The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-13

Manila. Sept 12-Rear Admiral
critical II is understood he has asked
for an additional cruiser and a battle
ship.
The S3aniards assert that Germany
will take a coaling station here. and
that Spain will retain the remainder of
the islands.
The last Spanish garrisons at Ilocos
and Laguanet have surrendered, and
the whole island of Luzon is in the
hands of the insurgents, except Manila
and Cavite.
/ Aguinaldo went to Lelollos on Friday.
He has announced his intention of con-
vening an assembly of the Filippinos on
] Sept. -. in order to decide upon the
1 policy TO be adopted by the insurgents.
The correspondent here of the Asso-
/ ciated Press has had an interview With
AguinaldO. who said there were 81, 900
I insurgents armed with rifles. He added
I he could raise 100000 men, Indeed, the
insurgent leader pointed out, the whole
population of the Philippine islands
was willing to fight for tLeIr independ-
cnee-
Continuing, Aguinaldo said he had
5000 military prisoners. including 5000
in the vicinity of Manila besides civil
prisoners.
Later, Aguinaldo said the ''provis-
ional government" was now operating
in Is provinces. He asserted that on
Aug. they elected delegates in num-
bers proDOrtiOnate to the population.
AS to the Americans, AguinaldO re-
marked that he considered them as
brothers: that the two sovereign re-
9ublics were allied against a common
enemy"
TNDE,DETNDTyNCE
When questioned as to whether the
future Filipino policy would be abso-
lutte independence, Aguinaldo excused
himself from replying. and asked what
America intends todO.
The correspondent being unable TO
answer this question, Aguinaldo con-
tinued: We have been fighting for in
dependence for a long time The ma
tives who profess to favor annexation
are insincere. II is merely ruse to
ascertain American views"
Asked if the Filippinos would OBJ
ject to the retention of Manila, Agui-
naldO declined to answer.
Would the Filippinos object to the
Americans retaining a coaling station
if recognizing the independence of the
islands or establishing a temporary
protectorate over them?"
Aguinaldo again refused to answer.
Pending the conclusion of the assem-
bly,, Aguinaldo said. he was confident
there would be no trouble between
America and the FilippinOs.
The insurgent leader denied having
received a request from General Otis
and Rear Admiral Dewey to withdraw
his troops to a prescribed distance
from Manila and Cavite, and he de-
clined TO discuss the effect of such a
request. Aguinaldo further asserted
that he had never negotiated with the
American authorities since the capitu-
lation of Manila, and that he had never
authorized the insurgents to search or
disarm Americans crossing the line.
ALMOST A COLLISION.
The correspondent closely questioned
him about last Saturdays incident,
when the Pennsylvania troops pro-
ceeded to establish d new outpost The
FilippinoS objected and nearly precipi-
tated hOstilities, ordering the Ameri-
cans to withdraw in 20 minutes. They
issued ammunition and intercepted the
American reinforcements. Finally Gen.
eral Hale ordered all the PennsyIva-
mans to advance, and the rebels with
drew.
The local governor has explained that
the incident was mistake, and has
repudiated his SubordinateS' action.
declared to this correspon-
dent that the Filipino who made the
trouble merely pretended to be an Of
fcer. and is entirely unconnected with
the insurgent army.
Aguinaldo complained that the Span
iards were disseminating false reports
for the purpose of fomenting antago-
nism between the Filippinos and the
The whole interview conveyed the
impression that Aguinaldo desires alb
solute independence, regarding the
mission of the Americans here as ac-
and expects their with
drawal, Just as the French with La
fayette withdrew, after helping the
Americans in the war of independence.
q war of humanity
Just now Aguinaldo maintains the
role of extreme friendship.