The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-19
SUSPENSION OF HoSTILITIES
ToRRIDS MOVEMENT OF
TROOPS.
PEACE PROCEEDINGS MUST BE RUSHED
Spaniards will Hardly be Given Longer than
Monday or Tuesday for Definite An
swer to Our Proposition with
Respect |, Philippines.

Washington. Nov IS.News of
mixed character came TO the Navy De-
partment to-day from Admiral Dewey
touching the situation in the Philippines
The .Admiral sent two of his warships,
the Charleston and the Concord, some
time ago to the southwark from Manila
TO ascertain whether there was any
truth in reports that the insurgents had
extended their activities in that direc-
tion. To-day he cables as follows:
MANILA. Noy. Is. 1s9S
Charleston and Concord arrived TO-
day from Iloilo. Glass reports that the
entire island OF Panay is ia possession
Of Insurgents except uoiIo, which is de-
Tended BY 500 Spanish troops. All for
eign citizens there beg for American
protection. The Island of Negroes has
declared independence and desires Am
> eriean protectorate.
Glass is the commander Of the Charles
Ton. SO far nothing has been done by
the Administration towards curbing the
insurgents iii their operations, save
verbal representa- Tions from the Ameri-
can commanders to Aguinaldo. In which
ii has been pointed onf to him that II
would he good policy. In view Of the
probability Of the annexation Of the IS
lands By the United States. 10 pursue 4
course that would not be obnoxious 10
the United States BUT the situation
ii now realized to he critical SO far
AZ the STaniards are concerned they
can he left 70 take care Of themselves,
hut the foreign residents at Ii0il0 are
differently regarded.
The difficulty in the situation Is that
with the best intentions TO intervene
to protect the Europeans and other for
eigners and To save the city Of Iloilo, the
second In Importance in the Philip
pine group. from Io0ting. the United
States forces appear To be estOpped. un-
der the rules Of war. from moving from
their positions. Snch is the consfruc-
tion placed upon the clause in the pro-
fncol relating 10 a suspension of hos
tilifies The immediate effect Of this
state 0f affairs may be to hasten action
IN tho Paris conference. for it is only
by the determination Of that tribunal
that the United States can come to the
relief Of the beiagnered Spaniards in
Iloilo and other points. III is said to
be a fact, however. fhat a total dis
agreement at Paris may result in
speedier action than If the commissioners
agreed Hpon the main principles Of the
Philippine cessioH. for in such case sey-
erai additional sessions probably w0nld
be required III order to arrange the de-
tails Of the treaty 1t is now thought to
he certain that the commission ait the
meeting next Monday or Tuesday will
DO one 0f two things. !. r.. either agree
10 the eegsion Of the Philippines or note
disagreement and dissolve the meeting:
for the Administration ii not disposed
30 further tolerate delay and has 50
instructed the United States commission.
eTs.
The latter sent long eabIegram to-
day in cipher. The deciphering occupied
the entire official day. and meantime
there were wild rumors touching fle na
ture Of it's contents. As n matter of
fact II was nothing more than an ex-
iremely verbose statement of the Spanish
side Of the case relating 10 the Philip
pines. There was h renewal of the M.
tempt 10 take issHe with the American
contention as 10 fhe meaning of the pro-.
i0eOi clause relative 70 the dignosi-
ton Of the Philippines and much auib.
bling. accompanied by quotations from
French. Spanish aud other Eurons.t.l
languages in the effort to demonstrate
10 Americans just what an English we RI
might mean.
The latter will take 30 notice cf this
kind Of a hair.splitting pea but at to-
morr0w's meeting viii eal On tlIeI
Spanish commissioners to make answer
~ The American proposition ~ cede the
Philippines. probably allowing until
Monday or Tuesday only for final and
responsive answer on that point.
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