The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-02

Manuel Argueleses and Lieutenant
Jose Bernal, chief of General Luna's
staff, entered General MacArthurs
lines, bearing a flag of truce. They are
enroute for Manila by train to confer
with General Otis regarding terms Of
surrender.
6:25 D. m.-The Philippine advance
for peace nave been fruitless. Colonel
Manuel Argueleses and Lieutenant
Jose Bernal, who came into General
J. MacArthur's lines under a flag of truce,
told General Otis that they were rep
resentatives of General Luna, who had
been requested by Aguinaldo to ask
General Otis for a cessation Of HOSTILE
ties in order to allow time for the sum-
moning OF the Philippine congress,
which body would decide whether the
people wanted peace.
General Otis replied that he did not
recognize the existence Of a Philippine
government.
There will be another conference to-
morrow.
The Philippines came down the rail-
road track to the Kansas regiments
outpost at 9 o'clock this morning. The
Kansas captain in charge there es-
corted them to General Wheatons
headquarters, where they were pro-
-vided with horses and sent to the
headquarters of General Macarthur.
The latter invited the Philippines to
ysit down at lunch with him, and con-
versed with them for some time. He
refused, however, to speak authorita-
lively on the subject of their errand,
referring all inquiries to General Otis.
Tho philinninnC Wnra then escorted
by Major Mallory, Of General MacAr-
thurs staff, to Manila, reaching this
place at 3 o'clock p. m.
General Otis aide, Lieutenant Sla-
den, was awaiting their arrival at the
depot with a carriage in which they
were driven to the palace entrance.
The Philippine officers attracted
much attention. They were dressed in
uniforms of checked blue and white
cloth, and wore straw hats. They car
ried no side arms. They were escorted
directly to the office of General Otis.
Jacob j. Schurman, president of the
Philippine commission, and Hon. Chas.
DENLY, a member of the commission
soon joined the party there.
The news of the arrival of the Phil
ippine officers under a flag of truce,
spread through the city rapidly, and
many officers gravitated to the corr1-
doris of the palace, while a crowd of
natives SdlHeI6u III lie SqudIe, OPpo-
site the palace.
At 5 o'clock the two Philippine Off
GERS, escorted by Lieutenant Sladen
and Major Mallory, left the palace.
They did not look at all elated as a
result of their talk with General Otis
and the members of the Philippine
commission.
1850 p. m.-Aguinaldo is evidently Sc
lecting the army as a cloak for his con-
gress, hoping by subterfuge to over
come General Otis consistent policy
of ignoring the Philippine government
The Philippines argument is that it is
impossible to arrange an armistice
without the sanction of the congress
General Otis punctured this assump-
ton by remarking hat if AguinaldC
could make war without the congress
he could stop it without reference tC
that body.
While the insurgents are u~ndoubted.
ly tired of war, the leaders are tori
with dissensions.
There is a suspicion that it was hop
ed by means of a conference to as.
certain what terms they could expect
If they saw tina anything is to be
gained by continuing the war, an ar
mistice would afford them an oppor'
tunity for recuperating their demon
allied forces.
1t is an interesting commentary upor
Aguinaldo's scheme that only sixty o.
the 300 members of the Philippine cor
gress have taken the oath of allegi
ance which their constitution requires
PHILIPPINE PROCLAMATION.
A Philippine proclamation, replying
to the proclamation of the American
commissioners, has appeared. 1t i
signed Madini, for the president and i
dated at Caniasdro, April 18th. 1t i
in the usual grandiose style and de
cIares that President Mckinley issue'
the proclamation in order to force tn
American congress to ratify the ceS
sion of the islands under the treaty o
Paris. This contract of cession wa
made with the S~paniards after Span
ish domination had been ended by tn
valor of our troops" the proclamatio,
asserts. The proclamation complain
that the Philippines were not repre-
scented at Paris during the negotia
ton of the treaty, and that they az
without assurances of the fulfllmer
of the American promises. 1t dilate
upon the alleged Anglo-Saxon hatre
of blacks and asserts a desire to er
slave them. Deploring a lack of foreig
aid in prosecuting the war, the procls
nation concludes: I'VE stand alon
but we will fight to the death. COMM
generations will pray over our grave
shedding tears of gratitude for the
freedom"
MORE FIGHTING.
Yesterday furnished added proof tn;
the United States troops nave a fe:
of b~ushwhacking that is above the
fear of battles. The Washington reg
ment which is holding Taguig, wi
three companies of the Twelfth reg
lars, engaged a large force of insu
gents il a fight in the jungles. T
Americans lost two killed and Il
wounded.
The Philippines nave been massil
at the mouth of the Pasig river n
is estimated that there are 1000
them now there. They have nouns
two guns-one a three-inch Krupp-a-
have thrown a number of shells in
the American lines. The gunboat Nal
to the river, shelled a launch viii
was carrying supplies.
Y, srday a large force of rebels a
pro- d the town, seemingly be