The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-28
Cormoran. cruiser ..................l2 2.7C
Arcoma, cruiser ....................1S IA
MCeVe. gunbOat

to protect their interests, and frankly ac-
knowledge that Admiral Dewey has dis
played unexpected diplomatic ability, COM
bining courtesy with firmness If a col
lision occurs, and it looks like it, the Ger
mans will be to blame, as they and only
they are directly responsible if the Ameri-
cans are compelled TO lombard Manila
SOME OF THE FIGHTING.
At last one Spaniard has been found who
preferred death to surrender General Mon
ct, the governor Of Pampangas, was sur
rounded by the insurgents at San Fernando;
at the head of about 1900 men he bravely
attempted to cut his way out and was
Killed. When the body was discovered it was
found that he had been shot through the
head and through the heart. His troops.
fully one thousand men, surrendered when
they saw their brave leader fall.
On Thursday night the first attempt was
made by the Spaniards to drive back the in
surgents. The latter were seven hundred
men strong, while the Spaniards numbered
$500. The attack took place just south of
Manila. and was for the recovery of the
trenches captured a few days ago. AT first
it seemed as if the victory would rest with
the Spaniards. They attacked bravely and
when reinforcements arrived it looked as if
the insurgents would surrender But they
steadied after brief retreat and the Span
iards abandoned the attempt.
A few days ago the rebels captured the b.
hol, in Tayabas bay. She had several hundred
troops on board and in the brief resistance
a lieutenant colonel was killed. It does
seem as if the Dons are paralyzed when
ever they are attacked by the insurgents.
Aguinaldos navy now consists of three
small steamers, some launches and barges.
He keeps them at Mariveles and Subig.
I had an opportunity of visiting Cavite
without exciting suspicion among my
friends here. A British naval officer, whom
I had known on the Archer, offered to take
me In his launch and to send for me the
next morning. Under pretense of passing the
night on board of his ship left Manila and
in due time arrived at Cavite The most
striking feature of this place is the cleanli-
ness which has taken the place Of filth.
am told that Admiral Dewey has his eyes
upon everything. Every few days, if not ev-
cry day, he makes a personal inspection.
He has placed Commander Wood, of the
Petrel in charge of the navy yard and arse
nal. The barracks which presented the APP
pearance of an augean stable, are now as
clean and neat as they can be made There
is plot of about five acres just out of
Camp Dewey" as the Cavite entrance to
the navy yard has been called, which is
now used as drill ground. On one side of
this plot there are other barracks, still oc-
cupied by about six hundred Spanish regu-
lars as prisoners of war.
VISIT TO AGUINALDO.
The principal object of my visit was to
see General Aguinaldo. The temporary die.
tator keeps quite a court, and Filipinos,
are flocBing here to share, if not his honors,
then at least the good things he may be-
stow. For a recent fugitive and man with
a price upon his head he carries on in style.
The following are the members of his staff
at Cavite: Jose Leharda, Juan Arevolo, L.
L. Zialcita, Eugenio Plona, Lazaro Makapa-
gal, Eduardo Lanera, Julio Infanto, Sever
inc Rotten, Benito Natividad and Jose Ley
ba. Every ship arriving from Hong-Kong
brings more patriots in search of flesh pots,
and since the Esmeralda runs pretty reg
ularly, and the Zafiro occasionally carries
refugees, these patriots are plentifully In
evidence. One batch of refugees had just
arrived and they were waiting to worship
the Rising Sun CD when 1 sent in my card.
1t is no easy matter to be admitted to his
Dictatorship. At the entrance of the house
it is absurd to call it a palace, although
formerly the residence of the governor of
Cavite-is a guard of about twenty-five
men, armed with rifles, and before one is
allowed to pass it is necessary to give an
account of ones self and state ones bust
ness American press correspondents are,
for the time being, privileged characters,
and so 1 was not detained. Armed guards
are on duty in the halls and ante-rooms. L
was admitted into the presence within a
If uniform plentifully bedaubed with gold
lace were the sole requisite for a statesman
Emilio Aguinaldo might claim a front rank.
The look upon his face when 1 entered ex-
pressed inquiry and did not quite conceal
certain uneasiness. He made a great at
tempt to pose, and was evidently anxious
to make a deep impression, but the rest
lessness. both of his attitude and of his
eyes, was extremely disagreeable. After
stating that corresponded for some of the
most influential American papers, 1 begged
leave to ask a few questions, presuming
that he was thoroughly familiar with these
islands and their needs. He expressed him
self as delighted, but that feeling did not
appear excessive when 1 asked:
General, how many inhabitants or what
per cent. of the population can read and
writer"
An expressive shrug of the shoulders, and
''Yo no Sc" Il don't know) Then a very
voluble explanation of what the new gov
eminent would do for education, re .erring
with pride to the ceremonies inaugurating
Rial College. AS had not heard of this
I requested an explanation, and was told
that on Sunday recently several thousand
Filipinos had gathered at Cavite to honor
the memory Of their great patriot, DR.. Jose
Rial, and that it was then resolved to erect
a monument to take the form of a college,
After duly commencing this, 1 proffered
the second question:
What per cent. of the gross number of
inhabitants do you deem capable of self
government"
SHOULDER TALK.
Another shrug of the shoulders, this time
expressive of the Frenchman's Monsieur
vous m ennuyez" (You are bore, sir.) But
he had caught the drift of my questions, and
replied that the great majority of the ma
tives, the Indios, were docie ard submis-
sive, and that it was not the question as
to what percentage Of the gross population
but of the Filpinos were capable of self
government.
What is your estimate of the number OF
Filipinos?"
The question was not relished, for he