The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-12-31
INSURGENTS in CONTROL.
spanfards Desert Iioiio before Amer
leans Arriye--siay Require Force
10 secure Control.

1
Washington, Dee. 20. - There is a
good deal OF anxiety in official circles
here over recent events at Iloilo. Two
official dispatches have been received
by the state and war departments, but
II is impossible TO gather from them
an accurate knowledge as to the condi-
ton there.
The officials OF the war department
still decline TO make public Gen. OTIS
telegram of Tuesday, but there is no
doubt that he is meeting with great diff
1 fculty in his effort TO secure the release
of the Spanish prisoners held by the
Filipinos. 1t begins TO appear clearly
| that considerable element amcng the
Filipino leaders-probably a majority
are disposed TO use these unfortunate
prisoners as basis for negotiations
with the United States government,
making their release conditional upon
certain more or less important conces-
sions demanded by them.
! IL is not yet foregone conclusion
that terms cannot be arranged by pri-
I vate conferences in Manila to secure
the release of these men, but the
+ United States government, being now
pledged by treaty TO free them, must
resort 10 other means IL peaceful repre-
sensations fail.
Just before noon another dispatch
came from Gen. Otis that at once con-
/ firmed the fears of the officials Of the
war department as TO what had taken
place at Iloilo. 1t appears that the
American forces had arrived too late on
the scene and that the insurgents had
added 10 the difficulty Of the problems
already presented by hosting their flag
over the city which they had been be-
sieging for months. The news was con-
tanned in the following message from
Gen. Otis:
Manila. Dec II. : Adjutant General.
Washington: Sent Col Potter on fast ves-
sci TO Iloilo on oath TO communicate with
Spanish General Rios; latter evacuated
evening OF oath and Potter 80 hours late.
Insurgents took possession OF city on 18th
and Potter found Agunaldo's flag flying.
Cannot now report probable results; will
not hear from there for four days. as no
cable communications Spanish forces
have evacuated all stations in southern is
lands. except Zamboanga. Mindanao. by
orders they say from Madrid.
tsigned) OTIS"
The evacuation by the Spaniards OF
all the Philippine ports, us reported oy
I Gen. Otis, although doubtless inspired
by a desire TO secure their safety by
concentration, undoubtedly has done
much to compicate the problem al
ready presented the war department
Of extending the military jurisdiction
of the United States over the islands.
1t will now be necessary TO expedite
the execution of the original plans,
and il may be fully expected that with
in week important events will havs
happened in the Philippines.
1t is presumed that Gen. Otis will DE-.
mand the surrender of Iloilo into his
hands, and this demand may at once
raise the issue between the insurgents
and our own government of possession
of the islands. The province of Iloiio
is set down in the official directories as
having u population of $4,000. and Il
is the second seaport in Importance
in the Philippine group 1t is located
en- n river navigable for vessels of IL
feet draught, so that very few Of our
gunboats would be available to assis,
the troops in case it should be neces-
sary 10 take forcible possession OF the
city.
The Spaniards haze chosen strong
place for the concentration of their
troops in the town Of Zamboanga,
which, as the reports here indicate, is
strongly fortified and possessed of con-
siderable natural strength from a de-
fensive point OF view. II is not doubted
that they will be able TO maintain them
selves for an indefinite period OF time
against the insurgents, presuming that
they are not cut OFT from obtaining sup
plies from the sea. The town itself
has a population Of 21,C0o inhabitants.
A RIJSY YEAR.