The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-29
That City In
Hands
OF THE INSURGENTS
Evacuate The
Town and Escape,

Washington, Dec. 2S.-The Filipino
insurgents have taken possession of
the city of Iloilo. capital of the island
.of Panay, one of the southern islands
in the Philippine group. The insur-
gents have been besieging the place
for months, and now their flag is fly
ing over it, the force of Americans sent
recently to occupy the place arriving
too late to prevent the action. That
this was the case has been feared at
Washington and confirmation of the
apprehensions entertained by the ad-
ministration came today in the follow
ing dispatch from Gen. Otis:
AdJutant General, Washington, d. c.:
Sent Col. Potter on fast vessel to
lloilo, on oath, TO communicate with
Spanish general Rios. Latter evacuated
evening of oath and Potter arrived 80
hours later. Insurgents took possession
of city on the 26th, and Potter found
Aguinaldo's flag flying. Cannot now re-
port probable results will not hear
from there for four days, as there is
no cable communications The Spanish
have evacuated all stations in southern
islands except Zemboanga, Mindanao,
by orders, as they say, from Madrid.
-(Signed), Otis.
Manila. Dec. 81
This morning United States Consul
Pratt, al Singapore, cabled the state
department: "Iloilo taken Gath; Span
ish fed to BorneO.' The state depart
ment thinks this statement as to Bor-
neo probably an error. =.
The dispatch sent to Madrid by Gen
Rios, the Spanish commander in the
Visayas islands concerning Iloilo's cap
Hoo H. . I,
is as follows:
Am preparing to embark on the
steamer Leo XIII for Zemboanga, ISL
and of Mindanao, having yesterday
Dec. 23) formally surrendered Iloilo
in the presence of the military and ma
val commanders, the mayor and the
foreign consuls. Have charged the
German consul with the protection of
Spanish interests. Shall arrive at Man
liza by the end of the month
1t is presumed that Gen. Otis will de-
mand the surrender Of IlOilo into his
hands, and this demand may at once
raise the issue between the insurgents
and our own government of possession
of the islands. The province of Iloilo
is set down in the official directories as
having g population of Az, 600 and ii is
Philippine group, 1t is located on a riv-
er naVigable for vessels of fifteen feet
draught, so that very few Of our gun
boats would be available to assist the
troops in case it should be necessary TO
take fOrcible possession Of the city The
Spaniards have chosen a strong place
for the concentration of their troops
in the town of ZambUanga, which, as
the reports here indicate, is strongly
fortified and possessed of considerable
natural strength from defensive point
of view. 1t is not doubted that they
will be able to maintain themselves for
an indefinite period of time against the
insurgents, presuning that they are
not cut off from obtaining supplies from
the sea. The town itself has popula-
ton Of u 900 inhabitants.
The evacuation by Spaniards of all
the Philippine ports, as reported by
Cen Otis. although doubtless inspired
by a desire to secure their safety by
concentration, undoubtedly has done
much to complicate the problems al
ready presented to the war department
of extending the military jurisdiction
of the United States over the Islands
1t will now be necessary to expedite the
execution of the original plans, and II
may be fully expected that within a
week important events will have hap
pened in the Philippines.
Prof. D. G. Worcester was visitor at
the state department today in connec-
ton with the Philippines affairs. He IS
thoroughly acquainted with the condl-
lions on the islands for personal obser-
walton and experience. After talking
over the subject with him for some
time, Secretary Hay arranged for an
interview between the president and the
professor at the White House, which
was had at about noon. There is no
doubt that Gen. Otis is meeting with
great difficulty in his effort to secure
the release of the Spanish prisoners