The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21
HOW RECEIVED IN WASHING
TON

Washington, Sept. 19 The off
cials at the state and war depart
ments welcomed the notice sent the
American people through the Asso-
ciated Press of the falsity of the
stories describing che friction be-
tween the Fi.ipinos and the Ameri-
can forces in IIuzon. While the off,
cials did not care to discuss the mat.
ter for publication. it was evident
that the main source of their salts.
faction was the internal evidence con.
tained in the document that Aguinal.
do had proited by the warnings Of
the American commanders and had
gracefully receded from the arrogant
attitude assumed by him just before
Gen. Merritt left Manila for Paris
The navy department is rushing
preparations for the start Of the big
batsieships Oregon and Iowa to bon
oiulu, and orders have been sent to
the New York navy yard to have the
mechanics work overtime on these
ships. The purpose is to have them
start on their long voyage by the end
of the present month, and according
to the department calculations they
would arrive at their destination by
the end Of January There is little
effort now to conceal the fact that the
department will have the ships met
at Honolulu by dispatch boat with
orders. TO turn their prows westward
to Manila z
Battleships of this character are
not needed to keep the Filipino insur-
gentsin order, and thir assembling
at Manila ia conjunction with the
dispatch of heavy reioforcemeDts of
troops for the American land forces
cannot but be regarded as significant.
In we'll informed circles here it is
said that the real purpose of the
President in making these prepara
tions is to insure the peace commits.
sioners against any interference in
their work of disposing of the future
of the Philippine islands according
to their best judgment. Not having
disclosed his plans respecting the
islands out of Luzop, the seat Of the
capital of the group, the President
still reserves for the American peace
commissioners the right to dispose of
the remainde- of the islands as they
may deem best
A long line of curious Incidents.
to which one of the great European
powers has been party, has beyond
question done much to cause a feel
ing of uneasiness on the part of the
administration, as tending to show a
purpose to interfere in our free action
in the Philippines, and this has been
only slightly diminished by appa-
rently frank disclaimers of an ute
rior purpose. because the Incl
dents continue quietly and in
manner calculated to avoid at.
sracting attention. Such for instance
is tie gathering of naval vessels to
the south of the Philippine group.
the only explanation of which, COM
ing ffom native sources, it is true.
but still bearing marks of genuine
ness. is purpose of acquiring either
by seizure or by some secret CON-
pact with the Spanish government
the important island of Palawan.
This particular island forms one side
of the gateway through which must
pass all of the extensive commerce
that flows between Australia, Micro
nesia aud Southern China. The
passage is narrow. and if the islands
of the Philippine group are to be
retained outside Of LuzoD, this island
of Palawan must be kept, as forming
one side of the gateway 1t is gath
cred that it is the purpose of the
President, therefore, to prevent the
alienation by Spain OF any of the
Philippine group, and that these
naval as well as military
are but steps toward the execution of
hia purpose. With the addition to
HE feet of the two battleships Ad-