Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-12-31

llavana-Bryan and Imperialism
Scattering Shots.
Washington. Dec. ga feeling OF
anxiety prevails here over the receipt
of news from Manila that the insur-
gents. under Lopez. practically COM
pletcd the conquest of the island of
Panay on Monday. They occupied
Iioilo on that day before the arrival of
the American expedition, the Spaniards
having evacuated the city and gone to
Zamboanga.
Just before noon yesterday, dis
patch came from General Otis that at
once confirmed the fears Of the officials
Of the war department as to what had
taken place at Iloilo. 1t appears that
the American forces arrived too late on
the scene and that the insurgents had
added to the difficulty of the problems
already presented by hoisting their flag
over the city. which they have been be-
sieging for months. The news was con-
tanned in the following message from
General Otis:
Manila, Dec. 29.-Adjutant General,
Washington: Sent Colonel Potter on
fast vessel to Iloilo on Dec. "a to COM
municate with Spanish General Rios;
latter evacuated evening Of 24rh, and
Potter 80 hours late. insurgents took
possession of the city on 2Gth. and Pot
ter found Aguinaldo's flag flying. Can
not now report probable results. Will
not hear from there for four days, as no
cable communications. Spanish forces
have evacuated all stations in southern
islands except ZambOanga and Min
danao, by orders, they say, from Madrid.
Otis.
The evacuation by the Spaniards of
all the Philippine ports. as reported by
General Otis although doubtless in
spired by desire to secure their safety
by concentration, undoubtedly has done
much to complicate the problem already
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 it
may be fully expected that within
week important events will have hap
peIitu III TIE TLNlpplIlco. tis pASooHeu
that General Otis will demand the sur
render 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.
Iloilo Is about 300 miles south of Manila.
1t is pronounced Eel-o-eelo, and some
times is spelled Yloilo. The trip between
the two citior is one Of the most charm
ing experieB. Rs that traveller could
ever hupe for. During the 40 hours that
1t takes one Of the small steamers of the
Compa mia Martina to make the run. the
sight Of land is never lost. and the scene
is constantly shifting, and Is always new
and wonderful. There are several vol
canoes that are active. and may be
marked by the haZy smoke that lifts
lazily against the clouds. Just now there
are very few vessels venturing on the
run, for the Companla Martina, Span
ish concern, has only two of Its vessels
put under the American flag. Condi-
tions are critical. The town is almost
defenseless. An old fort, which was
ancient 100 years ago, commands the
harbOr but it spends all its time COM
manding. for there are no guns mounted
in 1t. The river a month or so ago was
choked with Spanish steamers that were
afraid to venture out under the Spanish
flag There We're three Spanish gum
boats in the river-the Samar, MindorO
and Ell Cano. The two first-named were
small, but the last was much larger. Her
engines were in bad order. and 1t was
common gossip that If her heaviest guns
Grod hn chnnk would 7hQko the
ship to pieces. General Rios coneen-
trated all the Spanish forces of the other
islands on Panay, in the hope Of prevent
ing the fall of the city before the con-
cluson of the Paris conference.
The province Of Iloilo is set down in the
official directories as having population
Of 472, 1000. and the city is the second sea-
port of Importance in the Philippine
group. 1t is located on river navigable
for vessels of Is feet draught, so that very
few of our gunboats would be available
to assist the troops in case 1t should be
necessary to take forcible possession Of
the city.
The Spanards have chosen a strong
place for the concentration Of their troops
| in the town Of ZambOanga. which. as the
reports 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 mainta a in themselves for an indefinite
period of time against the insurgents,
presuming that they are not cut OF from
| obtaining supplies from the sea. The
| town itself has a population Of q, 900 in
| habitants.
Boston, Dec. 29.-The United Society
| Of Christian Endeavor has received the
| following message in regard to universal
peace from Editor William r. Stead of
London. for the Christian Endeavorers
Of the world:
opportunity In the last nine years
Christian governments have spent upon
ornaments for war a sum far exceeding
| IS. 0OO. 100000. To abate this gigantic
| waste of the resources Of civilization,
| the Russian emperor has summoned
| governments to a conference. That
| conference will fail unless vigorously
supported by demonstrations Of enthu-
siastic approval all around the world.
| appeal to the Christian Endeavorers to
| do their part In evoking that enthusia SIN
| and In giving 1t practical shape. Now
| Is the time to act. Let each society be
| converted into a local peace committee.
and undertake the duty Of getting up
| steam for the peace conference. Other
wise, the responsibility for the failure
Debris Covers Square Mile.
London. Dec 2S-Part Of Red Rocl,
mountain. according to dispatch from