The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-11-01
SKIRMISHES CON NTINUED
Colonel Bells Regiment Battles
With the Filipinos.
Scouting the Country Daily, Killing Fill
plnos In Every Encounter and Making
Prisoners of Otbers-The American
Prisoners Are Being Well Treated.
Return of the Spanish Commission.


Prisoners Are Being Well Treated.
Return of the Spanish Commission.
MANILA, Oct. S1.-Three companies
Of Colonel Bells regiment have had
two encounters with the insurgents
near Labam and scattered them The
insurgents left four officers and eight
men dead on the field and the Ameri-
cans captured three prisoners and sew
eral guns On the American side one
American was killed and two officers
and six men were wounded
Captain French took a reconnoitering
party beyond Labam after he had met
the enemy and was reinforced by Ma
jor Bishop with two companies. The
insurgents brought up cavalry rein
forcements and there was a second
fight, during which their leader, Major
Salvador, was killed and many were
wounded and carried away.
Colonel Bell has been given free
hand around Bacolor He has so
mounted men scouting the country
daily and they are killing many Fill
pinos in skirmishes
The Spanish commission which en-
tered the insurgent lines a month ago
with money TO relieve the wants of
several thousand military and civil
Spanish prisoners, has returned TO An
geles. The commissioners report that
they spent most of the time in Tarlac
and the vicinity where there are some
200 sick Spaniards in the hospital. The
Filipinos ill-treat and ill-fed them, re-
fusing to surrender them, as well as the
other Spanish prisoners, in the hope
of compelling Spain to recognize the
independence of the islands.
From Tarlac to Bamban, about two
thirds of the way, the commissioners
travelled by train, on the Manila-Dag
upan railway. The remainder of the
journey, from Bamban to Angeles, they
made on foot, escorted by handsomely
mounted Filipino cavalry. They were
received between the outposts by a
member of General MacArthur's staff
and were brought by train to Manila.
There are II American prisoners they
say at Tarlac all of whom are well
treated. Lieutenant ]. c. Gilmore Of
the United States gunboat Yorktown,
who fell into the hands of the insur-
gents at Baler, on the east coast of
Luzon, last April, where the Yorktown
had gone on a special mission to re-
lieve the Spanish garrison, is at Din
gat.
The commissioners have brought a
letter to General Otis from a relative
of the murdered Filipino General Luna
who wishes to avenge the assasslna-
tion by Aguinaldo's officers and who
asks a personal interview with the
military governor.
According to their statement, Aguin-
aldo, who is still at Tarlac, with 5000
troops, wishes to continue the war.
although he has a high opinion of the
American officers and soldiers. Cen
eral Lawton he calls Eel General de
La Noche" (The Night GeneraD, be-
cause that commander has attacked
him so often in the darkness that he
never knows when to look for him.
Aguinaldo is said to be well supplied
with arms and ammunition and he is
able to get plenty of rice from the
northern provinces.
With the Spanish commissioners came
a large number of women and children,
bringing a wagon train load of baggage.
These are the families Of eight prom-
nent officers of the Filipino army who
recently applied to General Otis for
permission to send their families to
Manila. Upon the receipt of the mill
tary governors reply, the nature Of
which has not been disclosed the wo-
men and children started under es-
cort from Tarlac for the American
lines. When they arrived General
Macarthur compelled them to halt
about a mile beyond our outposts
where they will remain while their
credentials are being examined.