Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-04
tBy Telegraph to virginia-pilot.)

(By Telegraph to virginia-Pilo
Washington, D. c., Jan. 3,-General
Otis. commanding at Manila, has
cabled the War Department that In his
opinion General Miller has the situation
we'll in hand at noilo and that he fully
understands the purpose of the cPresl-
dent not to crowd the insurgents un-
duly. 1t is highly desirable that hos
tile collision between the American
forces and the insurgents be avoided
at all hazards. at least pending the
ratification of the peace treaty. and al
General Miller understands now this
purpose on the part OF the President,
he will be guided by it and may be
relied upon to resort to force only under
absolute compulstbh.
A SPANISH TRICK.
The officials here are now fully sat-
istied that the trouble at Iloilo may
be traced directly back to the Spanish
colonel who was the senior Spanisis,
army officer in the Philippine group.
and directly in command OF the Visa
yas group. including the principal Is-@
land of Ponay and the city and garrl-
son OF Iloilo. General OTIS reports
show that though besieged with his 800
soldiers in Iloilo by a superior FORCE,
| the position of the Spanish ~ was
thoroughly tenable. They had repuIsed
every attack. of the insurgents and had
iniiicte5 great loss upon the lat md
altogetlier there was no reason TS,y
they SHOULD not have held Gus indsfl4
nitely. ~ 81 TX
This was particularly the case In view
of the knowledge on tho part of tho
| Spaniards that by the terms OF tho
treaty the United States Government
has undertaken to carry them back to-
Spain, involving, of course. their re-
lease from the siege at the earliest
practicable moment. 1t is Significant
| that Rios delayed the evacuation OF Z
lloilo until he became informed that
the Americans We're coming, and there
is curiosity here to learn how that i'm.
portant information reached noilo In
advance of the movements OF the
American transports and In tho absence
OF cable connections. Undoubtedly it,
was conveyed by a vessel and there
legitimacy of the transmission, OF news
of the intentions of the American troopa
in advance in this fashion.
THE FILIPINO PARLIAMENT,
One feature OF General Otis. report
notice of the approaching meeting OF
the so-called Filipino Parliament, which
is to gather. presumably at Maialos
about twenty miles from Manila, ON the
Island of Luzon, Thursday next. A
good deal Of interest is attached to this
meeting. as General Otis reports that
by the attendance the strength OF
Aguinaldo's party can be gagged. That
this is waning rapidly is not doubted,
and General Otis feels that when the
attempt Is made to convene the Pariia-
ment 1t will be found that Agtinaldo
has lest his control Of the majority, and
cannot command even working coaIi-
ton. Such a state of affairs would tend
to make easier the task of the military
authorities OF the United States OF
establishing peacefully q temporary
| form of government for the PHILLIP
pines that will command the support
of the people and receive the approyal s
| of the civilized world.
PROCLAMATION. WITHHELD.
General Otis has not yet published the 4
proclamation by President Mckinley,
which was cabled from Washing ton to s
him about n week ago. Feeling fun
confidence in his Judgment the officials
| here are not disposed to question his
withholding the proclamation from the
| Ftlipinos, though it would seem that
the animating purpose In preparing and
cabling 1t was to sooth and satisfy the
Filipinos. and counterfeit the insi1ionss
attacks the Spanish element has been
making upon the Integrity of the Amer
leans intentions respecting the Philip
pines
DEWEY HEARD FROM:
Admiral Dewey was heard from, brs
cable at the Navy Department to- day.
but made no reference to the political
situation in the islands. He reports
that he had found building suitable
for naval hospital at Cavite, and
asked authority from the department
gathered that there IS an unusual
amount of sickness among the Anerf-
can sailors. but realizing that the naval
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