shooting OF five OF the natives had an |
exemplary effect upon the rest.
a new Filipino cabinet has been
formed, the personnel OF which is as |
follows: President of the cabinet and !
minister of foreign affairs, Senior Ma
bini: minister OF war. Senior Luna: min |
zf ~ 10 N Ara n
minister of agriculture and commerce. |
Senior Buencamino; minister Of public !
works. Senior Canon.
FiIipinos said To he Forbearing.
=, London. Dec ga correspondent of /
The Globe, writing from Hong Kong |
Nov. &c. says: 1t will be a great mis- |
fortune IT, through hasty action or !
ignorance OF the actual state Of affairs.
the Philippine natives rise against the
Americans. Hitherto, although the /
Americans have often given great !
provocation, the Filipinos have shown
great forbearance and a strong dislike
to come to blows. They Go not want to
fight. and if the Americans only meet
them halfway all will go well. There
is much TO be gained by a just. states
manlike settlement with the natives.
while there will undoubtedly be great
losses through a continuance of ar
bitrGry treatment.
Have Been Loyal to Uncle Sam.
THE just aspirations of the people
ought to be taken into consideration. I
and 1 believe they would be if only the
proper men are sent out by the presi-
dent TO settle the question of the future
government OF the islands on the spot.
after proper elaboration and careful
investigation. Such commission would
discover that the Philippine leaders
have been loyal to the Americans.
am informed that they refused to con-
slider the overtures Of GERMANY ard
France for coaling stations In each
case the reply was: We cannot settle !
anything with you. The Americans
promised US Independence. and we wish
TO wait to see what the Americans will
do for us. -