Iron County register., 1899-02-16
uO|IO IS IN OUR HANDS.
The Place was Captured by the
American Troops on Satur-
day, the nth Inst. )
aAO TO Be sonBARoED AWHILE FlssT..


The Retiring Fliipinos Fired the Native
Portion of the City-Foreign Property
Mostly Saved by the American Troops
Who Were Promptly Landed-N" CAS-
uaities on Our Side Reported.
Manila, Feb. IA, 9:45 a. m.-Ihe =
United States gunboat Petrol arrived
late last evening with dispatches from
Brig.-Gen. NJ. p. Miller to MaJ.-ueh' -
Otis, announcing that Iloilo had been
taken by the combined military and
naval forces on Saturday morning
Gen. Miller, on receipt of his instruc
tions from Manila, sent native com
missioners ashore from the Umteu
States transport St. Paul with com
munication for the rebel governor oI
Ioilo, calling upon him to surrender
within time stated, and warning MIN
not to make a demonstration in the IN
terval.
The rebels Immediately moved their
guns and prepared to defend their
position. Thereupon the Petrol fired
two warning guns, the rebels lmmeul-
ately opening fire upon her Inc
Petrol and the Baltimore then bonn
barded the town, which the rebels,
having set on fire, Immediately e'acu-
ated.
American troops were promptly
landed and extinguished the fires III
all cases of foreign property, but not
before considerable damage had been
done.
1t is believed that the enemy's loss
during the bombardment was heavy
Great Satisfaction Felt In Washingtou
Over the Capture.
Washington, Feb. 1.-THE press dis
patch announcing the capture by the
American troops under Gen. Miller of
noilo, on the Island of Panay was the
first news received in this city of the
fall of the second largest city in the
Philippines. The announcement was
promptly communicated to the presi-
dent at the White House, and it was
read with qualification. Half an hour
later the official intelligence of the
fall of the city came in a cable dis
patch from Maj aj.-Gen. Otis, which
Adjt.-Gen. Corbin promptly authorized
to be made public. 1t follows:
Manila, Feb. Is, 1899.
Gen. Miller reports from Iloilo thas
the town was taken on the 11th inst,
and held by troops. The insurgents
were given until the evening of the
11th to surrender, but their hostile ac-
tions brought on the engagement dur
ing the morning. The insurgents.
fired the native portion of the town,
but little losses resulted to property
of foreign Inhabitants. No casualties
among the United States troops re-
ported.
Otis"
There is a feeling of intense salts
faction among such of the admins
tIation officials as are aware of this
battle. Considerable apprehension
has existed, not, however, as to the
ability of the Americans to take the
place when they decided upon this
step. but as to the loss of life which
this might incur. The tension bet
ween the opposing forces at Iloilo has
been for some time at the danger
point. and Il collision between them at
any time would not have been surprls-
ing. 1t is felt here that Gen. Miller
has conducted himself with great cir
cumspection in treating with the ma
tive, as their attitude has been any
thing but conciliatory. and petty an
noyances have been resorted to by
them to provoke the Americans.
About month or SO ago the officials
here and in the Philippines deemed 1t
wise to dispatch an expedition to lloilo-
because of rumors that the natives
were gathering in that and neighbor-
ing localities. and were threatening to
take the city. Gen. Miller, who was on
duty with the major general COM
manding the troops at Manila, was Sc
lected for this duty, and several regi-
Inents of infantry were forwarded
conveyed by an American man-of-war.
Before they reached Iloilo the Span
iards, who then occupied the town,
had surrendered it to the insurgents.
who Immediately occupied it. When
the troops attempted to land they were
notified by the insurgents that such n
course would precipitate n battle, and
Gen. Miller, under his instructions to,
pursue conciliatory course, held his.
men aboard the transports. The men
became tired of this, and about two
weeks ago the Fifty-frst Iowa reci-
ment was sent back 10 Manila, and
the First Tennessee was sent to Iloilo
to replace it. AS soon as the latter ar
rived it is believed Gen. Miller decided
to force landing. The desire of the
administration has been that the ma.
fives should submit to the American
demands and avoid forced fight. but
1T appears that up to the last moment
they could not be so persuaded.