The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-04-27
HELD BY TACAL0S
A Small American Force Cap
tured by Rebels.
"A LIEUTENANT IN COMMAND
Ambushed and Fate Unknown
Names-All From the Yorktown.
Perhaps Ransom.

WASHINGTON, April 19.-The Navy
Department having requested a correc-
tion of the portions of Admiral Dew
ey's dispatch of yesterday which were
not decipherable was today able to fur
nish the full text of the dispatch, which
is as follows:
MANILA, April 1S.-Secretary Navy,
Washington: The Yorktown visited
Baler, LuZon, east coast of LuZon, p. l.,
April ~, for the purpose of rescuing
and bringing away the Spanish forces,
consisting of eighty soldiers, three Of
ficerS and two priests, which were sur
rounded by four hundred insurgents
Some of the insurgents armed with
Mauser rifles, as reported by natives,
Lieutenant j. c. Gilmore, while MAX
ing an examination of the mouth OF the
river in an armed boat, was ambushed,
fired upon and captured. Fate un-
known, as insurgents refused to COM
municate afterward. The following are
missing: The officer previously referred
to; Chief Quartermaster w, Walton,
Coxswain J. Ellsworth, Gunnersmate,
Fl J. Hygard, Sailmakers Mate Vend-
git. Seaman w. H. Rynders and G. w.
Woodbury.; Apprentices d. w. A. Ven
vile, ]. Peterson, Ordinary Seamen r.
Brisolese and o. B. Mcdonald, Lands
men l.. T. Edwards, F. Anderson, J. Dill
Ion (of Honolulu), and G. A. Morrissey.
DEWEY.
The officials of the Navy Depart
ment are confident that such of the men
of the Yorktown as escaped being killed
outright in the first ambuscade will be
we'll treated by the Insurgents.
The department has sent no instruc-
F! tions to Admiral Dewey as to the course
he shall pursue, believing that he is
| fully competent to deal with the situa-
ton and resting secure in the assur-
ance that he will spare no efforts TO
rescue Gilmore and his men if they are
alive.
AS soon as Secretary Long had in
formed the President of the contents or
Admiral Dewey's message Instructions
We're sent to the Admiral 20 use every
effort to secure the release of Ileuten-
ant Gilmore and the enlisted men, who
are reported to be missing, either by
ransom or in exchange for some OF the
insurgents held by the American for
oes. General Otis and Admiral Dewey
have about 1,6OO Filipino soldiers in
their possession. Aguinaldo's we'll
known reputation for feathering his
own nest leads to the belief, however,
that he Will prefer to listen to over
lures for the purchase of the freedom
OF he AN ericans.
The President has at his disposal
three million dollars for extraordinary
|expenses and some Of this money can be
used in ransoming Gilmore and his com
panions if they are still alive. AL
ready the suggestion has been made
that the efforts of Admiral Dewey to
effect the release of the captured men
may open way for cYertures for peace
from Aguinaldo.
There has been a great deal OF mys-
terry as to the purpose for which the
three million dollars was secured, and
it is not beyond the bounds OF prob
ability that part or all of 1t may be used
to persuade Agllinaldo that his cause is
hopeless. With AguinaldO out Of the
way the backbone of the uprising VIII
be broken. according to the belief here.
1t was said today that the suggestion
that So 900 900 be offered to Aguinaldo
had been made to the government, but
the War Department authorities pooh
pooh the idea, although they are eX-
| ceedingly reticent in discussing it.