The National tribune., 1899-06-01
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
IN THE Pnn.IfriNEs.


On the 23d instant thS 3dIt. s., returnin
to Balignag from San Miguel, were at
tackled morning, noon and evening by
large force Of the enemy, suffering in casu
alties two men killed, and, 13 wounded
enemy repulsed, leaving op, field 10 killed
large number wounded and prisoners.
The next day the enemy appeared Il
the vicinity San Fernando, and was al
tackled by the Kansas and Montana regl
ments, which suffered slight loss. Enem
driven through rice field, leaving 30 dead
3S wounded and % prisoners; Sd rifles ant
other property captured. Their retrea
through swamp lands saved them from
destructi0 Lawton at this time has
begun 10 return, leaving with MacArthu
on the front Regular troops to replace
volunteers.
On the 26th scouting party OF Ameri
can troops encountered a body OF IN
SuryentS at Santa Ifita, and the Amer
cans being reinforced by Brighten. run
ston with the South Dakota regiment,
warm fight ensued. Lieutenant ant
five men of the American force wer'
wounded and 10 of the insurgents wer'
killed and several captured.
Much is being said now regarding th'
inadequacy of the American force in Lu
zon, not in the matter OF defeating th'
Fiiipinos, but in that of properly covering
and holding territory once conquered
This "inadcquacy" is said TO De re
Sponsble for the large total loss in the
number of small encounters, without ma
terial results as compensation. The
forces commanded by Gems. Macarthur
and Lawton hold two important lines o
communication and commerce, the ran
road to San Fernando and the lh0 Grands
River. But much OF the country they
have swept, including scores OF the
smaller towns and some of the large
ones, has been left uncovered simply fo
want of men to hold it, and the insurgents
have returned and are occupying the
towns the Americans abandoned, and are
camping i'm the jungles and woods Outsidt
of others, on the watch for chances u
haraSS the garriSOnS and attack Scoutinl
parties or detached companies with
greater forces. This is the kind OF war
fare they prefer to regular battles.
Mai.-Gen. Otis has officially asked
volunteers to re-enlist for six months
according TO the act of Congress bearing
on the matter.
Gen. Macarthur is in favor of the e1'
pertinent OF enlisting the Macabebes
against their old enemies, the Tagals.
THE CUBAN DISARMAMENT PLAN.
States Government having, they believed
settled the question of disarmament, pre-
rarad on May 81, at 10 o'clock, to pay the
Cuban soldiers and see their arms in re
turn delivered to the representatives 0l
the alcallcs. According 10 the latest re
ports froIh Havana few men took advan-
taae of tne offer. Col. Acea, VINO was
once member of the staff oGthe late Maceo,
during the latter partIDf the week quietly
disbanded his force df 301imen, who went
horne with their arms, resolved neither to
accept the provision s6f SIS per man nor
wait LONGER in a condition Of suspense.
Gen. julio Sanguillyi said: oar officers
and men realize th6 imposSIDillty ol re-
sisting tie Americans il IL resort to force
should bs had, but tney earnestly wish to
retain the; arms which are rightfully theirs,
and il VIII be source ot animosity ii
they are rot allowed 40 do 80.
Gen. R!is Rivera was pp Saturday IN
ducted i,io the office Of Civil Governor oi
Havana. tHe was inIIfavana to receive
the arnss and with ilimTwere a repre-
Of Gen. E,miez, four or nvc
Cuban Officers and seferafreporters. Hall
a dozen american cIdrlls .lmith-the rolls OF
the Cuba,i army, sat at IL ,Iong table at the
HEADQUARTERS OF the 8th t&agiment.. Il, ..
1t was anown tnnt them were few Gu
ban soldiers in Havana proper, ana %heh
they failea to appear to claim the goid, he
remarked that they probably would ap-
pear at osher places in the Province 70
get IL. :l'fr -
The representative of Gomez, who has
been actiag with the latter in the inter
views with Gov.-Gen. Brooke, took Il
pioDny view OF the affair. He SAID the
had made a mistake IN stipu-
lating that the Cubans must give up Their
arms, as this had caused "a bad impre =
sion amon:g the Cubans.
r. -. .tN,,. Hoo. In Ia
he some .. Gen. Mayia Rodriguez's staff,
had in THE meanwhile assembled. They
smiled at zach other, twisted their NOUS
taches anil grew confident as the quarter
hoIirs passed and no soldiers appeared.
Finally they jeered in a quiet way at the
whole proceeding.
During Saturday seven Cubans were
maid in Havana. The c;,bal OF the mem
hers of the former Military Assembly to
prevent the soldiers from accepting the
gift of the United States and giving up
their arms was successful, therefore, so
far as Havana is concerned. 1t Is too
early to predict what will be done in
other cities and in the interior, but the
are that the money will not
be asked for to any great extent. Some
arms may possibly be turned in volun-
tarily.
AFFAIRS IN SAMOA.
Admiral kautz VIII return 10 the Unltcd
States with his ship and the cruiser
Newark, Capt Casper F. Goodrich, now
due at Valparaiso, and expected at Apia
about the middle of' June. The Phila-
deIphia will reach Sar Ffincisco June 25.
Capt. Goodrich, as wekt as Admiral Kautz.
is regarded as one ot the most capable
and discreet officers in the United States
service and as one who can be safely in
trusted with the care and protection of
the United States interests in the Samoan
Islands or elsewhere.
The Samoan Commission consisting
of Bartlett Trip. former United States
Minister TO Austria-fiungary Baron
Speck Won Sternberg, representing Ger
many, and c. n. Eliot, C.. B., of the
British Embassy at Washington, repre-
sen,ing Great Britain) held its first sitting
on May IS. Nothing was disclosed re-
gardine the deliberations, but it was re-
ported that they will uphold the action Of
Admiral KautZ.
Mataafa sent the Commissioners a letter
of welcome, and expressed hope that they
would satisfactorily end the trouble in
Samoa.
The rebels remain outside the lines in
dicated by the Admiral, and have strongly
fortified new position, while the Ioyalists
are being drilled and have fortified
Miinuu. -. ....Tf
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