The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-02
PHILIPPINE INSURGENTS

To Cooperate with tho United States
Fleet-Famine Prices at Manila
HONG KONG. May 1.-Letters to the
lnsurgent Junta here which were snug.
gled on board the British steamerMem-
non at Manila, which arrived here yes
terday from the capital OF the Philip
pine islands, assert that the Philippine
Insurgents are occupying all the hills
surrounding Manila, In a radius OF ten
y twenty miles. awaiting the arrival of
tne United States fleet under Commodore
dewey. which was expected off Manila
at any moment when the Memnon SAIL
ed The insurgents say that II the
United States fleet blockades Manila,
they can starve the place into submis-
sion in about two weeks.
Corruboration has been received of the
report that the British residents OF Ma
nila expected that the British steamer
Eemeralda, which went there to take on
board the specie belonging to the Hong
Kong banks, would have q full cargo OF
food stuff. as usual. but this was not
the case and much distress Is anticipated
In consequence. II the insurgent land
blockade and the United States sea
blockade are enforced. ..
( According to insurgent leaders. the
force OF the Philippine insurgents pro-
pose. when the right moment arrives, to
make a felnt attack upon the city OF Ma,
nila, to make q strong and determined
attack upon the seaward forts. This
plan. however. may be upset by the
Spanish authorities who are we'll aware
of the Intentions of the insurgents to
cooperate with the United States fleet.
Little definite Information has been
ascertained regarding the whereabouts
Of the Spanish fleet as a whole. But. 1t
IS said by the insurgents that war ships
OF Spain are In hiding, watching outside
the entrance OF the harbor for the COM
ing OF the American ships.
The real danger appears to be from In
ternal causes at Manila, where atmassa-
ere of the foreign population Is appre-
hended. The British consul, SIr. e. H.
Rawsor Walker, has cabled here for
the dispatch to Manila Immediately Of the
British first class cruiser Edgar, to pro-
tect British interests there.
t An idea Of the tactics adopted by the
Spanish authorities to keep up the cour-
ase Of the fighting force Of Spain, can
be gathered from the fact that they
have issued a placard stating that
Spanish cruiser. on Monday last, en-
gagged and sank two American war
ships. 1t Is asserted that the Spanish
cruiser Castillo, of 3,342 tons dtsplace-
ment and 4. 400 indicated horse power,
recently grounded near the entrance Of
Manila bay and was afterwards scuttled
in shallow water.
It Is added that It is the intention Of
the Spaniards to use her as q stationary
battery, although some Of her guns have
been landed and mounted on the fortifi-
cations at the entrance Of the harbor,
where other guns also have been mount
ed recently.
1t Is generally believed here that Com
modore Dewey has arranged with the
Philippine insurgents to seize a harbor,
near Manila. to be used as q base of
operations for the prolonged seige OF
Manila, which is anticipated unless the
American commander can induce the
Spanish fleet to come out and accept q
general engagement. ,asl.
SHANGHAI, May 1.-Dispatches re-
ceived from Manila by the Shanghai Ge-
zette say the capital Of the Philippine
Islands Is short OF food and ammunition
and that the conditions prevailing have
been made worse by the flocking into
Manila Of the Spaniards from the prov
inccs. 1t Is added that the natives are
already looting and killing in the prov
inces, Spanish women and children be-.
ing Included In the victims. 1t Is fur
ther asserted that the priests are the
special objects Of the natives vengeance.
about a duzen priests having been kill
ed during the past week.
Famine prices for food are said to pre-
vail at Manila, and, It is claimed, the
Spanish authorities are maintaining or
der with difficulty. People are burying
their valuables to prevent their seizure
by the insurgents or Americans. The
military authorities are cndeavoring to
put bold front on the situation. but
the Manila correspondent Of the Shanghai
Gazette asserts 1t is considered certain
that the insurgents will sack the city
when the United States fleet appears.
not discriminating between Spaniards
and other foreigners. ,tAfl5i
The dispatches of the Gazette nllegc
that the Spaniards at Manila ore almost
unprepared to withstand an attack upon
the part OF the United States fleet,
claiming that no dcfenses exist, In nddi-
tlon to the recently laid harbor mines,
except obsolete artillery,