Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-05-08

Gen. Macarthur is now assaulting the
town of Santomas, five miles northwest
of Calumpit. The Americans are fight
ing for the bridge and the rebels are
burning the town.
Represent Aguinaldo.
Manila, May 4.-The Filipino ENJOYS,
Mai. Manuel Arguelles and Lieut.. Jose
Bernal, have abandoned the pretense
under which they came to Gen. Otis
that they represented Gen. Antonio
Luna, and Wednesday they announced
that they came as representatives OF
Aguinaldo himself. The two emmissa-
ries used all their wiles to get reply
from Gen. Otis to the letter from Sen
or Mabini, Aguinaldo's prime minister
and minister of foreign affairs in the
dictators cabinet, which they present
ed to Gen. Otis Tuesday; but Gen.
Otis refused to make any reply, on the
ground that to do SO would be equlVa-
lent to a recognition Of the so called
government of the Filipinos.
Mai. Arguelles said that Aguinaldo
knew he would be oyerpoWeredS i@
time, but that he would be able to con-
tinue the fight for months, and that
he would do so unless he were given
what Maj. Arguelles termed peace
with dignity"
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.
When the question of the release OF
the Spanish prisoners in the hands OF
the Filipinos was mentioned, Maj. Gen.
Arguelles, the chief member Of the
deputation, said that he considered
them as being in the same category
with the Americans, the United States
being the successor of Spain in do
minion over the island and acquiring
by treaty all Spanish rights and obll-
cations.
After the close of the conference
with Gen. Otis the Filipino ENJOYS had
a consultation with the United States
Philippine commissioners.
Mr.. Schurman, the president of the
United States Philippine commission,
expressed the opinion that the inter
views 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 a civilizing influence on in
ducing them to observe the amenities
of war and consent 70 the Americans
furnishing food for American prison
ers. The exodus of natives from the
insurgent 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
expected decisive blow. Gen. Mac
Arthur has moved his headquarters to
San Vincente, across the Rio Grande
Gen. WheatOn's brigade has advanced
beyond Apalit.
Gen. Hale has returned to cooperate
with Gen. Lawton. At BalibOg there
was a 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. While Capt. Wheelock, with a
detachment of the 4th cavalry, was
covering Gen. Hale's advance, he dis
covered a large body of rebels at Pull
Ian. The cavalry opened ire, but there
was no response. Thinking that the
rebels wanted to surrender, Lieut.. Bell
went forward to parley with them.
The Filipinos replied that they did not
wish to surrender, but that they had
been ordered to refrain from fighting
during the negotiations. They asked
what Lieut.. Bell wanted and in reply
were given half an hour in which to re-
tire, which they improved. A Spanish
prisoner who escaped into the Amerl-
can lines, reports that after Gen. Hales
advance on Quingan, 200 Filipinos were
buried. This is the largest number OF