The record-union., 1899-05-04
Americans Fighting for the Bridge, and
Rebels Burning the Village.
Peace Proposals Of Filipino ENJOYS,
Who Now Admit They Came
From Aguinaldo and Not Luna,
Rejected by General Otis, the
Latter Again Refusing to Rec
ognize the So-Called Insurgent
Government.

MANILA, May 3 (noon).-General
Macarthur is now 'assaulting the town
of San Tomas, about five miles north
west of Calumpit The Americans are
fighting for the bridge and the rebels
are burning the town.
PEACE PROPOSALS REJECTED.
MANILA, May 3, 10 p. m.-There was
conference lasting two hours to-day
between Major General E. s. Otis and
the ENJOYS who came here from Gen
eral Antonio Luna bearing a proposal
for a cessation of hostilities.
General Otis adhered to his refusal to
recognize the so-called government of
the insurgents.
The Filipinos now ask for a truce of
three months to enable Aguinaldo to
summon the Congress and consult with
the insurgent leaders on others of the
islands. The ENJOYS admitted the con-
tention of General Otis that Aguina do
has little control over affairs outside
of the island Of Luzon.
The question of the release of Span
ish prisoners in the hands of the FL
ipinos mentioned, Major General Ar
guelles the chief member of the dap
utation, said that he considered them
as being in the same category with the
Americans, the United States being the
successor Of Spain in dominion over the
islands, and acquiring by treaty all
Spanish rights and obligations.
After the close of the conference with
General Otis, the Filipino ENJOYS had
consultation with the United States
Philippine Commissioners.
ENJOYS OF AGUINALDO.
MANILA, May 3, s p. m.-The Fill
ipino ENJOYS, Major Manuel Arguelles
and Lieutenant Jose Bernal, have
abandoned the pretense under which
they came to General Otis that they
represented General Antonio Luna, and
to-day they announced that they came
as representatives of Aguina do hims If.
The two emissaries used all their wiles
to secure a reply from General Otis to
the letter from Senior Mabini, Aguinal-
dos Prime Minister and Minister of
Foreign Affairs in the dictator's Cab
met, which they presented to General
Otis yesterday, but General Otis refused
to make any reply on the ground that
to do so would be equivalent to a rec
ognition of the so-called government of
the Filipinos
Arguelles said that Aguinaldo knew
he would be overpowered in time, but
that de would be able to continue the
fight for months, and that he would do
so unless he were given what Major
ArguelleS termed peace with dignity
Mr.. Schurman, the President of the
United States Philippine Commission,
expresses the opinion that the inter-
views accorded by General Otis to the
Filipino representatives will have
good moral effect as tending to con-
vince Aguinaldo's representa- yes that
the American authorities mean to give
the Filipinos a good government and
not one of the Spanish sort Certain Y
it has had civilizing influence in in
ducing them to observe the amenities
of war and consent to the Americans
furnishing food for American prisoners.
The exodus of natives from the insur-
gent lines continues.
By filling in the roads where it was
required, putting canoes on the rivers
and blowing fields south of Malolos. the
army is in a fine position for the ex-
pected decisive blow
General Macarthur has moved his
headquarters to San Vicente, across
the Rio Grande. General Wheaton's
brigade has advanced beyond Calum-
pit General Hale has returned to CO.
operate with General Lawton
At Bahbog last evening there was a
running fight, during which one SOL
der was killed and three wounded.
The rebels scattered before General
Lawton and General Hale. Yesterday,
while Captain Wheeler. with a detach-
ment of the Fourth Cavalry. was COW
covered large body of rebels at Pull
liam The cavalry opened fire, but
there was no response Thinking that
the rebels wanted to surrender Lieu
tenant Bell went forward to parley
with them. The F1lspinos replied that
they did not wish to surrender, but
that they had been ordered to refrain
from fighting during the negotiations.
They asked what Lieutenant Bell want
ed, and in response We're given half an
hour in which to retire, which they i'm
proved.
A Spanish prisoner who escaped into
the American lines reports that after
General Hale's advance on Quingan,
200 Filipinos were buried, thirty-five in
one trench and twenty-seven in an
other This is the largest number Of
rebels that have been killed in any en-
ghgement for several months.
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS HOPE
Full OF PEACE.
WASHINGTON, May g. General
OTIS made no mention in his report to
the War Department to-day of the
progress of the negotiations with the
insurgents for the cessation of HOSTILE
ties, but that fact did not abate the
confidence of officials in the ultimate
success of the pending attempts to ar
rive at an understanding
There is a belief at the War Depart
ment that the Filipino leaders are thor
oushly discouraged. and it is suspected
that the next step in the peace negotia-
lions will be a wholesale effort on the
part of individual Filipinos in the insur-
gent ranks to make terms for them
selves. without reference to others
Meanwhile there may be some small
engagements between the outposts, but
nothing like a general battle is expect