Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-09-28
GENERAL OTIS us SATISFIED.
He Says in an Interview That
Things are Moving Nicely
in the Philippines.
HAS PLENTY OF SUPPLIES
Aguinaldo's Offer to Release Amerl-
can Prisoners Thought to be
Sympathy Dodge.

tives Will Tire Of Independence.
Reports Of DissensiOn Among the
Native Troops. :.
Manila, Sept. 26.-Gen. Otis said In
regard to the Filipino offer to release
certain American prisoners that he be-
lieved it was intended as bluff to
play on the sympathy of foreigners.
Gen. Otis as has been stated before has
repeatedly released Filipino prisoners
OF war; in fact, he has already set over
1000 of them at liberty.
In order to test Aguinaldo's good
faith, the Spaniards have asked Gen.
Otis to authorize the sending of a
steamer to Dayupan to get the Spanish
prisoners there and transport them to
Spain. Aguinaldo had offered to re-
lease these prisoners. Gen. Jaramillo,
who is in charge of Spanish affairs,
said that at the beginning Of August
the natives had 6,700 Spanish pris-
oners, including 400 officers. Since
that time 30 per cent. of the prisoners
had been starved. Each man gets only
five cents day for his food allowance.
Gen. JaramillO recently received a
letter from Gen. Pena, who surrender
ed Cavite. dated ut VIgan, urging the
Spanish Commission to use every en-
deavor to secure the release of the
Spanish prisoners. Among other things
he said: i'If this thing does not end
in Il few months, there will be few lett
to tell the tale
The Filipinos have abandoned San
Francisco de Malabm and Noveleta,
IA
of linus. This may mean number of
things. One conjecture is that they are
tired: another that they mean to at
tack Calamba. where Gen. Hall has his
headquarters.
A newspaper correspondent had a
long interview with Gen. Otis about
the state of affairs in the Philippines.
The General. in reply to questions.
said
Things are going along in 4 very
satisfactory manner. Our OWE forces
are in good condition. We,have plenty
of commissary supplies here or on the
way We also have all the transporta-
tion facilities necessary either here or
on the way. When the weather condi-
tions permit we shall be ready to make
an active campaign.
THE Filipinos are having Il hard
time holding their forces together.
They have no commissariats and no
voluntary support from their'own peo-
pie.
Reports are constantly coming to
me from all parts of the island show
ing dissension. decentralization and dis
integration among their troops and the
dissatisfaction of the people with the
'insurrcctionary government
Letters come to me daily from per-
sons of education and intelligence, men
of property and prominence among the
FIlipinos. asking me to send troops to
protect ms from our army They call
their army of liberation nothing but
bands of robbers and cutthroats.
"The southern and northern prov
inces have repeatedly begged protec-
ton from me. have replied to these
people: What's the matter with indie
pendence: Go back and enjoy il Il
while longer
III is not surprising that the Fill
pinos thought they could whip the
Americans. They defeated the Span
ish under Gen. Iaramillo at Zapote and
they licked Gen. Rios at Novaleta
when they were armed only with bOlos.
They expected to repeat this perform
ance with us.
"Aguinaldo had eight months in
which to organize his campaign. He
accomplished n great deal in that time.
He sent his Tagals to every island of
any size and Importance throughout
the archipelago and got his government
operating so thoroughly that the people
cannot fail To understand what such
government means"