The Mena star., 1899-05-04
GILMORE IS HEARD FROM.
The Lieutenant Reports That His Party Were Captured and Taken
 Across the Mountains.
GEN. LAWTON MARCHING ON BALINAG.
A Large Body of Rebels Said to Re Congre- gated at the Place-Filipino Envoys Trying to Make Peace with Gen. Otis Fred Funston Appointed Brigadier General.


 Fred Funston Appointed Brigadier
 General.
 Manila, May 3.-The first authentic information regarding Lieut.. J. J. Gil more and his party of IA men from the United States gunboat Yorktown, who were captured by the Filipinos April 12, was received to-day through Maj. Arguelles, of the staff of Gen. Antonio Luna. It is in the form of list of the missing men and is signed by Lieut.. Gilmore. The lieutenant reports that he and his party have been brought across the noun tains from Baler, where they were cap- tured. This information was brought in response to a note which Mai. Gen. MacArthur sent to Gen Luna by Mai. Shields and Lieut. Hayne. These off cers, bearing a flag of truce, carried the note across Gen. Luna's lines last night. The note, after asking for in- formation regarding American prison CTS in Gen. Luna's hands, concluded with the message that Gen. MacArthur would be pleased to meet Gen. Luna.
 
 prisoners on a handcar at the end of the bridge, placing the car in the keep ing of the Filipinos, whose conduct throughout the various negotiations has been all that could be expected of civilized nation. Refugees report that the Filipinos are deserting San Fernando and massing at St. Tomas, where Gen. Luna's headquarters are located, and that strong entrench- ments are being constructed at the sides of the railway and on the swamp front in the best positions possible.
 Men of the United States signal corps have established telegraphic communi- cation with Maj. Gen. Lawton, who is advancing in a westerly course. Gen. Lawton lost one killed and five wound ed yesterday near San Rafael. where he strongly intrenched himself. To-day, Gen. Lawton is marching on Balinag where a large body of rebels has been congregated.
 Gen. Hale started at daybreak with the Iowa and South Dakota regiments, d squad of cavalry and two guns of the Utah battery from Calumpit in a north easterly direction, to cooperate with the Macabebes, who have asked the Americans to arm them in order that they might fight the Tagals. The Macabebes have already organized company of bolomen to guard the town. They are bringing Tagal pris- oners to Gen. MacArthur.
 Want Possibilities Suspended.
 Manila, May 3.-Maj Manuel Argu- elles and Lieut.. Jose Bernal, of the staff of Gen. Antonio Luna, returned here to-day to renew and press the re- quest of Gen. Luna for a cessation of hostilities They have found the field of labor most uncongenial one. The two officers were received in conference with Maj. Gen. E. $. Otis. The pro- posals which they had to submit diff fered but slightly from those which they brought from the Filipino commander in the first place. They desired a little time in which to summon congress, and expressed themselves as being confident that the congress will decree peace be- cause the people desire it. They rep resent that Aguinaldo is without power to surrender the army and that the congress must decide that question. Incidentally the Filipino envoys as- serted that Aguinaldo had not yet made a fair test of his strength against the American forces because only one- third of his army had been assembled together The envoys will see Gen. Otis again tomorrow.
 Whether or not Gen. Luna is sincere Tn his overtures, the negotiations are giving the insurgents much needed opportunity to rehabilitate their de- mcralized forces The truth is that dissensions among the leaders of the rebels is helping on the disorganiza- ton of the Filipino army almost as much as the American campaign. In the course of the conference with the Filipino envoys Gen. Otis agreed with the statement of Maj. Arguelles that the people of the Philippines wanted peace and he added that requests for protection are pouring in upon him from all parts of the country.
 Maj. Gen. Lawton was engaged in hard fighting early this morning. Tele- graph communication was cut at nine a. m. and there have been no reports from Gen. Lawton since that time.
 Funston Appointed Brigadier.
 Washington, May 3.-ln recognition of his gallantry in the Philippine cam paign, Col. Frederick Funston, of the Twentieth Kansas regiment, was ap- pointed brigadier general of yolun- teers by the president this morning.