The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-08-30
CONDITIONS IN
THE PHILIPPINES.
How the Insurgents Have
Killed Time and Gained
Their End.
OTIS STOPPED M'ARTHUR's
ADv2NcE-wRAT IS NEED
ED.
OTIS STOPPED M'ARTHUR's

ED.
Manila, July %, via San Francis
co, Aug. 24.-In Manila talk of the
ending of the war deals no longer
with weeks, but with months and
even years Among the mass ol
people here, military men and for
eign residents, there is but one
opinion. The whole effort of the
insurgents for three months was to
hold off the Americans until their
ally, the rains. came. In this they
have beer as successful as they
could have hoped. Unless affairs
take same unforeseen turn, the Fiiipi-
nos will resume the war this fall
with fresh spirit aud replenished
stock of arms and ammunition One
ship load Of arms, j. is learned on
good authority. has reached them
within this week. Of money the
leaders of the insurrection nave no
lack. They control the resources OF
8 large and exceedingly rich coun.
try and even though no crops were
harvested for several years they
could still obtain enough cash and
supplies BY impressing to their use the
treasures of the church, the store
houses Of farmers and manufacturers
and funds of private Individuals
system of levy which they have long
enforced to considerable success All
the ships coraing and going into the
ports recently opened to trade pay
heavy tribute 30 the insurgents
Much of the profits Of this inform
al sort Of government are supposed
10 go into she pockets of the leaders.
except Aguinaldo, who is generally
acquitted Of enriching himself by the
present war !; bu. when the public
treasury becoms empty the poli.i
Clans who are exploiting Aguiualdo,
may, if they Gee possibility of sue.
cess, consider the war good private
investment.
Reports brought through the lines
to Spaniards aud Filipinos in this
city are that the spirits of the insur-.
rectionists are improving.
Americans. like the Spaniards,
must defer to nature and ress on their
arms most of the time while the
country is mud wallow. The gen
erals are telling their followers that
American inaction during the past
month is due to Encouragement and
decentralization The Filipino SOL
diers. according to these informants,
are tolerably contented Although
the paymaster seldom appears they
are living as comfortably as they
have been accustomed to, being
clothed and receiving rations which
an American soldier could not live
ON, chiefly rice with only occasional
" little fst or meat They are
fairly well housed, having taken
possession of che dwellings and pub.
lie and church buildings in the towns
in which they are quartered, and they
add to their living by looting.
Through the American secret ser
vice come different stories, that the
Filipino army is becoming decimated
by desertion to the humber of 20 or
80 q day and are fast losing heart
and are on the verge of disruption
Past exp=rieoce with she secret ser
vice jussidss suspicion that macy of
It's empioyes, most OF shom are natives
or spsaisres, sre deeply Interested 10
holdlcg their places by seeming to earo
tbeis pay. while the refugees who come
through the Iioes have been disposed
to give reports which they think will
please the authorities. Almost since
the beginaing of tie var they have
pictured the Filipino army 90 its last
legs and It's collapse bu, question of
days. Gen O:is caused the country to
be p!soarded With aa offer of $50 for
each iosurgeas rias volu :,sriiy sor-
rendered Ii the Filipino soldiers we're
deses.iag By companies. tired of war
aod converted to American rule. many
Of them might be expected to brig
their guns to the American lines AID
receive .he reward The entire harvest
frou tbs eGer. however. has been less
than 100 euus.
There wss .ine wheo Agulo oaldo's
biggest asmy hung 10 the balance.
when It's destruction appeared ineyi
table. That Vas when Mac cAr,hur had
captured $50 Fernando and Lawson
vas marching upoo SAP Isidro wish the
Filipspos scattering before him Law