The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-05-03
An Administration Suspicion is
Put Forth.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. CHARGED
Citizens Reported to be Fomenting
Discomfort Amongst the
Troops at Manila.

-
was some talk at today's Cabinet meet
ing which indicated that the Admins
tration had discovered a plot on the
part of the anti-eXpansionists in the
Philippines of a character not hither-
to anticipated. Particulars of what
the Administration knows of this al
legged reasonable attempt are not Cb-
tainable, but there is reason to believe
that it was based ON the idea that the
annexation sentiment could be weak
ened by causing dissatisfaction among
the volunteers now serving under Gen.
Otis with the hopedfor result that
regulars alone would not be able to
cope with the military situation.
The effect of this would be to i'm
press the people of the United States
with the idea that the Filipino insur-
rection could not be suppressed. 1t is
said that the Administration has OBJ
tanned possession of some kilograms
that were sent to the Philippines by
people in this country for the purpose
of creating a mutinous spirit among
the volunteers because they had not
declaration of peace between Spain
and the United States. The Admins
tration, it is stated, does not contem-
plate prosecuting the authors of this
ol,o =
rather desires to collect sufficient evil
dence to make their exposure COM
plete.
Gen. Otis recently telegraphed the
War Department that the volunteers
all wanted to remain in the Philippines
while there was fighting to do. More
recently there has been a change of
sentiment among the volunteers, or at
least, it has been reported to the Gov
ernment that they were dissatisfied
and wanted to come home. It. was
limited today that this dissatisfaction
was TO some extent traced to move
ment that originated and was being
carried on in this country.
The suspicion of the Administration
has also been excited by dispatches
bearing Manila and Hongkong date
lines published in American newspa-
pers that have represented a very bad
state of affairs in the Islands with re-
spect to the military campaign against
Aguinaldo's forces. 1t has been noticed
by the authorities here that dispatches
of that character have not been sent
out by correspondents of English and
other foreign newspapers, who would
have no reason to suppress any infor-
nation about disquieting conditions
While practically nothing of what the
Administrator knows can be obtained
for publication, it is evident, to say the
least, that the seeds of suspicion have
been sown in the minds of those close
to the President and sensational de-
velopments are not improbable.
MANILA, April 21-9:05 P Nat
6 o'clock this morning three companies
of the South Dakota Regiment marched
from BOcave, and in conjunction with
three companies of the Minnesota Reg
inent from GuiguintO, north of BOcave,
encountered a rebel force numbering
fully 500 men, when two miles out. The
enemy retired three miles in fairly
good order, in spite of the fact that
the rebels suffered heavy losses. The
Americans, having exhausted their
ammunition, were compelled to return
TO the camps.
The heat is intense. At noon the
thermometer registered 90 degrees.
There were several prostratiOns from
the heat among the troops, but only
one man was wounded
The army tugs opened fire on the en-
envy along the river banks today. The
rebels are unusually active west of Ma
lolos as far as Calumpit They have
been busily at work on their trenches
and several new trenches have been
discovered within two miles of the
railroad. Fires are burning east of the
railroad, and it would appear that the
rebels are evacuating the foothill
towns, in anticipation of an attack up
on the part of the American troops.
READY TO FIGHT.
CHICAGO, April 21-The Naval Re-
serve Association of Illinois, veterans
of the Spanish-American war, has re-
solved to offer the Government $50
men for service in the Philippines. Sec
Luis VI IuS
will be advised of the action of the as
ISOLATION.
TROOPS IN GOOD CONDITION.
WASHINGTON, April 21.-The fol-
lowing dispatch was received at the
War Department today:
"MANILA, April 21.-Adjutant Gen.
eral, Washington: Troops abundantly
supplied and sickness, wounded IN
cluded, only and fraction per cent
of command. OTIS"
"a ppnt1anpaD'S drinlSv iS tho