The National tribune., 1899-05-25
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
IN THE PHILIPPINES.

Although there has been much fighting
since the first proposition of the Filipinos
for an armistice, yet it is confidently be
lieved that the end of the insurrection Is
quite near. On May 20 Gen. Del Pillar
GraciO GOrZaga, of the Filipino cabinet
Lieut.. Col. Alberto BarretO, Military Advo
cate, and Maj. Zealcita, OF Aguinaldo's 5
staff, arrived at Manila TO cooperate with
three citizens of that place as Il commits
sion to negotiate peace. They held a con
sultation and later requested OF Gen. Gus
that an armistice be granted by the
Americans until the people can be con
suited upon the question of peace or a
continuance of the fighting.
Previous to this there were contradictory
statements about the conditions under
which the FilipinOs were fighting and
their disposition. 1t was stated that 1Or
several days the Filipinos had been Will
ing to secure peace on any terms, ana IL
was even stated by some of the delegates
that if AguinaldO did not agree to terms OF
peace, the Filipino Government would
promptly repudiate him. The Filipino
Commission on May 6 voted to name
peace commission. A report from Span
ish prisoners at San Isidro was that the
insurgent leaders Luna and Del PIlar
were alone in favor of the continuance Oh
the fighting. They declared the fliipino
troops were demOraliZed, and Aguinaldo
influence waning and his spirit broken,
blaming himself for the miserable con-
ditiOn of his country and AFRAID TO sur
render
There was more fighting during the
week but it was mostly of spaSmodic
character. Gen. Macarthur remained at
San Fernando, while Col. kobbe advanced
and opened communication with Gen.
Lawton.
The authorities at Manila and in Wash
ingtOn are suspicious OF the Filipino over
lures for peace, although they believe that
the insurgent army is really anxious for a
termination of hostilities. Gen. Otis, re-
spending to the Filipino Commissioners
on MAY 20, refused to consider the ques
ton of an armistice, and stood firm ior
unconditional surrender. The Commits
sioners will see the Philippine COmmis-
sion. Meanwhile, Lawton and Col. kobbe
will continue to pursue AguinaldO and his
followers.
THE DIFFICULTIES IN CUBA.
There has been considerable difficulty
as to the disarmament of the Cuban sol
dierS. The officials understand that the
source Of the trouble lies with the Cuban
Generals, who are not likely to realize so
much out of the money appropriation as
they thought they would Some OF these
officers were members OF the late SO called
Cuban Assembly, which denounced
Gomez, and constantly raised obstacles
in the way OF peaceful disarmament OF the
Cubans and settlement Of affairs. The
officers who are to pay the money when
the arms are received must be assured of
the money going TO the proper persons;
many of the Cubans cannot write their
own names, so reliance, it is expected,
will have 10 be placed on the officers
word in their cases, and considering the
overpowering honesty of Cubans generally
it will be a task even then TO make sure
that those appearing are entitled to re-
ceivc the money.
A member of the Commissary Depart
ment who returned the other day said
that the Cuban officers are in many cases
of Spanish descent, and will find no Joy in
work after leading the free life Of the
guerrilla fOr so long. There would be nC
| trouble about payment and disarmament