Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-11-24

Washington. Nov 20. News of q
mike! character cHn:a to the navy de-
rart1hent yesterday from Admiral
Dewey touching the situation in the
| Philippines. The admiral sent two of
his war&hps. tie Charleston and the
| Concord. some SINE ago tn the south
| ward from ;i;:niia 10 ascertain
whether there was truth III the reports
that the inSur@c:,tS has! expended their
actititic:: in that direction Yesterday
he ""Niaa as follows:
Manila. Nov. 1S.-Srcretary of the
Navy. Washington: Charleston and
Concord arrived from Hello. Glass re-
ports that tho entire Island of Panay
is in possession of insurgents except
lloilo, which is defended by 500 Span
ish troops. All foreign citizens there
beg for American protection. The is
land CT Negroes has declared independL
ence and desires American protector
ate. Dewey"
Glass is commander Of the Charles
ton. SO far nothing has been done by
the administration toward curbins
tho insurgents in their operations save
moral representations from the Amer
lean commanders to Agunaluo, in
which it has been pointed ont to him
that it would be good policy on ac-
count of the proIo bility of the
Annexation OF the Islands
by the United States to pursue Il
course that would not be obnoxious to
the United States. But the situation is
serious enough to be critical. So far
as the Spaniards are concerned they
| can take care af themselves. while the
foreign residents are regarded differ
emily 1t is not vet considered neces-
sary for the United States to intervene
to prevent !loilo, the second in i'm
portance on the island. from being loot
ed. the United States troops being
estopped by the usages Of war from
moving beyond their present posses
sion. The immediate effect of the
state Of affairs may be to hasten action
by the Paris conference. for it is only
by the termination Of that tribunal
that the United States can come to the
relief of the beleayuered Spaniards in
Iloilo and other points. 1t is said to be
a fact. however, t!;at total disagree
ment at Paris may result in speed'er
action than if the commissioners agree
upon the main principles Of the Phil
ippjne cession, for in such case several
| additional sessions will probably b., re-
Quired in order to
Arrange the Details
of the treaty. 1t is now thought to he
certain that the commission at Il meet
ing next Monday or Tuesday will do
one of two things. j. e.. either agree to
the cession OF the Philippines, or not
agree and dissolve altogether as the
administration is not disposed to toll
crate further delay, and has so in
formed its commissioners. The latter
sent a long cablegram in cipher. The
deciphering occupied the entire day,
and, meanwhile. there were wild ru-
mors touching the nature of it's con-
tents. AS a matter of fact it was
nothing more than verbose statement
Of the Spanish side of the question re-
latlpg to the Philippines. There was
a renewal Of the attempts to take adj
vantage Of the Americans as to the
real meaning of the ,,rotocol clause re-
garding the disposition Of the Philip
pines and much quoting from rrench,
Spanish and other European languages
in the attempt to demonstrate to
Americans what an English word
might mean. The latter will take no
notice Of this kind of a hair-splitting
plea. but at to-day's meeting will call
on the Spanish commissioners to make
answer to the American proposition to
cede the Philippines. probably allowing
until Monday or Tuesday only for a
final answer Oh that subject.