The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-14

.
BATTLE.
Hong Kong, February 1.-THE Phil
ipino junta here have issued the fol-
lowing statement:
"a Manila steamer has arrived here
with the American censored version of
the fighting which is utterly false. The
Americans commenced hostilitieS by
! the treachery of General Otis, stimuli
| taneously by land and sea. Aguinaldo
possesses a signed guarantee from the
! American commissioners that there
would be no hostility on their part.
! Hence the Philippine troops were rest
/. ing and many Of the Philippine officers
were at the theatre on Saturday night
! and were arrested shortly before the
outbreak The bombardment of the de-
fenseless towns of Malate, Paco, Santa
Ana and Malabon caused frightful
slaughter among the women and chill
dren. 1t is estimated that 1000 of them
I were killed. The Philippine forces,
/ whose loss was comparatively small, te-
naciously held to their positions. The
! conduct of the Americans in the sub
! urbs was outrageous. They compelled
! the inhabitants to leave their houses
and then shot them down, regardless of
sex.
There is a, reign of terror at Manila
! Civilians are shot in the streets with
out being challenged. The Iloilo COM
| missioners arrived at Manila at the
! they were starting to return the Amer
! lean soldiers were loOting and pillag
ing.
"Aguinaido sent commissioners to in
quire of General Otis the reason for
| the hostilities, Offering summary pun
ishment if the Philippines were found
to be at fault. He received no salts
| faction. The Americans are apparent
ly determined on a war of extermina-'
ton, similar to their doings in Carolina
a ~ %I,o -
mankind and Of civilized warfare and
committing a .nonstrous outrage on
civilization.
There Is no doubt that the action of
| General Otis was political move to
| influence the vote of the United States
senate fearing an exposure of the cor
| ruptions at Manila. Four vessels are
leaving Manila to lombard Iloilo."
SATURDAYS FIGHT.
Washington, February 11.-General
Otis had another victory to record this
morning, and though the action before
| Caloacan did not result in as heavy
a loss to the American side as the bat
tie of last Saturday night and Sunday
morning, it is believed to have been
quite as important in results. Caloa-
can is on the line of railroad connect
ing Manila with Malolos, the insurgent
capital, and it may be that this cap
ture of the first named town will make
| it possible to advance rapidly by rail
upon the insurgent headquarters if it
shall be deemed necessary to force the
fighting and undertake the capture Of
Aguinaldo The officials here were en-
couraged today by General Otis quo
tation of the opinion of credible per-
sons, Philippines, it is understood, to
the effect that Aguinaldo no longer has
. the power to keep the insurgents under
his lead, as this points to an early SUBJ
mission of the insurgents to the Amer
, lean government. None will be allow
ed ito come to Manila, however, until
they have laid down their arms for
| good. AS for Aguinaldo, it is now be-
lieved that he will refuse to the last
to make terms that would meet with
| the approval of General Otis and that
. when the insurrectionfalls through he
will make his escape to the continent
, | rather than remain in Luzon.
, A CABLE FROM GENERAL OTIS.
Washington, February 1.-THE war
department today received the following
, | dispatch from General Otis:
: Manila, February H.
2 'McArthurs division is north OF
Pasig river. Yesterday his left wing
2 | Otis brigade, made a partial wheel tc
| right, resting left of the brigade or
s | Caloacan, where the insurgents who
/ were in considerable force were sharply
driven, leaving good many dead
e Troops in excellent condition, supplied
= with all necessities. Hospitals not
? withstanding wounded, have fewer pa
l tients than before engagements of 4tl
= and 5th instants. Yesterdays engage
. | ment most successful. Belief of ole
= residents that Aguinaldo will be unabl,
y to gather in future any considerabl,
d force. OTIS"
$ ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE
? FIGHT
e Manila, February 12-11:15 a. M
: yesterday afternoon a reconoiterins
g party of the Fourteenth infantry CAM
$ upon large body of the enemy il
: the jungle near camp Dewey. Tn
rebels were attacked and fell upon tn
|. main line of the insurgents The Four
d teenth infantry, the North Dakota vol
: unteers and the Fourth cavalry thel
8 engaged the enemy and drove then
toward the beach, where one of tn
z gunboats received them with a fusil
e lade from automatic Colt guns. TIL
: enemy's loss is severe and they scat
: tered along the beach, seeking cove
from the fire Of the Americans Pri
: Yates Ransom, Hensel and Saunders
f of company F, of the Fourteenth in
: fantry, and two troopers of the Fourtl
?, cavalry were wounded The bodies O
: two members OF the California regi
d ment were subsequently found in tn
s bush to the right of the line They ha,
d been shot to pieces by the enemy. On
s OF these bodies was identified as tha
e OF Private Abnepham, but the othe
: has not yet been identified
London, February 1.-THE Europea1
e Philippine 5unta received today a lon,
= telegram from Agoncillo, the agent o
n Aguinaldo, dated from Montreal. an,
declaring that he left Washington il