The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-12

LONDON. sept 12.-The Manila cor
respondent of the Times telesraph4nu
September says: ''The insurEent con-
quest of the island of Luzon is rapidly
approaching completion. Recent au-
thentic reports announce the capture oa
successive Spanish positions ana a.
present the rebels control every foot Of
the island except Manila, Cavlte and a
small portion of the province of Albany.
They hold 5000 Spanish prisoners
and have recently captured several
thousand rifles. some cannon, q large
quantity Of ammunition and several
small ramed steamers. The spaniards
held out valorously. but were lighting
against the inevitable.
at is undenlabie that the action Of the
insurgents in pursuing the campaign
after an armlsuce was declared has
caused much useless suffering and de-
structlon OF property and has annihlla-
ted their every claim to be considered
In any respect as the allies Of the Amer
leans. Their motive has been tWo-told;
Two-foId AIotivsI.
First, an implacable hatred of the
Spanish, with an innate thirst for re-
venge, and
Secondly, their ambition to place
themselves on record before the world
as a successful revolutionary govern
ment and as complete masters OF the
Luzon provinces and as many adjacent
Islands as they may have time to occu-
py before the Philippine question has
been settled by the Paris commission.
"They are now free to withdraw their
troops, to make an expedition against
Panay and to capture Ilollo. By con-
tinuing the campaign now, regardless
OF the armistlce, they put themselves in
the wrong with everybody, Just as by
crowding into the suburbs Of Manila
and refusing to vacate the same unless
compelled to surrender by force, they
have put themselves In the wrong with
the Americans.
Their action Is doubtless due partly
to a dIsorganIzation OF their force,
which. by their own confession, consists
Of a congregation OF independent units,
with chiefs, each ambitious Of power
and distinction and all struggling for
positions which will secure for them by
booty or otherwise, private fortune.
This disorganizatlon, which naturally
affects their responsible Individual SOL
dler, has been constantly fomenling the
Irritation resulting from the dual oc-
cupation OF the suburbs of Manila. The
situation has been impossible from the
beginning and conflicts have been
avoided only by great tact and the exc
traord1nary patience OF the American
troops, who loyalty observe their duty
OF preserving the peace of the town.
Fruitful Of DimcuItisS.
'The policy of permitting the insur-
gents to occupy the Spanish positions
has been fruitful In many difficulties,
not the least Of which is the stimulus
given to the conceit of the natives, who
consider themselves the conquerers of
Manila, although they captured not .
single position when the town was ta-
ken.
general Otis has attacked The COM
pllcated questions he inherited from
General Merritt, his predecessor. with
remarkable energy and decision and 10
rapidly establishing order in every de-
partment where comparative chaos rul-
ed before. He has been fully occupied
with matters more intimately concern
Ing the military government Of Manila
and only recently has he been able to
study eXhaustively the insurgent Ques-
tion and to satisfy himself regarding
the equity OF the insurgent claims, so a.
to solve a problem practically unap-
preached heretofore.
- ~
ed, in terms not too polite, various inn
possible concessions, for example, an oc-
cupation OF the governor-generalB pal-
ace and other palaces, written RsStir-
ance that the insurgents will be permit
ted to occupy permanently their mllis
tary positions around Manila and pro
lection for the insurAent vessels by the
American fleet-with many other
claims, including an Innocent demand
for share Of the booty captured by the
Americans at Manila"
after careful review Of the gituG-
ton General Otis arrived at the logical
conclusion that the insurgents have no
right to occupy the suburbs Of Manila
and that Aguinaldo's claims have the
support OF neither equity nor reason. He
has therefore categorlcallP refused to
consider Agulnaldo's demands and to-
day sent him an ultimatum, in terms
plainly comprehensive and authorita-
tive, that he must withdraw his troops
from the suburbs before the 18th, Of
suffer the consequences OF refusal.
1.-THE answer will probably be that
Aguinaldo himself is only too willing 20
obey the order, but cannot explain TO
his troops the reason why they cannot
at Manila.