The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-09-28
MANILA MATTERS
Signs of Weakening in
the Insurgents.
Ensign Davidson's Work on the untoat
Paragua Commended-Death of
Co onel mey.

NEW YORK. Sept ia cable TO
gent majors entered the American
lines yesterday under a flag of truce.
They visited General Macarthur and
offered to release sixteen American
prisoners. including Lieutenant Gill
more and his men from the gunboat
Yorktown, who We're captured at Ba-
Ter on April Il last. In return they
merely asked permission to send these
prisoners through the lines. accompa-
MED by Filipinos, who desire to confer
with General Otis. The request was
granted and the insurgent officers re-
turned to their lines this morning aft
er promising that the prisoners would
be released in a few days No mention
was made of an exchange of prisoners,
and the insurgents are evidently de-
sirous of showing their magnanimity.
General Otis has consistently followed
the policy of releasing Filipino prison
ers of war, retaining only their arms.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19.-Secretary
Root today received a cablegram from
General Otis that seemed to indicate a
weakening on the part of the insurg
ents in Luzon. 1t contained prOffer
to deliver the American prisoners who
have been for so many months in the
hands of the insurgents, and also
sought permission to parley with Cen
eral Otis.
This cablegram was at once taken
by Secretary Root to the Cabinet meet
ing and formed the main topic for dis
cussion at the beginning of the Cabi-
net session. However, upon reading
the message carefully it's apparent i'm
portance seemed to diminish.
1t is pointed out as noticeable fact
that Aguinaldo's name does not appear
in General Otis dispatch, and though
this may not be of great significance,
still, among some of the army officials
it is surmised that there are serious
dissensiOns among the insurgents, and
that perhaps some of the diScOrdant
elements are acting on their own re-
sponsibility. The text of the dispatch
follows:
MANILA, Sept 19-Adjutant Gen
eral, Washington: Macarthur reports
from Angeles visit of two insurgent
officers with request for permission to
send into our lines American prisoners
and to send to Manila prominent in
Surgent general officer for conference.
The requested interview granted and
the insurgent officers at Angeles re-
turn north this morning with the in
formation. OTIS"
1t is supposed that the prisoners re-
ferred to are Lieutenant Gilmore and
ma rf Of tooc
are the only Americans in the hands
of the rebels, unless the Filipinos have
captured a few privates who from
time to time have been reported miss
ing.
Abiding to General Otis dispatch
regarding a conference with the in
surgents, three of the Cabinet mem
bers, after the meeting, expressed their
opinion that too much significance
should not be attached to Aguinaldo'S
proposal.
WASHINGTON, Sept 19-The Navy
Department has received the following
cablegram from Admiral Watson, da-
ted Manila, Sept. IS:
Davidson, on the Paragua, had
sharp engagement on the 14th at San
Fabian, Lingayen Gulf, with about 800
insurgents heavily intrenched at a dis
lance of from 100 to 700 yards. The
insurgents fled. Their fire was weak
and ineffective. On the Paragua there
were no casualties. The senior COM
mends Davidson
The Paragua is one of the little gun
boats turned over to the army by Ad-
miral Watson, and Davidson, the COM
mander, is young ensign. The scene
of the battle was on the north coast of
Luzon, off the port which forms the
northern terminus of the railroad.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19.-Lieuten-
ant Colonel John D. Miley, inspector
general of volunteers, died today at
Manila. The information reached the
War Department in cablegram from
General Otis. His death was due to
cerebral meningitis, attendant on ty-
phoid fever. Colonel Miley's rank in
the regular army was first lieutenant
of the Second Artillery.