The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-09-15
CRITICAL AT MANILA.
Admiral Dewey Quoted as Saying that He
So Considers the Situation.

admiral Dewey quoted as saying that He
SO Considers the Situation.
MANILA, PHILIPPINEIsLANDs, Sept.
12.-Admiral Dewey says he considers
the situation critical. 1t is understood
that he has asked for an additional
cruiser and a battle ship.
The Spaniards state that Germany
will take coaling station here and
that Spain will retain the remainder
of the islands.
The last Spanish garrison at Ilocos
and Laguna have surrendered and
the whole of the Island of Luzon is
now in the hands of the insurgents
except Manila and Cavite which the
Americans hold.
Aguinaldo, who has gone to Malolos,
his new capital, has announced his
intention of converting an assembly
of the Eilipinos September 10, in or
der to decide upon tle policy to be
adopted by the Insurgents. The cor
respondent OF the Associated Press
has had an interview with Aguinaldo,
who said there were $1,000 insurgents
armed with rifles. He added that he
could raise hundred thousand men.
Indeed, the insurgent leader said, the
whole population of the Philippine
Islands was willing to fight for indie
pendence. Aguinaldo stated that he
had 5000 military prisoners, including
5000 in the vicinity of Manila, besides
civil prisoners.
Aguinaldo said the provincial gov
ernment" is now operating twenty
eight provinces. On August 3 they
elected delegates, in numbers, proper
tionate to the population.
AS to the Americans, Aguinaldo re-
marked that he considered them as
brothers, and that 1.-THE two sover-
eign republics were allied against a
common enemy"
When questioned as to whether or
not the future Filipino policy would
be absolute independence, Aguinaldo
excused himself from replying, and
asked what America intended to do.
The correspondent being unable to
answer this question, Aguinaldo con
tinued:
We have been fighting for indie
pendence long time. The natives
who profess to favor annexation are
insincere. 1t is merely a ruse to as
certain American views.n
When asked if the Filipinos would
object to the retention of Manila.
Aguinaldo declined to answer.
Would the Filipinos object to
America retaining a coaling station"
was asked, ''if recognizing the indie
pendence of the island orestablishing
temp Orary prOtectorate over them?'
Aguinaldo again declined to answer.
Pending the meeting of the Filipino
assembly, Aguinaldo said, he was con
fident there would be no trouble be-
tween America and the Filipinos.
The insUrgent leader denied having
received a request from General Otis
and Admiral Dewey to withdraw his
troops to prescribed distance from
Manila and Cavite, and he declined
to discuss the effect of such a request.
He further stated that he had not CON
ferred with the American authorities
since the capitulation of Manila, and
that he had never authorized the in
surgents to search or disarm Ameri-
cans crossing the lines.
The correspondent closely question
ed him about an incident last Satur-
day, when the Pennsylvania troops
proceeded to establish a new OUTPOST.
The Filipinos objected and nearly
precipitated hostilities, ordering the
Americans to withdraw in twenty
minutes. They issued ammunition
and intercepted the American rein
forcement. Finally General Hale Or
dered ali the Pennsylvanians to ad-
vance, and the rebels withdrew. The
local governor has explained that the
incident was a complete mistake, and
has repudiated his subordinate's ac-
ton. Aguinaldo said the Filipino
who made the trouble merely pretend
ed TO be an officer, and was entirely un-
connected with the insurgent army.
The insurgent leader complained that
the Spaniards were disseminating
false reports for the purpose of TO-
menting antagonism between the Fill
ipinos and the Americans"
The whole interview conveyed the
impression that Aguinaldo desires
absolute independence, regards the
mission of the Americans here as ac-
complished and expects their with
drawal, as he remarked, lust as the
French with Lafayette withdrew
after helping the Americans in the
war of independence, war Of hui
manity."
Just now Aguinaldo maintains the
role of extreme friendship for the
Americans.
New YORK, Sept. 12.-The officers