The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-07
A RIVER OF CORPSEs
MARTHUR'S DIVISION RESTING
AT SAN FERNANDO.
REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO BURN MANILA
Their Feeble Resistance and throwing Away Of
Rifles by filipinos in Flight Lead
Washington to Look for
SPEEDY Surrender.

SP'0uJ Su'''HuS''
Manila. May G.-4:15 p. m.-Major
General Lawton's column advanced to
position two and a half miles north
of Balinag to-day. Before making Il
forward movement General Lawton sent
back to Manila two wounded men of
the Minnesota regiment and one of the
Oregonians, who were hurt in yester-
days fight. beside 20 sick men. They
were sent by way of Malolos.
General Lawton's advance met with
but slight opposition outside of Maasin.
Two thousand rebels who occupied an
entrenched position were routed in short
order.
Many eorpses of rebels have been dis
covered i'm the river at San Tomas.
Scores of rifles and other arms have
been recovered from the river. into
which they were thrown by the retreat
ing rebels.
General MacArthur's division is rest
ing at San Fernando, making in the
meantime extensive reconnaissance.
SPEEDY COLLAPSE EXPECTED.
Washington, May 6.The officials of
the State and War Departments are
looking for a speedy collapse OF the IN
surrection i'm the Philippines. Not
only is this expectation based on the
private advices that have come from the
Philippine Commission as to the negotia-
tions that have been going on between
that body and the insurgents represen-
tatives, but also upon the successful de-
yelopment of MacArthur's and Law
tons campaign. So far as the commits
sion s reports are concerned, they Indicate
that the insurgents have at last recog-
nZed the inevitable break down of their
struggle, and are simply striving, by
protracting their resistance to secure
the most liberal terms possible in the
erection of government in the Philip
pines. They have not in any diplomatic
sense acknowledged the sovereignty of
1.-THE United States, but have recognized
the physical domination OF our military
forces and while they have talked more
Tor less of independence, even at the last
moment, without doubt they will accept
readily any proposition looking to 4
Iprotectorate.
The Presidents instructions, however,
IL
sion understands that it is to take no
action in way of making promises that
will deprive Congress of a free hand in
disposing of the future of the Philippines.
1t is believed that an animating pur-
pose in the Filipino representation is to
make sure that whatever form of govern
ment is adopted will afford lucrative and
| influential places for the many ambitious
Philippine leaders. The Administration
sees nothing in this aspiration lrreconcil-
able with a firm government over the
islands by the United States, the oppor-
tunity for the Filipinos being found in a
liberal provision for municipal and ever
provincial native government in the is
lands. United States officials properly
distributed throughout the islands in SUI
lpervisOry capacities, charged to interfere
as little as possible with local affairs as
long as they are conducted without
abuses. and few garrisons of troops at
strategic points supported by naval con-
tingent, it is thought by officials here.
may prove to be all that is necessary
for the effective maintenance Of the Uni
ted States sovereignty over the islands.
while meeting the native aspirations for
home rule.
The Philippine commission has been
instructed on these points and Presi-
dent Schurman especially, is sanguine
of the commissions ability to bring
about the acceptance of these conditions
by the insurgents.
| Aside from the encouragement CON
veyed by the progress of the peace ne
gotiations, the officials find bright
promise in the rapid development of the
military campaign The press reports this
morning announcing that Lawton is
meeting slight resistance in his movement
northward: that the insurgents are fee
| ing before him and, more important
still. that they are casting away their
arms, are facts tending to indicate the
approach of the end. The throwing
away of arms is claimed by the naval
officers to be the result of the navy's
effort to cut the supply of incoming am
muntion to the insurgents. Without
ammunition there would be no induce
ment to carry along their weapons The
army officers here say that it is either
lack of ammunition or breaking down
of their courage that has led the Fill
pinos to abandon their rifles
Moving northward from Balinag,
where he is reported this morning Law
ton is APPARENTLY converging with his
forces upon Mount Arayat, a distance
of about sixteen miles, the point at the
bend of the Rio Grande, where Otis
Inrplicte1 the inSurpputS woulu make