The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-30

nicate with Spanish General Rios.
Latter evacuated evening OF oath and
Potter thirty-nine hours late Insur-
gents took possession of city on 26th,
and Potter found Aguinaldo's flag fly
ing. Cannot now report probable re-
suits; will not hear from there for four
days, cable communica tions.
Spanish forces have evacuated all sta
tions in southern islands, except Zam-
boanga, Mindanao, by orders, as they
say, from Madrid OTIS"
The evacuation by the Spaniards of
all the Philippine ports as reported by
General Otis, although doubtless in
sp1red by a desire to secure their safe
ty by concentration, undoubtedly has
done much to complicate the problem
already presented to the war depart
ment of extending the military juris-
diction of the United states over the
islands. 1t will now be necessary to
expedite the execution of the original
plans and it may be fully expected
that within a week important events
will have happened in the Philippines.
1t is presumed that General Otis will
demand the surrender of Iloilo into
his hands and this demand may at
once raise the issue between the in
surgents and our own government Of
possession of fthe islands. The prov
ince of I1oilG is set down in the official
directories as having a population Of
4720QO and it is the second seaport in
Importance in the Philippine group.
1t is located on a river naVlGable for
vessels of fifteen feet draught, so that
very few Of our gunboats would be
available to assist the troops in case it
should be necessary to take fOrcible
possession of the city.
The Spaniards have chosen a strong
place for the concentration of their
troops in the town of Zamboanga,
which, as the reports indicate here, is
strongly fortified and possessed of con-
siderable natural strength from a de-
fensive point of view. 1t is not doubt
ed that they will be able to maintain
themselves for an indefinite period
against the insurgents, presuming that
they are not cut off from obtaining
supplies from the sea. The town itself
has population of 200 inhabitants.
Major General Francis V. Greene ar
rived in Washington this morning
fom New York and reported at once at
the war department to Secretary Alger.
He came to resign his commission as
paratory to his return to private life.
i 1t is with regret that the department
{ accepts his resignation.
| TO PAY THE CUBAN SOLDIERS.
/ Negotiations are progressing in the
! matter of payment of Cuban troops,
| so that on laying down their arms they
/ may be enabled to enter. upon civil
| pursuits and earn their living. PROB
ably, no further appropriation by con-
| gresS will be necessary to enable the
| president to carry out the plan if it
| should be decided, as it probably will
be- to advance the money, charging it
against the revenues of Cuba, to pay
the Cubans' part of the money due
them for their service in the Cuban
army. This debt is not an obligation
resting upon the United States but is
one for which the Cuban government
will be obliged on it's establishment on
an independent basis. Pending the es-
tablishment of a permanent govern
ment, there is no authority responsible
for the payment of these soldiers and
unless this government advances the
money as a loan they will have to &C
for an indefinite period without pay fol
services already rendered in the wal
for independence. The special def
i cheney appropriation bill carries az
item of $3800,000 as an'emergency fund
| which the government may use for an!
| purpose, and the idea is to advance tn,
| money for the payment Of the CubaI
l soldiers out of this fund. 1t is under
stood, however. that the president ha
not consented to this arrangement yet