The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-04-07
A RECONNAISSANCE.
1t Develops the Fact That Filipinos
Are Preparing for Defense.
THE OPINION OF DR.. SCHURMAN.
The Chairman of the Cummission Th,nk-
the Population wni soon Declare for
the United States-The Proc
IamHtion Issued

IamHtion Issued
Manila, April 5-Gen. Macarthur
reconnoitered IN force yesterday morn
ing, with the Montana regiment, the
Fourth cavalry and two guns of the
light artillery, as far as the river north
of Malolos. The reconnaissance de-
veloped the fact that there are fully
1000 Flipinos, armed with Mauser ri
tles pre- pairing for defense. Shots were
exchanged, and two of the Montana
regiment were wounded, but there
was no engagement. Later in the day
Gen. Macarthur moved northward, as
the water supply of Malolos is made
quate. The belief is spreading among
the residents here that the effect of
the capture of Malolos, the former
rebel capital. followed by the procla-
nation of the United States Philippine
commission, will be to convince the ma
tives sthatAguinaldo's bubble has burst.
The insurgents are massing strong
forces north of Calumpit, about 81
miles northwest of Malolos, and ac-
cording to the observations of the re-
connoitering parties, they have fine
entrenchments there. 1t is expected
that hard fighting will be necessary to
dislodge them at that point and at San
Fernando, where Agunaldo is sup
posed to be. Large rivers strengthen
both positions. Twenty-Five men
were prostrated by the heat and
brought to the hospital.
Two new Krupp guns, one six-inch
and the other eight-inch, which were
found buried at Malolos will be
mounted. The Americans have also
found 27,007 silver dollars.
DIR. Schurman, president of the COM
mission, said; 'rhe Filipinos have
been asking INCREASINGLY, What do
you propose to do for us" The proc
lamation answers the question, and it
should satisfy them"
Col. Charles DENLY, "A member of the
commission. and former minister To
China, remarked: ''It is the most inn
portant proclamation since the declar-
alton of independence. Spanish, Tag
alo and English versions have been
printed, and it is proposed to circu-
late them about Malnloe and at oil
the seaports They will be sent to
lne ldhe JOWnS DN gun OOAJS.
The committee of Spaniards, under
the leadership of Senior Antonio Fuset,
president of the Spanish club, has had
little success with the expedition or
ganized To deliver money and stores to
Spanish prisoners The members of
the expedition were obliged to give
the goods to the Filipino officers at
Batangas, The boat had letter from
Aguinaldo directing the Filipino
officers to aid the mission, but Gen.
Trias, commanding the Filipino forces
in the southern provinces, and his
subordinates declined to recognize
Aguinaldo's authority. A committee
whose embers are of all nationalities,
in Manila, headed by John Mcleod,
an Englishman, has been organized
for the purpose of interviewing the
Filipino leaders and petitioning for
the release of the prisoners in the
name of humanity.
THE OPINION OF DIR. sCHURM AN.
Washington, April D. In accordance
with the expectation of the war depart
ment the Philippine commission has
now resumed full activity. 1t was
deemed inexpedient for the body to
undertake to influence the insur-
gents while the latter were acting
under misguided influences and couse-
quently unapproachable. Now that
Gen. Otis campaign has probably con-
vinced the Tagals OF the impossibility
of standing before the American
forces, it was deemed timely to
address the insurgents again in the
hope that they could be brought to
see the uselessness of further strug-
gle against the United States arms
The state department was notified
yesterday by a cablegram from DIR.
Schurman, president of the Philippine
commission, that the expected procla-
nation would be issued that day. He
stated that the document would be
about 1900 words in length. He says
the recent victories have had a good
effect everywhere. With a growth of
general feeling of security, the pop.
ulations will doubtless declare for the
United States. "The Philippine peo-
pie" says DIR. Schurman, seem dis
couraged by the yalorous, swift and
irroeisti bIa fnovamanta of tha Amar.i