Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-09-21
LETTER FROM AGU|NALD0
REBEL CHIEF WANTS PEACE.
He Denies All the Stories of Friction
in the FiIipinOs-The President Is
Pleased. but Sends More Troops
to Manila.

New York, Sept l9.-The following
dispatch has been received at the Asso-
ciated Press Office:
Manila, Sept. l0.-The Filipino gov
ernment desires to inform the American
government and people that the many
rumors circulated regarding the strained
relations between the Filipino and Amer
lean forces are base, malicious ISLANDERS OF
an enemy of both parties; are without
truth and are circulated for the purpose
of prejudicing the appeal of the Filipinos
for release from the oppression and cru
city Of Spain.
The relations Of our people and yours
have been and will continue of the most
friendly nature, and we have withdrawn
our forces from the suburbs of Manila as
additional evidence of our confidence in
the great American republic.
AGUINALDO.
VIII Take No Chances.
Washington, Sept. l0.-The Associated
Press dispatch conveying Aguinaldo's
message to the American people was re-
parded with much interest at the White
house.
The president read the statement with
evident appreciation of its Importance,
but did not volunteer any information as
to the attitude of the government.
Officials near him speak of the message
as "a very important document" While
the officials do not care to discuss the
matter for publication, it was evident the
main source of their satisfaction was the
internal evidence contained in the docu-
ment that Aguinaldo had profited by the
warnings of the American commanders
and gracefully receded from the arrogant
attitude assumed by him just before Mer-
rtt left Manila for Paris.
In connection with the sending of fresh
troops to the Philippines, mention may be
made of the fact that the battleships
Iowa and Oregon are to go to Manila as
quickly as possible, and mechanics are
working night and day to get them ready
for the long voyage. Vessels OF this kind
are needed to keep the Philippine insur-
gents in order and their assembling at
Manila in conjunction with the dispatch
of heavy reinforcements of troops for the
American land forces can not but be re-
garded as significant.
In well informed circles here it is seen
the real purpose of the president in max
ing these preparations is to insure the
peace commissioners against any inter-
ference in the work of disposing of the
future of the Philippines according to
their best Judgment. Not having dis
closed his plans in respect to the islands
outside of Luzon. the seat of the capital
of the group, the president reserves for
the American peace commissioners the
right to dispose of the remainder of the
islands as they may deem best.
Germsny's Had Moves.
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 feeling OF uneasi-
ness on the part of the administration as
tending to show purpose to interfere in
our free uction in the Philippines, and
these have only been slightly diminished
by an apparently frank disclaimer OF any
ulterior purpose, because the incidents
continue to occur quietly and in man.
ner calculated to avoid attracting atten-
ton. Such for instance is the gathering
of naval vessels to the south of the Phil
ippines, the only explanation of which is
purpose of acquiring either by seizure
or by some secret compact with the Span
ish government, the important island of
Ialawan.
1t is gathered that it is the purpose Of
the president to prevent the alienation by
Spain of any of the Philippine group, and
these preparations, naval as well as mill
tary, are but step toward the execution
of this purpose. With the addition to the
fleet of the two battleships, we will have
a-force only second to that OF Great Brit
ain in eastern waters, while on shore Otis
will have more numerous army than
any European power save Russia.