Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-08-06
Mistellaneuus 8eaaing.
MERRITT. AGUINALDO AND AGUSTI.
A vexatious Game of Cross-Purposes In
the Philippines.

A vexatious Game of Cross-Purposes In
the Philippines.
From the Atlanta Journal.
Decidedly the most interesting prob
lem of the war is presented by the sit
uation in the Philippines. This prob
lem is becoming more complicated
every day and the situation is as
nuique as it is embarrassing.
Three hostile forces-for the hostili-
ty of the insurgents to the Americans
is pateut-are there playing desper-
ate game at cross-purposes. The con-
ditions of the game have undergone a
complete change since the day when
Admiral Dewey achieved his brilliant,
but easy, victory over the Spaniards
in Manila harbor. Then the Spanish
power in the Philippines rested on the
bidding of the American fleet COM
mander. Now a new, and self-im-
posed obstacle is in the path of the
Americans. Between the American
and the Spanish lines-the natural foes
in the struggle-are the insurgent
lines. Between the desires of Amerl-
can and Spaniard to end hopeless
conflict stands insurgent opposition.
At any moment, should false step be
made, the guns which this government
placed in the hands of Aguinaldo's fol-
lowers, then their allies, may be turn
ed upon them. In theory the insur-
gents are more foes than the Span
iards. The present force under Cen
eral Merritt is inadequate to cope with
both insurgents and Spaniard, but is
amply sufficient to achieve the object
for which it was originally intended.
The correspondent of the London
Times, writing from Cavite under date
of July 29, says:
"The situation at the front is most
extraordinary. Each force is guarding
it's own lines, but the insurgents are
little better than an armed rabble.
They pass freely into the American
camp and mingle with the other
troops, but they render no assistance
and are, indeed, rather hinderance
to operations.
General Merritt thus far has not
met Aguinaldo. The condition of the
Spanish prisoners confined by the
insurgents at Cavite is most deplorable,
and has excited the pity and sympa-
thy of General Merritt, who begins to
issue rations today without advising
Aguiualdo. This is probably the first
step toward assuming proper authority
over the insurgents, who have hither-
to been treated masters of the situa-
ton.
"The attitude of the insurgents is
the only difficulty in the way of an
immediate settlement of the whole
matter. The investment and capture
of Manila would be readily effected
with the cooperation of the fleet, not
withstanding the difficulty of conduct
ing military operations through the
labyrinths of tropical growth and the
flooded rice fields around Manila.
"It is an open secret-and | have
information confirming the report from
the best possible sources-that Manila
is willing to surrender, and may do so,
provided the assurance is given that
the inhabitants will be protected from
the insurgents, who openly declare
their intention Of killing every Span,
lard. "Whatever was their original
purpose, it is now fact that the only
Incentives the insurgents have to con-
tinue the conflict are revenge and
plunder. Therefore, it is evident that
the Americans must settle with the in
surgents first. Personally, l am con
vinced that the only means of control
ling Aguinaldo's rabble is to disarn
the whole population.
"This step alone can make life anc
property secure. At the present crisi:
of the situation nothing suggests the
likelihood of any immediate aggres
sive movement. The American troop:
are active and reconnoisances arr
made daily into the country, which i