Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-08
LOSS WAS HEAVY.
Spanish at Manila Suffered
Greatly in Recent Battle.
Hundreds of the Native Soldiers Are
Deserving to the Insurgents.
Admiral Dewey watching Sharply AID
Preventing All Excuses.

London, June IA dispatch to the
Times from Manila referring to the
fighting of May 80, and June /, says the
Spanish loss in killed, wounded and
prisoners taken, was heavy, but that
the most serious feature for Spain Ia
the detection of hundreds of native
auxiliaries. The dispatch says:
One native regiment deserted after
killing its officers and massacreing a
company of Spanish infantry and
rebels and cx-rebels on both sides have
of treachcry to their respective gen
erals.
The Spaniards are cndeavoring to
win over the rebels, who are attracted
by promises of pardon for high Of
fences. But Aguinaldo's attraction is
the stronger. He has completely sur
rounded Manila, by cutting the rail-
roads and holding the rivers by which
food previously reached the city If
the city is not starved into surrender
the rebels may carry it, having now an
Increasing number OF rifles and field
guns.
"Aguinaldo's treatment of the Span
ISL prisoners is exemplary. Few ex-
cesses are reported, except where
priests we're mutilated before being
killed
Admiral Dewey is not assisting the
rebels. but it is probably due to him
that Aguinaldo's forces avoid ex-
cesses."
The Hong Kong correspondent of the
Times says: "A proclamation issued by
AgunaIdo the insurgent chief, points to
a desire to set up a native administration
in the Philippines. under an American
protectorate. Asulnaldo. with an advisory
council would hold the dictatorship until
the conquest of the islands, and would
then establish a republican Assembly
"A@uinaldo has issued orders that the
lives ana property Of Europeans. Chinese
and all the Spanish non-combatants are
to he protected. and that all excuses are
to b. avoided.
The Hong Kong correspondent of the
Daily Mail says: United States Consul
Wildman has received the following letter
from Aguinaldo, the inserGent leader in
the Philippines: Mea-. .a.
Before opening an attack upon any
town | summoned the Spanish officer in
command TO surrender. on one occasion
lsy,-l l,,--.
that the garrison was not quite ready TO
fight ana he asked if | would defer the
attack for three hours. / complied. ..,
The first engagement we had with the
Spanish occurred on May Is, when we
captured 10 with their arms and ammuni-
ton. Toward evening we hemmed them
in. One hundred and ninety cazadores
ana 20 loyal natives participated. We lost
four killed The Spaniards lost Is killed.
including one officer.
The result of this engagement was
that lighting became general throughout
tho province of Cavite. After four days
lighting over 2oo0 Spaniards We're taken
prisoners, including many officers and
Gen. Lcopoldo Pena governor of Cavite.
who handed his sword. revolver. golden
belt and formal letter of surrender
An American naval captain writes me
as follows: IN my opinion the rebels
have undergone a radical change since the
arrival of Aguinaldo. The Spaniards have
lost all during the time he has been here,
ana II our people don't hurry. there won't
he any Spanish army left at the end Of
the lighting.
The American ships have taken no
part in the fighting. Neither boats nor
men have been landed and statements TO
the contrary are false. Dispatches from
Manila say that Agunaldo is doing splen-
did work on Monday of last week, he
the Spaniards, taking Il" prisoners.
On the Monday following. he took % pris-
oners and four field pieces in a battle al
q point between -tavite and Manila.
"On Thursday, when this dispatch left
Manila. he had cornerod $50 Spaniards IN
an old church at Cavitc, and, not caring
to lombard he was starving them. He
treats his prisoners well. -Four towns are
now in possession of the rebels. 1t IS SAID
that the governor general of the Philip
pines wanted to surrender. but his officers
prevailed upon him to hold out.
The capital of the province of Batalgas
has been taken by the insurgents ana 'he
governor attempted to commit suicide
The governor of Malabar is also prs
oncr The insurgents from other prov
inpC4 arc - vancing on Manila"