The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-12
Philippine Insurgents Are Rapidly
Extending Their Sway.
SITUATION IS CRITICAL
GEN. OTIS SENDS AN ULTIMA
TUM TO AGUINALDo.
Insurgents Must Withdraw From the
Suburbs Today or Suffer the Cen
sequences-Natives Take Upon
Themselves All the Credit Fer De-
feating the Spaniards.

London. Sept. 1.-THE Manila CORE
spondent of the Times, telegra9hing
Sept. g. says: The insurgent conquest
of the island of Luzon is rapidly ap-
preaching completion. Recent authen-
tic reports announce the capture OF sue
cessive Spanish positions, and at pres
ent the rebels control every foot of the
island, exceot Manila, Cavite, and q
small portion of the province Of Albain:
They hold over 5000 Spanish prisoners,
and have recently captured several
Thousand rifles, some cannon, large
quantity of ammunition, and several
armed steamers.
The Soaniards held out valorously,
but were fighting against the newt
able.
1t is undeniable that the action of the
insurgents in pursuing the campaign
after an armistice was declared has
caused much useless suffering and de-
struction of property, and has annlhl-
lated their every claim TO be consid-
cred in any respect as the allies OF the
Americans. Their motive has been two
fold-first. an implacable hatred Of the
Spanish. with an innate racial thirst
fol- revenge, and. secondly, their wish
to place themselves on record before
the world as a successful revolutionary
government, and as complete masters
of the Luzon provinces and as many
adjacent islands as they may OCCUPY
before the Philippine question has been
settled by the Paris commission.
They are now free to withdraw their
troops to make an expedition against
: Panay. and TO capture IlGilo. BY con-
tiIuing the campaign now, regardless
OF the armistice. they put themselves IN
the wrong with everybody just as by
crowding into the suburbs of Manila
and refusing to vacate the same I'M
less compelled by superior force. they
have put themselves in :he wrong with
the Americans.
DISORGANIZED FORCE.
Their action is doubtless due partly
to a disordered organization of their
force, which, by their Gu confession.
consists of an aggregation of independ-
ent units with chiefs, each ambitious OF
power and distinction, and all strug-
Cling Cor positions which Will secure
for everybody booty or otherwise pri-
vate fortunes. This Reorganization,
W hich naturally affects the irrespon-
sible individual soldier. has been con-
stantly fomenting the irritation result
ing from the dual occupation of the
suburbs of Manila. The situation has
been impossible from the beginning,
and conflicts have been avoided only
by great tact. and the extraordinary
patience of the American TROOPS, who
loyalty observe their duty of Dreserv-
ing the peace of the town.
The policy of permitting the iHsur-
gents TO occupy the Spanish positions
has been fruitful in many difficulties,
not the least of which is the stimulus
given to the conceit Of the natives, who
declare themselves conquerorS of Ma
Mia, although they captured not a
single position when the town was
taken.
OTIS RESTORES ORDER.
General Otis has attacked The com /
plicated questions he incurred from !
General Merritt. his predecessor, with 1
remarkable energy and decision. and is I
rapidly establishing order in every de- 1
partment where comparative chaos /
ruled before. He has been fully occu- /
pied with matters more intimately con- !
corning the military government OF Ma
Mia, and only recently has ne been able /
to study exhaustively the insurgent /
question and to satisfy himself regard /
ing the equity of the insurgent claims. |
so as to solve problem practically un- |
approached heretofore.
Aguinaldo has persistently demand !
ed, in terms not too polite, various i'm
possible concessions. for example, an .
of the governor generals (
palace and other palaces. a written as
surance that the insurgents will be
permitted to occupy permanently their
positions around Manila and
protection for the insurgent vessels by
the American fleet-with many other
including an innocent demand
for a share of the booty captured by
the Americans at Manila.
ULTIMATUM FROM OTIS.
After careful review of the stua-
ton, General Otis arrived at the logical
that the insurgents have
no right to Occupy the suburbs of Mani
la, and that Aguipaido's claims have
the support of neither equity nor rea-
son. He has, therefore, categorically
refused to consider Aguinaldo,s de-
and today sent him an ultima
tum, in terms plainly comprehensive
and authoritative. that he must with
draw his troops from the suburbs be-
fore tomorrow afternoon or suffer the
of refusal
The answer viii probably be that
Aguinaido himself is only too willing
% obey the order, but cannot explain