Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-05-11
PEACE ENISSARIES.
They Stated That They Came as
Representatives Of Aguinaldo.
MACARTHUR ASSAULTIyG San TOMAS
The Americans Fighting for the Bridge
and the Filipino Insurgents Burning
the Town GunbOats Patroiling
the Southern Islands.

Manila, May 4.-The Filipinos, Maj.
Manuel Arguelles and Lieut.. Jose Ber-
nal, have abandoned the pretense under
which they came to Gen. Otis. that they
represented Gen. Antonio Luna, and
yesterday they announced that they
came as representatives OF Aguinalds
himself The two emissaries used all
their wiles to secure reply from Gen.
Otis to the letter from Senior Mabini,
Aguinaldo's prime minister and min.
lister of foreign affairs in the die
tator's cabinet, which they presented
to Gen. Otis Tuesday; but Gen. Otis
refused to make any reply, on the
ground that to do so would be equiva-
lent to a recognition Of the so-called
government Of the Filipinos. Maj.
Arguelles said that Aguinaldo knew
he would be overpowered in time,
but that he would be able to continue
the fight for months, and that he would
do so unless he were given what Maj.
Arguelles termed peace with dignity.
The conference lasted two hours yes
F, terday between Maj. Gen. Il. 5. Otis
and the ENJOYS who came from, Gen.
Antonio Luna bearing proposal for
cessation of hostilities Gen. Otis adj
hered TO his refusal to recognize the
so-called government of the insurgents.
The Filipinos now ask for 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 Gen. Otis that Aguinaldo has
little control over affairs outside of the
island Of Luzon. After the close of
the conference the Filipino ENJOYS had
a consultation with the United States
Philippine commissioners.
Mr.. Schurman, the president Of the
commission, expresses the opinion that
the interview accorded by Gen. Otis to
the Filipino representatives will have
good moral effect, as tending to con-
vince Aguinaldo's representatives that
the American authorities mean to give
the Filipinos good government and
not one Of the Spanish sort. Certainly
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 in
surgent lines continues BY filing in
the roads where it was required put
ting canoes on the rivers and blowing
fields south of Malolos, the army is in
a fine position for the expected decisive
blow.
Gen. Macarthur has moved his head
quarters to San Vicente, across the Rio
Grande. Gen. Wheaton's brigade has
advanced beyond Apalit. Gen. Hale
has returned to cooperate with Gen.
Lawton. At Balibog Tuesday there
was running fight, in the course of
which one American soldier was killed
and three were wounded, The rebels
scattered before Gen. Lawton and Gen.
Hale.
A Spanish prisoner who escaped into
the American lines report that after
Gen. llale's advance on Quingan 200
Filipinos were buried, 80 in one trench
and 27 in another. This is the largest
number of rebels that have been killed
in an engagement for several months
Gen. Macarthur is now assaulting
the town of San Tomas, about five miles
northwest of Calumpit. The Ameri-
cans are fighting for the bridge and the
rebels are burning the town.
The gunboats Princeton and Petrol
left Manila yesterday morning to pa
troll the southern islands.
A brief cable message to Admiral
Dewey from the commander Of the
Bennington reports that on April 20 |
he found three schooners on the beach |
at San Jose on the eastern side of the
island of panay. The insurgents
promised to surrender, but during the
night they crowded into the schooners
and the next dav offered resistance.
The Bennington shelled the schooners