The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-01
TIE CUBH OF THE ORIENT.
The Philippine Islands The Last But Two Of
Spain's Magnificent Possessions.

Evidences ef advanced civilization may h0
foand la the beggars Of the towns, foe
there ia as large and varied and fragrant
a collection OF thens as can os found any
where in the werla.
Fish and fruits abound. there Is a psc-
fusion OF rice and sugar fields. and the
cocosnnt i given away. though some alb
salute necessities of life, like milk. are ex-
peuStve. Genuine cows milk Is very
scarce. ana sells for half dollar quart.
The last uprising OF the natives against
Spanish ussruIe commenced in i&S. and
the new year 1881 opened with an engage
meat between the Spansards and the sn-
sargsnts on a more extensive scale than
usual being fought IN the center OF Bula-
can. The rebels were routed and defeated.
There and at Cavise the rebels are most
numerous. The hattie was south % the
important town Of Santa Maria. seventeen
miles from Manila IN norfheasteTly d.
reetSon. The insurgents were well armed
with guns and rifles obtained from China
and Japan, Armament is what they need.
for men they have practically without
Limit.
This was followed by the shooting q
exiied political prisoners az Agana. the
capital of the Mariana Islands. The of-
fetal statement II that there were eighty
three killed and foriy-slx woandet.
The real cause OF this rebellion. as that
of iSss IL said % he. the hatred felt by
the natives for tie fssars. The movement
for freedom was organized by the patriot
Francesca Nenegaeia. Mestixo. There
vere several slurfnishes In the mountain
villages and outlying islands In August
ard September This leader was captured
later, IL IS alleged. through the treachery
of Japan. His execution. with three Of his
followers. took place In early October In
The great square or the ancient walled
town. the scene being one OF thrilling hcr-
there was a rumor that she poisoned her
self few days later. There have been
many other exciting incidents In this in
surrecticn, such as the execution OF Rojas.
whom the natives had decided upon -
their emperor when their freedom should
be established. But the warfare still con-
tinues with ever varying success IN favor
OF one or the other combatant.
The barbaroHs medieval garrote and
the horrors of the black hole or Manila
are typical of SPANS snhuman policy II
the Philippine Islands. On the other
hand. there ia the burning Of Spanish
monks, strung TO their own monastery
walls by the thumbs. TO stigmatize the
character OF the Malays when driven 10
revenge by oppression and irresponsible
tyranny.
The cruiser Baltimore. from Honolulu.
recently arrived at Hongkong to Join the
Asiattc squadron, uncer Commodore
George Dewey. which intends TO strike
the Spanish column Ia the Philippine
islands II such step should be- deemed
Necessary, The American fleet out there
consists. in addition, OF the cruisers Olym-
p.a and the Boston, Raleigh. Concord and
Petrol The first Is a protected cruiser, .
twin screw vessel. with a displacement OF
3.Ssa tons and fourteen guns in her main
battery. Her gun positions are protected
by four inches OF steel. and her deck ky
an equal thickness OF DETECTING armor.
She carries four S-inch and ten S-incA
guns In her main battery. and In her Sec
ondary battery she has fourteen 6-pound.
ers, six i-pouuders and four machine gunA
The Boston Is a sccond-class cruiser. her
armament consisting of two s-inch and
six 6-inch guns in the main battery. and
In her secondary battery two rapid-nre
G-pounders, two 3-pounders. two 1-pound-
ers two 2-ineh. two i-inch and two ma
chine guns. She Is n protected cruiser,
having an armored DETECTING deck.
The Raleigh is also protected cruiser
and has deck covered with DETECTING
armor. She carries In her main battery
one 6-inch and ten 5-inch rapid-fire gunx.
and Ia her secondary battery eight g. y
Founders. four 1-pounders and two ma.
chine guns.
The Concord. smaller vessel. is rated
as a third-cisss cruiser or gunhoat. Sho
carries for her armament six G-inch guns.
two rapid-iire s-peuniers. two 3-pounderz.
one l-Iounder ana Tour machine guns.
The Petrol Is a gunboat carrying four
6-inch guns. four 6-ponnders. four 3-pound.
ers. ore i~pounder and four machine guns,
The Spaniards have In those waters but
three vessels OF minor class. the only
genuine warship being the Isia do Luson.
which was built especially for service
about the islands. She carries four 47-inch
guns four e-pounders trapid nre), two =
Founders and two machine guns
A naval engagement would end sueeAilv
To SPANS disadvantage. and there would
be little resistance In an attack on Manila.
There IL large garrison of Spanish
troops there. but. without gums ard forts
soldiers cannot drive Off a fleet OF men.
of-war protect city from lombard.
ment. The port could easily ba captured.
and the necessity would be strung "a
guard against treachery after a prospect.
I've Spanish surrender. But there has been
81 lesson taught In the destruction OF the
Maine. and Uncle Sam is not likely to DO
caught mapping. A. -. PLYMpTON.