The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-18
A GENERAL REVIEW
Ofthe Situation at Manila Docs Not
Present q Very Pleasant Prospect.
Character OF the Natives Trcach-

Ofthe Situation at Manila Does Not
Present Very Pleasant Prospect.
Character OF the Natives Trcach-
crouS.
HONG KONG, March 1.-THE follow
Ing general review OF the Philippine sit
uation is from d correspondent OF the
Associated Press at Manila ard has evil
IDENTIFY not been subjected to censorship:
"Thc most remarkable feature Of the
situation is thesinabi,ity of the Ameri-
cans and residents to estimate the
numbers reseuTe anu plans. the
Filiplnos. Prominent generals think
that two or three disastrous battles will
break their spirit and make them
sue for terms. A majority of the Eng
lish and other residents are OF the opin-
icn that the exterminatior OF the Tag
alos is the only guarantee OF peace. that
they can easily be whipped II they
give battle, but that they will dodge Z
nesting with the Americans in force.
Some people tllink they will risk battles
at Malabon and Pararaque, where they
are strongly entrenched and thHt IL
they are Defeated they will resume
bushwhacklng as long as any OF them
are left.
United States Consul Williams says:
I don't expect TO live 20 see the end of
the war. The rebels shift about SO
much that 1t is impossible to estimate
their numbers.
The correspondent questioned several
a., - t1,a Nf ,i,n ahn,1,
and the replies ranged from 10000 to
10000. The estimates of the quantity
OF arms possessed by the rebels are
equally uncertain. The best authorities
say 10000. Large sections Of the arm
ed natives are ignorant Of the use Of
their weapons.
Through and beyond the American
lines 10 rice iielGs. cane and brush. The
rebels are familiar with every inch os
1t and It affords fine hiding PAGES.
The residents say the Tagalos are un-
animously rebels and they predict the
Americans will be resisted at Mindoro
and MirdanGo and that they will be
obliged to subdue them.
Fntthlessness of Natives.
The extent OF the support Which. the
other Luzon tribes are giving Aguinal-
do is mystery. 1t is known that sew
eral regiments were under arms before
the outbreak. but the majority OF them
are supposed to be jealous of the Taga-
los, who are reported to be treating the
other tribes in the fashion OF the
Spaniards, domina ting the island and
holding all the officers.
Reports from the rebels are TO the ef-
feet that the recent tactics OF the Amer
leans In retiring to their established
lines after pursuing makes the rebels
think they are winning victories.
The Oriental character Is so deceptive
that the residents of Manila are ignor-
ant as 10 whether their own servants
sympathizs with the rebels or not. It is
known that rebel organization exists
In the city and the evidence Is growing
that there was widespread plot to as
sassinate the Americans, the signal be-
Ing the commencement OF hostillties.
The servants were instructed to kill
their employers, but they were terror
ized by the vengeance dealt out to Of
tenders and they weakened. Every Tag
alo would have cut his employers throat
IL he dared, at least this Is current
saying.
Aguinaldo's Support.
The Gaithlessness OF the natives IS IL
Illustrated by thc action OF the commits
sioners who came here to offer the al
legiancc OF the island of Negros. It Is
now known that they were In friendly
communication with AguinalGo while
here.
The rebels have been re-supplied with
ammunition and are using smokcless
powder.
Nearly every house here displays n
foreign flag for protection, whether It Is
entitled to It or not. All flags except
the Spanish flag are seen. From the
native huts hang white towels or shirts,
The natives working In the fields
plart white flags on bamboo as q pro-
lection ugnlnst being for active regi-
ments.
Every dwelling between the city ana
the American line Is heap OF ashes,
The residents are the chief sufferers
from IN present state of affairs. Food
commodities have doubled and trcbled
In price and many lines OF business are
at Il standstIN, After : o'clock IN the
everAng denth-likc stiffness prevails
IN the city. except for the footsteps OF
sentrics Or their challenges as an 0csa.
sionai civilian Is halted. Each sentry
calls upon the passing civilians to eN-