The San Francisco call., 1899-02-09
NO MERCY IS
TO BE SHOWN
TO ACUINALDO
Otis Declines to Confer With
Him, and He Will Be
Treated as a Prisoner
of War When He
Is Caught.

NEW YORK, Feb. S.-The Herald
Washington correspondent sends the
following: Aguinaldo's revolution on
the Island of Luzon has received its
death blow, and the backbone of the
revolt on the island of Panay been
broken, either by the peaceful or forci-
bic occupation of Iloilo
This is the Philippine situation as
viewed in administration circles The
first conclusion is based upon dis
patches received this morning from
General Otis announcing that Aguin-
aldo's influence throughout the Manila
section of Luzon had been destroyed
and that the insurgent leader had ap-
piled for cessation of hostilities and
conference, which application Gen
eral Otis had declined to answer.
The second is based on the belief
that by this time General Miller, in
command Of the American troops at
1loilo, has received instructions to at
tack and has commenced operations
against that city, and it is expected
that by Saturday dispatches will be
received at the War Department an
nouncing it's occupation by the Ameri-
can forces
No instructions were sent to General
Otis to-day regarding his treatment of
the insurgents, and none beyond those
cabled several days ago and the gen.
eral instructions under which he has
been acting will be forwarded The
President has placed the conduct of
the campaign in the Philippines en-
ttrely in the hands of General Otis and
Rear Admiral Dewey.
The action Of General Otis in declin-
ing to answer Aguinaldo's application
was undoubtedly due to his desire not
TO recognize the self-appointed dictator
In any way nor to give him an Oppor-
tunity TO treacherously reorganize his
forces and endeavor to re-establish his
authority. Aguinaldo will be required
to either surrender himself or he will
be captured by force if it is possible to
do so, but in the latter case he will un-
doubtedly be treated more harshIy than
he would if he were to deliver himself
up to the American troops.
With respect to his followers it is
stated by administration officials that
they will be compelled by General Otis
to lay down their arms and return to
their ordinary avocations.
Should Aguinaldo be captured the
President will give no instructions as
to his disposition unless General Otis
makes a recommendation, and If it
should be apparent that he will be a
disturbing element in the Philippines it
is probable that he will be brought to
the United States as a prisoner of war
and held for a time in military con-
finement.
AS indicating the intention Of the
administration not to send reinforce
ments to Manila, was told to-day that
the quartermaster general had directed
the release from contract of the steam
ers Zealandia and Valencia. which are
now returning to San Francisco from
the Philippines.
On all sides unstinted praise is heard
of General Otis and the officers who
served under him during his brief but
exceedingly lively campaign. His work
and the work of his officers and men
has been effective in every instance and
apparently free from the many petty
complaints with which the department
was annoyed during the previous cam
paign. In every battle there have been
numerous instances of personal hero
ism, and the insurgent army was cut
to pieces with comparatively small loss
to the Americans. In every engage
ment the superb fighting qualities of
the American soldiers have been dem
onstrated, to the surprise and dismay
of the Tagallos.