Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-17

SPANISH TROOPS AND RESIDENTS
THREATENED WITH MASSACRE.
INSURGENTS SURROUND PROVINCE.
The Indications Are That They Cam
not BE Controlled from Manila
of Them as "ChiIdren."

WASHINGTON, November 16-Reports
of somewhat dsquieting nature have
been received from General Otis, in com
mand at Manila He says that the pro-
vince of Iloilo, i'm the Island of Panay,
which is technically occupied by the Span
iards, is surrounded by the insurgents, and
that fears are entertained that the Span
ish population and garrison will BE massa-
cred by the insurgents. The capital of the
province is S55 miles from Manila, but this
and the other islands, with the exception
of Manila and its adjacent country, is
not under the control of Americans.
Heretofore, the United States officers
have tried to prevent disturbances be
tween the insurgents and the Spaniards
through their good offices and counsel.
BEYOND CONTROL FROM MANILA.
The indications are, however, that the
present situation in Iloilo cannot be con-
trolled by the United States army, or
the insurgent leaders there, and if serious
consequences are TO be averted some
other method will have to be adopted.
The troops under General Otis are not
available for any such duty. and under
the terms of the protocol pending peace
negotiations. II Is not desirable to send
a force from the army to the Island of
Panay. There is no intention at present
of sending additional troops to General
Otis, but the situation is such as to
strengthen the determination of the adj
ministratiOn not to reduce the available
A. ~
MERRITT ON FILIPINO CHARACTER.
LONDON. November 16.-General Wes-
ley Merritt, United States army, who is
still in this city, has read with a great
deal of interest the long letter of COM
plant against American officials in the
Philippine Islands. addressed by the So
called Filipino junta Of HongkOng TO
President Mckinley and the people OF
the United States.
In discussing the Fflipinos the Ameri-
can General refers 20 them as children"
and says that il will be impossible 10
establish an American Government in the
islands He adds that they must have
some form OF colonial government SINH
lar to the British Colonial governments
Regarding the complaints Of the Fill
pinos the General says:
WHY AGUINALDO WAS NOT RECOG-
NIZED.
1T was impossible TO recognize the in
surgents. and / made it a point not TO do
SO as l knew IL would lead 10 compli-
cations. Admiral Dewey, after my ar
rival, pursued the same course. What was
done before is not for me 10 comment on.
I. purposely. did not recognize Aguinaldo
or his troops, nor did use them in any
way. Aguinaldo did not ask 10 see me
until ten days after my arrival After
that was too much occupied 10 see him.
TN talking with leading Filipinos, 1
told them the United States had no prom
lses 10 make. but that they might be as
sured that the government and people OF
the United States would treat them fair
~. This was because the United States
was In the habit OF dealing fairly with
all struggling peoples. and not because /
hac been authorized TO say anything Of
the kind
FILIPINO AID NOT WANTED.
I'VE purposely did not give the insur-
gents notice OF our attack on Manila.
because we did not need their co-opera-
uon and did not propose to have IL. We