The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-01-06

He Prepares TO AtIack-The Insurgents
Ask for Time to Hear From Agui-
naldO-General Miller Refuses

Manila, January 1.-(Sunday.)-The
%ternoon, December 30th, at Iloilo,
Island Of Panay, las just been receiv-
ed here by boat, Geographic communi-
cation at Iloilo not having been re-
sumed:
1.-The situation at Iloilo is grave. Fiji
teen hundred natives, fully armed, are
at Melo, a suburb of Iloilo. Seventeen
thousand more, it is reported, are
awaiting orders to embark at several
points on the island of Negroes, fif-
teen hours sail from Tloilo.
"All the women have withdrawn,
and many families have taken refuge.
with the Americans. The rebels, after
a consultation, insist upon inaction I'M
til General Aguinaldo shall have been
heard from. General Miller, when this
demand was first made, declined to
concede them time and insisted upon
answer being given him by loon to-
day. At the same time he gave assur-
ances that lives and property would
be protected.
1.-The foreign residents then petition
ed General Miller to grant the extern
sion desired by the rebels, as a fight
would cause inevitable loss. This also
General Miller refused.
"At the designated time a native
commission again boarded the United
States transport and asked for delay,
saying that they were unable to con-
troll the army, which commanded the
city and the surrounding country.
General Miller refused and prepared to
LAND forces, sending an emiSSary back
to Manila for Instructions.
THE rebels are Strengthening their
position, and are preparing to resist.
The streets of Iloilo are full of armed
soldiers, who are constantly entering
in every direction. There is great ex-
citement, which is increased by the
appearance of the gunboat Ell Cano,
flying the Spanish. flag. The public
buildings, churches and boats along
the river are filled with rebels.
The Newport'st boats, as the dis
patch boat which carries this message
is leaving, are being lowered with four
machine guns mounted in their bows.
The lighters are alongside the United
States transport Arizona. The United
States transport Pennsylvania lies
three miles to the south with steam
up"
FRIENDS. BUT MASTERS.
Washington, January 1.-(Sunday.)-
The war department today received a
dispatch from General Otis, command
ing the United States forces in the
Philippines, asking. for Instructions on
some questions in connection with the
treatment Of the natives. 1t is suppoS-
ed that the dispatch contains a full
statement of the events at Iloilo, re-
pored in the press dispatches, but it's
text was not made public. The officials
are anxious that the natives of the
Philippines should learn as soon as
possible the true attitude of the United
States government with respect to
them-that of friendship and considers
ation-entirely with a view to better
the conditions which existed under
Spanish rule. 1t is realized that the
islanders are naturally suspicious re-
garding the entrance into their coun-
try and dominion over them Of a for
eign people. and are anxious to know
their intentions. They are IL be given
to understand. said an official of the
administration tonight. that the au-
thority of the United States is to be
asserted over them. but~T ne-sarne
time General Otis ms r,,ctions are to
treat them with ~Mconsideration and
kindness: