The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-13
ACTION BEFORE c LoocaN.
AguInaIdo May he Capturcd-Filipin
Losing Courage.

Washington, FEBRUARY ll.-uenerai
Olis had anoth victory to record this
morning and though the action before
Caloocan did not result in ne heavy loss
to the American side as the battle Of last
Saturday night and Sunday morning, 1t
is believed to have been quite important
In results. Cslcoocan is ON the lima Of
raj road connecting Manila with Maloios
the ipsurgent capital, and 1t may be that
the capture OF the first named town will
make IL possible to advance rapidly by
rail upon the insurgent headquarters ii II
shall be deemed necessary to forcs the
fighting and undertake the capture of
A guinaldo. The officials hero were en-
couraged today by General Otis's quota
ton of the opinion of creditable persons
among the Filipinos 1t is understood, to
the effect that Aguinaldo no longer has
the power to keep the insurgents under
his lead, as this points to al early sub
mission OF the insurgents to the American
government None will BIZ allowed to
come into Manila. however, until they
have laid down their arms for g cd. As
for Agu,naldo 1t 10 now believed that he
will refuse to the last to make terms tina.
would meet with the approval of General
Otis and that when the insurrection falls
through he will escape to the continent
rather than remain In Luzon
In response to resolution Of inquiry
the secretary Of war today sent to the
Senate n statement from the surgeon gen
ersl In regard to the health Of conditions
Of the troops In the Philippines. He says
been as high as II per cent but that II
| is believed that the average has seldom
exceeded 10 Fer cent. He also says that
climatic conditions do not appear SO faI
to have been attended with unusual NOR.
tally. He adds that mslarial diseases
have caused no deaths and gives the total
death rate ~ shown by the returns fol
July. August, september and October ~
equal to 1886 per thousand, which Is only
slightly in excess OF the rate in garrisons
In the United States In time Of peace.
More than half the deaths were caused by
typhoid. There Is also an exceptional
number of cases of venereal diseases.
Inc report SHOWS tuht uioooeob VI tut
respiratory organs are less frequent than
in the United States The report only
covers the time up to the end OF October
but the surgeon general says that small
pox has appeared since that time In soUs
Of the regiments and that the death rats
has been relatively higher from thi,
cause Referring to the prevalence Of thii
disease, he says: ''Ths climate is no,
responsible for this outbreak, which ought
speedily to be suppressed by vaccination,
| isolation and disipfection. "
The latest literary outbreak of the Eli
ipinos now in Washington in giving out
for publication letters purporting to have
passed between General Otis and Aguin.
aldo, has rather strained the patience Of
the administration. After the flight OF
Agoncillo ant some of the junta to Can.
ada, one Of the remaining Filipinos
now In town was sick ana the
other was here to care for him.
SO on humane grounds it was well to lei
them remain unmolested. But their latest
offense has brought them under considera-
ton again and IL was officially stated
today that If they persist in their propa.
gands they will be expelled from th q
country.