The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-23
THEY WISH ANNEXATION
PHILIPPINE CONGRESS THUS DECIDES BY
LARGE MAJORITY.
Yet igui,aldo Says They Are lnslncere. he
Himself lntimltes it is Time For
Americans to Withdraw.

San Francisco. Cal. Oct. 2.-The
United States transport Rio de Janerio.
which arrived here today, brought the
following to the Associated Press dated
Mar - September I'D:
THE Philippine Congress has been III
session since Thursday, September 10th.
The first thing decided was that the
Philippine Republic should not counte-
nance any policy that should be agreed
upon SM,arehy Spain would nave any
thing further to do with the islands ana
would resist by force of arms any <lch
measure. A vote was taken or the pol
icy of annexation to the American lie
public, and annexation was decided upon
by Il large majority. Aguinaldo now
expresses himself as personally III FAVOR
enumeration. adding that he does not
think the natives generally will support
such a policy.
when interviewed by the Associated
Press representative on September llth,
Aguinaldo stated that his army consists
of 81 900 insurgents regularly armed ana
euuipped with modern weapons, anu
that he had some 5000 prisoners of war
at this time including the larger por-
ton now being held in the vicinity Of
Manila. He stated that an army OF
100000 could easily be raised to flght
for the cause of Independence. adding
that indeed the whole population IS
willing to fight for the cause OF indie
pendence and would oppose any Euro
pean power taking possession
thinks WE SHOULD WITHDRAW
ssWhen asked how it was that some
natives openly declare themselves N
favor of annexation to America, he
stated that natives who profess to favor
annexation are insincere in what they
say. They are merely trying to ascer-
tain the general sentiment or intentions
! of the Americans. He expressed HIM
! self as entertaining the greatest friend
ship for the American people, adding
that he hoped there would be nc trouble
between the Republic of the Philippines
and the Republic of America. He enter
tains the idea that America and the
| Philippines are two sister republics that
have united in fighting a common enc
my-the Spaniards. He said the Ameri-
can mission in these islands had been
accomplished by the destruction of the
Spanish fleet and the forcible surren-
der Of the city of Manila, and he expects
that the Americans will soon withdraw
their forces, leaving Ine Insurgents ~
go over and control the islands.
''For some tine past the insurgents
have been disarming Americans passing
through their lines. but Aguinaldo dis
claimed having authorized any such con
duct on the part of his men. Auginaldo's
attention was called to the incident OF
September 9th, when the Pennsylvania
regiment proceeded to establish a new
outpost some distance beyond the former
one within the lines Of the insurgents
and an insurgent company objected ia
it being done.
EXCEEDED INSTRUCTIONS.
| ''The captain of the company nearly
precipitated hostilities by ordering the
Americans to withdraw within twenty
minutes, and issued orders to his men
to intimidate the American officer into
obeying his order to withdraw, and fur
Their to refuse to allow the reinforce.
ments which had been sent for to reach
the outpost. Aguinaldo was very EN-
phatc in stating that the Filipino who
thus attempted to obstruct> the move.
ment of the Americans was only pre-
tended officer Of the insurgent army anC
was entirely unconnected Herewith. The
Tho crUcfaI azn