The evening times., 1899-03-10
AMERICAN TROOPS
WARMLY RECEIVED
T81
Rejoicing Of the Natives on
Their Landing at Bacolod.
Colonel Smith Carried Ashore ;nd
Given a Banquet.
Exchange of FeIicitOus Messages BE-
tween General Miller and
President LascOn.

New York, March 10.-The Herald"
prints the following special dispatch dated
Bacolod, Negros Island, March 4, via Ma
Mia, March 8:
After a pleasant voyage the ST. Paul,
carrying the deputation from Negros Col.
James F. Smith, the first American gov
ernor, and the First Battalion of the Cali
| fornia Regiment, Major Shines command
ing, arrived at Iloilo on March 3. AS the
vessel entered the harbor at midday it
found the artillery in action and General
Milier's command advancing into the CO.
coanut plantations at the right of the line.
/ learned from officers on the cruiser
Boston that General Miller, fearing an or
ganlZed and strong attack upon the town,
had requested assistance in landing. Cap
tain Wilde was unable to accede to this re-
quest owing to the fact that a portion of
the crew was at Cebu.
1t was at first expected that the Califor-
mans would land and assist General Mil
! ler's forces, but on landing | met General
Miller returning from the front and learn
ed that it was only false alarm.
Iloilo was terribly wrecked by the insur-
gent incendiaries and presents scene OF
havoc and desolation. Magnificent resi-
dences and great warehouses were totally
destroyed.
General Miller and his staff are conf
dent they can hold the town. The insur-
gent strength is not definitely known, but
il is believed that there are two thousand
men armed with firearms and two thous-
and bOlas They follow similar tactics to
those at Manila, dropping irritating shots
into the American lines throughout the
night, but never appearing in sufficient
strength to justify resolute forward
movement Few casualties rpnOrfpd
The st. Paul proceeded to BacOlod. and
arrived at noon today. Company landed
with Major Shines and myself. We found
native guard of honor drawn up on the
beach. President Lascon, OF the local ma
tive government. whose party had arrived
late the previous night, re;eived us. The
inhabitants were amicab'< disposed. The
American flag was alreaay flying from an
unfinished convent. All was prepared for
the reception of our troops.
Captain Milly of the Signal Corps land
ed Immediately. and within half an hour
had reopened communication with Iloilo by
cable
The following message was sent over:
The Governor. Congress. and inhabitants OF Ne.
gros TO General Miller, llolo:
We affcCtiOHdtelr salute you and Congra tulatc
ourselves upon the happy arrival OF Colonel
smith and the troops, under your orders and
beg sou To send this salHtation and c0ngTat,Iia
lions TO General OTIS. Manila. the representa-
tive of the Government CT the United States in
the Philippines. ANICETo LACSON.
Later in the afternoon Colonel Smith
landed. He was received with full militia
ry honors by the native and American
troops, native band playing a salute on
the beach. Colonel Smith was most cor
daily and enthusiastically received. and
as he has full power to establish native
administration under American control il
will be interesting to watch THE expert
ment TO gain the good will OF the native
race and establish peace again in these
beautiful islands
Smith Carried Ashore.
AS the landing is extremely difficult. the
natives carried Colonel Smith ashore from
launch in a bamboo chair. amid the re-
newed and ringing cheers of the assem-
bed populace.
Bacolcd is a small town with an appar-
emily prosperous country behind, mostly
richly cultivated, the landscape presenting
mixture of Oriental iuxuriant vegetation
and Occidental cultivation. 1t has the
prettiest situation / have yet seen in the
Philippines.
The behavior OF the American troops to-
ward the natives is admira BILE The bat
talon consists of Companies A Capt John
F. Connolly and Lieut.. E. Dallinger: B.
Capt. George Filmer and Lieuts. B Stur-
tevant and a. +. Ramon. Z, Capt William
Robertson and Lieuts. ]. Jordan and r.
Howard: H. Lieuts. E. Davies and T.
O'Brien: Surgeon Major w Mccarthy and
Lieut.. John West, adjutant and quarter
master.
Was the First Ashore
Mr.. Biddle, volunteer aide to General
Miller, was first ashore swimming from
the launch through a heavy surf There
are about two hundred armed natives
here. The Remington is the chief weapon.
The attitude OF the natives outside the
town is not definitely known. but is be-
lieved to be friendly.
Upon their arrival at the government
house Colonel Smith and President Lacson
exchanged cordial speeches. Thereafter
President Lacson entertained the Ameri-
can officers at brilliant dinner. During
its progress the following telegram was
received from headquarters:
llolo. March l.
President Lacson: Just received Your ssluta
tIon on my return from beyond Jano Am moro
ihan pleased with the cordial reception which
has been given TO Colonel Smith and his com
mand by the government. congress, and inhabit.
ants of Negros. | feel that great blessings are
assured our people and these obtained in .
peaceful manner. thanks to you all Your mes
sage has been forwarded TO General Otis and IN
two days will reach the Congress and tbe pres;
dent of the United States, and the whole world
NJ. NJ. MILLER
Brigadier General, United States Army, Com.
manding.
CONGRATULATIONS From Baxo.
The following message was received from
Bago All important coast town of Negros:
Military Chief. First Division of the South and
Commission at Bacolod.