Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-06-01

sons. the people have been Influenced to |
think that We occupy the position of ad- |
rersaries.
The Filipinos appear to be of the opin-
ion that we mediate attack, while ] am
under the strict orders of the president |
of the United States to avoid conflict in
any way possible. My troops, witnessing
the earnestneSs, the comparatively dis
turbed and unfriendly attitude of the rev.
oiutionary troops and many of the citizens
OF Manila, conclude that active hostilities
have been determined upon, although IT
fair and rejecting minds that the welfare
and happiness of the Philippine people de-
pend upon the friendly protection of the
United States.
The hand of Spain was forced. and she
has acknowledged before the world that
all her claimed rights in this country have
departed by due process of law. This treaty
acknowledgment. with the conditions which
accompany il, awaits ratification by the
senate of the United States and the action
OF the congress must also be secured before
the executive of that government can pro-
claim "A definite policy. That policy must
conform to the Will of The people of the
United States expressed through its repre-
sentatiyes in congress. For that action
the Philippine people should wait, at least,
before severing the existing friendly rela-
1ions. l am governed by desire to fur
tier the interests of the Philippine people
and shall continue to labor with that end
in view. There shall be no conflict of forces
If | am able to avoid il: and still shall
endeavor to maintain position to meet all
emergencies that may arise.
with highest respect. your most obsdient
servant. Z. S. OTIS.
Major General L. S. ". Commanding.
Commissioners Had No Power.
General Otis says the negotiations be-
tween the Two commissions reached no
conclusion as the iRsurgeRt members could
not submit any formulated statement which
they were able 10 maintain. They present.
ed. as the desire Of the insurgents, abso-
lutte independence under the profession of
the United States. but the nature and scope
of the protection wished for. they could not
explain and the conference resulted in fail
ure.
In the latter part of January the insur-
gents became aggressive, Interfering with
the American troops and finally led Gen
eral Otis 10 address another letter to
by Filipinos Of some American soldiers and
a newspaper correspondent and requesting
an explanation. General Otis letter added:
Tried to Preserve Peace.
II am doing everything possible to pre-
serve the peace and avoid all friction until
the Filipino people can be made fully ac-
quainted with the sentiments and inten-
tions of the American government, when
] am confident that they will appreciate
the endeaynrs of the. United States and
will again look upon that country as their
friend and protector. ] also fully believe
that the present unrest is the result of
mschinations of .eyilly disposed persons
Astiinaldo replied that the men were ar
rested inside of his lines for breach of a
decree forbidding foreigners to approach
the insurgent lines. In vein of sarcasm
he added:
I must state that, in consideration of
the friendship of the Philippine people for
the Americans. the said soldiers have not
been imprisoned but detained, in accord
ance with the spirit of the decree of 0c-
tober 20 last. They have been lodged in
the Goberno militar, and have been issued
the daily rations of our officers. If they
have been uncomfortable, ii is due to the
excessive sObriety OF our race and of our
cold n. to ont
little and to sleep on the hard ground
with these explanations | believe, gen
eral you VIII understand the motive 20 oil
Grated and who have been treated with all
due consideration.
Il therefore hope your determination may
be another motive which to base our
friendly rela tons with the great American
republic, and. in consideration of this, !
also decree the liberty of the correspond
ent referred to-"
Not Outside American Lines.
General Otis report explains that tbs
Americans were not ouside our lines, anc
SAYS he quotes the correspondence merely
10 show the efforts of the American au
1horiiies TO maintain peace. He next tells
how the American soldiers were openly IN
suited and how the insurgents had con
tinually labored TO strengthen their lines
threatening to drive the Americans out o
the country. and how, finally, on the nigh
made, as told by General Macarthur
which resulted in the killing of a Filipino
by an American sentry and the fring OF
the Americans by the insurgent troops.
General Otis concludes his report as fol
lows:
The insurgent army had thus succeeded
in drawing the fire of a small outpost
which they had evidently iabored with al
their ingenuity TO accomplish in order Il
justify in some way their premeditated at
tack. 1t is not believed that the chic
tnsurgent leaders wished to open hosti
tiles at this time. they We're not com
aNF1an init tfEra
They desired two or three days more II
perfect their arrangements, but the unres
OF Their army brought on the crisis which
anticipated their action They could no
have delayed long, however, for II wa!
their object to force an issue befor,
American troops then en- route could arriv,
at Manila.
Success of Troops Described.
The movements of troops during tn
protracted engagement which followed an,
their success al every point are describe,
in the accompanying reports of the com
manding generals of divisions. 1 transmi
herewith copies of the most important tel
egraphic instructions sent from these diff
5erent headquarters to the different organ
izations of the command, from which tn
progress of events can be quite accurltel
traced. L cannot speak too highly of tn
efficiency displayed by the troops unde
the most trying ordeals, and where all or
ganizations engaged conducted themselVe
so couragcously il would be difficult I
undertake special mention. Ny adiutan
general, my aides and other members G
my staff conveyed many verbal instFuC
tions during the day to points most hotl
contested and assisted materially in tn
repeated successes of the battle.
During the night of February L. and tn
following day, the insurgents of the cit
were greatly agitated fearing for thei
personal safety. A portion, to the numbe
OF about 5000 had been enrolled in a Sc
cTet society for the purpose OF attackin
cur troops within the city and perform
ing incendiary work while the insurgent
pressed us from without. This purpos
was well known and an attack on OH
forces both in front and rear was antic
pated- So admirably. however. had Ger
eral Hughes, the provost marshal genera
disposed of 5000 troops of his comman
that the rising was suppressed whereve
attempted. His action was quick and DE-
CisiNc. Early on the morning of the 5tl
the police companies effectively delivere
their fire upon these assembling organiza
tons that they were dispersed and dl.
couraged. Their loss in killed and wounC
ed could not have been above fifty or sxt!
Suffered Most severe Punishment.
They made no further very dsngeroI
demonstrations until the night OF Februal
90. when they suffered a most severe pul
ishment. The movement on caloocan, Fel
ruarV 10. WAS made with the intention
placing our northern line in better tactic
condition, ana consisted in swinging Il
left of General MacATthur's division TO Il
front. That officer had requested to ,
this shortly after the 9Th inst, but was Il