The times., 1899-02-10
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 10, 1ss9.
Now for Uoilo.

Today General Miller will make de-
msnd for the surrender of Iloilo, in the
Island OF Panay. BY this time he will be
re-enforced by the First Tennessee R5gi-
ueut. though even with this he will be
greatly outnumbered by the native army.
Il is expect ID that We shall know the result
of the mo 'ement on Monday. General
miller has repeatedly affirmed that he
could cap.ure the place without difficulty
or delay. and it shows the extraordinary
patience of the Administration and Of our
soldiers that for many weeks the expedi-
tion has been in sight OF the outposts OF
the enemy and yet remained in the dis
comforts OF transport living rather than
provoke an engagement By landing
Il should be understood that the natives
who are in possession OF I!oilo are not
part of Agrinaldo's army. Their insurrec-
tion against Spanish authority was spon-
taneous They are mostly Visayas, with a
few wild men from the hills. They fought
desperately against the Spanish garrison,
and we're repulsed many times. When the
SPANISH commander surrendered the town
he confessed that he could still have held
from Madrid. The Spanish government
obviously wanted TO bring about a conflict
between the natives and the Americans.
and we're disappointed only because OF the
delay of the Senate in the ratification OF
the Treaty General Miller went TO Iloilo
in the expectation of receiving the Spanish
surrender. but was few hours late, the
garrison having left to join another Span
ish force farther south. He asked the
Visayas TO give up the post, but they re-
fused, and for time they were bitter and
insulting. They threatened 10 loot and
burn the city if they were unable 10 hold
it. Il was not until the American expedi-
tion appeared that the insurgents recog-
nized Aguinaldo in any way. Then they
asked his advice about General Miiler's de-
mand.
Since then the Visayas have had a new
governor. who was said to be more favor
ably disposed toward the Americans. He
succeeded in allaying the bitterness OF the
native soldiers. and squads Of Americans
who went ashore were able to form friend
ly relations with them. It is this fact that
leads TO the hope Of a surrender TO Cen
eral Miller without fight. This is the
more to be expected because OF the lesson
inflicted on Aguinaldo's army. II is posi-
ble. however, that these people, like the
Tagalos, are still under the delusion that
the Americans intend to enslave them, or,
at the very least, to restore the oppressive
methods of Spain. They may believe that
having resisted the first demand of the
American commander, they will be regard
ed as rebels. and will be shot il they fall
alive into American hands. 1t was tiis
that made the FiIipinos fight so valiantly
on Sunday.
The flag of truce of Aguinaldo, which
General Otis wisely ignored, is construct
rs an evidence of the Generalization Of the
army that suffered so heavily in Sunday.
battle and desire to effect peace. TGC
Filipino generals. probably with Aguinald,
I'll their head, understood General Otis re-
fusal to talk with them to mean that they
would be treated as rebels or outlaws
They had hoped TO escape from the fury o.
their betrayed and deluded followers
through the protection of the American
commander. They are now reported tC
have fed fast and far into the interior
There appears TO be one considerable Eois
of insurgents who were not in Sunday
fight now in front of General McArthur's
division, where they are showing the same
aggressive spirit that the defeated troops
exhibited for so many weeks. Last even
ing they kept up fire on the Americans
for half an hour They are said to be il
need OF such lesson in good manners a,
their predecessors received. and they wi
probably get it.