The times., 1899-06-06

R Street northwest. He left Iloilo on April
and travelled to Manila, where he went
on board the transport Sheridan. from
which he landed at San Francisco. He
spent some time in renewing acquaint-
ances at the Preside. He visited the War
Department yesterday and paid his re-
spects to many officers there He is on
his way to his old home at Stockbridge,
Mass, and will leave Washington within
two or three days.
General Miller is grey veteran of many
battles and campaigns. Though he is six
ty-four years old. he is vigorous and alert.
His eye is bright, his step firm, and his
grasp strong.
He recounted yesterday to a reporter
for The Times his experience in the Phil
ippines, with especial reference to the
Island of Panay. He has brought with
him many photographs taken in the field
Of his adventures. All of them are inter-
esting views. In reciting the story of the
occupation of Iloilo, General Miller laid
emphasis upon the skillful and courage
GUS work done by the Navy in Panay.
The capture of the capital and chief
cities of Panay gave great satisfaction to
the Administration and TO the American
people. 1t suppressed the rebellious spirit
of the Nisayas. destroyed a source of sup
plies and recruits for the Tagalos and gen.
orally extended American prestige.
1t was during the great blizzard that the
news of the fall of Iloilo reached Wash
ington. Late in the night of Monday. Feb
ruary lS the following dispatch was re-
ceived at the War Department:
Manila, Feb. I3-Adiutant General. Washing.
ton.-General Miller reports from Ilolo that the
town was taken on the Ilth instant and is held
by our troops. Insurgents given until evening
OF llth To surrender, but their hostile action
brought on engagement during the morning
The insurgents fired the native portion OF the
town, but with little loss to the property OF
foreign inhabitants No casualties to any OF the
United States forces reported.
News of the capture of Iloilo was con-
veyed TO Manila, four hundred miles to
the north. by the gunboat Petrol. It was
reported that the foreign residents were
happy over the result and that they well
coined American occupation
General Miller said yesterday that he
left Manila, bound south, on December %
and reached point OFF Iloilo on December
81 He carried with him the Eighteenth
Infantry. First Tennessee Volunteer In
fantry, and Battery G, Sixth Artillery.
His orders were to avoid an engagement.
Ii was in consequence of these orders that
the occupation of Iloilo by the American
forces did not occur till February IL
During the six weeks intervening between
his arrival and the capture of the city,
the enlisted men of his brigade remained
| in their transports. General Miller had
several conferences with rebel leaders on
shore with a view to the surrender of the
| city. but these conferences came to naught.
The rebels said at first that it would be
impossible for them to surrender without
permission from Aguinaldo. At some of
| the later conferences they declared that
| they could not surrender the city without
authority from the central government" 1"
| General Miller said to q Times man that
| the American force had many enemies in
| the city and il was possible that these
! encouraged the rebels in their resistance
to the demand of the American ccm-
mander. There is quite a large Spanish
population there. General Miller said also
that American officers made many personal
friends among the citizens Of Iloilo before
the surrender. The municipal government
granted authority for the Americans to go
| ashore. the officers without being searched
1 II was Insisted on, though, that the en-
listed men should be searched and that
! they should not be allowed to carry arms
| on shore General Miller would not con-
sent that his men should be searched and
| they remained on shpboard until advance
was sounded.
| When General Miller received an order
| from General Otis to take the city, he
notified the insurgent leaders on February
10 that the place would be bombarded, IL
! within twenty-four hours Iloilo was not
| surrendered. When the ultimatum was
| received the enemy went to his entrench-
ments Two warning shots were fired by
the Petrol over Fort Iloilo, which stands
on the south of the city and faces Iloilo
| Straits. The enemy sprang to his guns
as though bent on desperate resistance
! Then the Baltimore, the Boston, and the
Petrol opened up. The enemy was soon
discouraged and his military spirit brok-
en-. The rebels fled from their ertrench-
ments. landing party, under command
of Lieutenant Niblack of the Navy, put
of from the ships landed. and advanced
1 northward into the city as far as the plaza.
\ The rebels had retreated beyond this
point and the landing party covered that
| part OF the city in which most of the for
| eigners live.
General Miller had landed. and behind
him came the valiant old Eighteenth In
| fantry. Reaching the plaza. the troops
| saw fames and smoke spreading like
prairie fire through the native section
| Niblack. pointing to the northeast, said to
| General Miller: They are burning and
\ looting as they flee" The infantry ad-