The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-13
VIEWS OF CORRESPONDENTS
ONE THINKS THE FIGHTING ABOUT
MANILA HAS JUST BEGUN.
Army Officers of the Opinion that
$4,000 Men VIII BE Needed-FiIipi-
nos Not Capable of seIf-Ruie.

MANILA, April 12-General Wheaton
started at day light with the Tenth Penn
sylvania and the Second oregon Regiments
and two guns to drive the rebels from the
Amrican right flank between The railroad
and the foothills. lie met with slight re-
sistance near Santa Maria and had enc
man wounded. but the enemy bolted when
shelled by the artillery and burned and
abandoned the town of Santa Maria. where
one thousand rebels were reported TO have
been concentrated. During the rest of tire
day the enemy was in fuu retreat towaTcs
the mountains. burning the villages be-
hind the retreating sorce. Occasionally a
few of the rebels cropped To the rear and
fired at the advancing American troops
from the jungle, apparently with the idea
that this would check our advance and
cover the retreat of the Fipinos. But
finding these tactics Intellectual. the rebels
scrambled after the main body. The Amer
lean guard along the railway has been ma
terially strengthened, and it is not likely
the rebels will succeed in getting in as close
quarters as they did yesterday even If they
return from the mountains.
This evening General Wheaton teleg-aped
to Major General Otis saying: They would
not wait TO be killed"
General Lawton is securing the vicinity OF
Santa Cruz. He finds the rebels have de-
camped He has secured gunboat, six
launches and two cascoes. comprising the
Filipino feet. These vessels were stuck in
the mud of the river. Lawton's command
also captured the villages OF Pagsajan and
Lumbar yesterday with some resistance at
the latter place. The mouth OF the river.
commanded by Lumbar, was effectually
blocked against the entrance Of the sum
boats. Shells from the Laguna de Bay
drove most OF the insurgents in flight up
the mountain side. A small force remained
in an old church, Offering resistance until
it was rushed by the troops. About fifty
were captured and several killed. There
was one casualty among the Americans.
that being an arm wound. Santa Cruz and
Pagsajan are now guarded by the men OF
the Fourth Cavalry. Part of the Four
teenth Infantry, with General Lawton, are
in Lumbar.
WORK OF THE COMMISSION.
The United States Philippine commission
is hearing the leading residents Of various
nationalties, priests and Spaniards, numbers
of them appearing voluntarily, On the subject
OF future OF the islands. The questions put
to all are:
do you believe the FiIipinos are capable
of self-goyernment in the townships2
do you believe the Filipinos are capable
Of self-government in the provinces?
do you believe the Fflipinos are capable
of self-government in the archipelago?'
All of those who have been interrogated,
including Fflipinos who sympathize theoreti-
cally with the independence movement. have
replied TO the third question, with remark
able unanimity, I'm the negative. Independ-
ence they say would result in chaos, end
less tribal wars and European Intervention.
a few OF them think that provincial self
government is practicable, but most OF them
favor self-government In the townships, with
a form OF American supervision protecting
the inhabitants against the peculations and
extortions which their experience with the
Spanish regime has led them TO coasider the
natural perquisities OF officlaldom.
The commercial classes urge the sending OF
detachments of American troops. each num-
bering about 100 men. TO take possession or
towns in the southern provinces and In the
Visayas islands. now held by small bands
of Tagalos. They declare the natives find
the Tagalo oppression worse than Spanish
oppression, and that they will welcome the
Americans. The case OF the Inhabitants OF
Gubat is cited as a typical instance. The
Spanish taxes amounted TO S1s.O00. but the
rebel Tagalos extort $ll20o from the people
OF Gubat. Aguinaldos brother-in-iaw. the
provincial governor, IS said 10 be despoiling
the country.
General Luna. who retired from the COM
mand OF the Filipino forces and who was
editing a newspaper at San F-arcssco lei
Monte. his retirement being lue 20 the fact
that the F1lipinos rebelled Al his rigid disci-
pIine. has been recalled 10 his command.
This is taken as showing shat the rebel army
Is only kept together by harsh measures.