Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-18
EXTENT OF OUR SWAY
New Government Established in Seven I'm
portant Philippine Towns
Insurgents Constantly Deserttng-The
COmmissiOners Confederate the
Report of Gen. Otis.

The State Department yesterday received
from the Philippine commission an impor-
tant dispatch conveying these facts:
BY the cooperation of the military and
the commission, municipal governments
have been established in seven important
towns in the provinces of Manila and Ca
vite These are working admirably, and
one good effect of them Is that considerable
numbers of the insurgents are constantly
deserving and coming in. some of them
with arms.
The system will soon be extended to
other towns which are asking for it. Con-
tinued success in this direction will mean
the beginning of the end. The commits
sioners state that the general situation is
as described in the message Of General
Otis of the 18th of June, except that a
number of ports in the southern part of
Luzon, in Leyte and other islands to the
south have since then been opened to
trade.
Dispatches from DR.. schurman on his re-
turn from his trip through the southern
part of the archipelago were of the same
purport. A disposition to accept American
sovereignty and to welcome our troops was
everywhere manifested.
The Report of Gen. Otis.
The report of Gen. Otis Of the Goth of
June, referred to by Commissioner DENLY
consequence of the rainy season little ISL
and campaigning was now possible in Luz
ION. 1--WE occupy" said Gen. Otis. "a
large portion of the Tagaio country.
The lines stretch from linus on the south
to San Fernando on the north, nearly sixty
miles, and eastward into the Laguna pro-
vince. The insurgent armies have suffered
great losses and are scattered. The only
large force which holds together is about
1000 in Tarlac province and northern Pam
panga. There are scattered forces in bands
of fifty and 800 In other PORTIONS of Luzon :;
in Cavite and Batangas provinces they
could possibly assemble as many 1900.
They are demoraized from recent defeat.
The most of the people are terrorized by
the lnsurgent soldiers, but desire peace and
American protection. They no longer flee
from our troops unless forced by insurgents.
but gladly welcome them There has been
no recent burning of towns.
'fThe population within our lines has be-
come dense, taking up land cultivation ex-
tensively. They are kept out of Manila
as much as possible, as the city population
was becoming too great to be cared for
The only hope of the insurgent leaders is
in aid from the United States.
''They proclaim the near overthrow of the
present administration. to be followed by
their independence and recognition by the
United States. This is the influence which
enables them to hold out. Much conten-
ton prevails among them and no civil gov
eminent remains.
lie ttddS Win poItS IioN III uut poSStS~
sion the former source of insurgent rev.
euues, is now interdicted.
General Otis doubted the wisdom of this
policy as people in those ports are without
supplies or food and the merchants suf-
fering losses.
He meditated at that time the restoration
of trade privileges although the insurgents
might reap some benefit from it, plan
which has since been partially carried into
effect. The courts are in successful opera
ton under the direction of able Filipinos.
Affairs in the other islands are compare
lively quiet. awaiting results in Luzon. All
were anxious for trade, ard repeated calls
for American troops received He is giving
his attention to the Jolo archipelago and
the Palawan Islands.
Gen. Otis speaks of the general desire Of
the volunteers to re-enlist. He has provid-
ed for the enlistment of the two regiments
which have been authorized, and has asked
permission to organize a third regiment