Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-05-04

| t4On-ileDels LoOllug san Fernando
and Natives Appeal for Protection
Manila, April 30.-The conference
Saturday between Gen. Otis and Col
Manuel Arguelese and Lieut.. Jose
Bcrnal, who came from Gen. Luna Nm.
/ der a flag OF truce Friday to ask for
| a cessation OF hostilities, was fruitless
1t is understood that the Filipino com.
| mlssioners were given the terms nm
! which the Americans will consent IN
negotiate. The Filipinos admit that
! they have been defeated and il is ev.
| pected that they will return with fresh
| proposals from Gen Luna. Aguinal-
/ do had asked for an armistice to give
| him time TO let his congress deter.
| mine whether the war should contlnua
/ or not. But Gen. Otis refused to ree.
ngaiza .. native, argument IL any fgFa,
He maintains that Aguinaldo made
war on his own responsibility and saws
that he can make peace the same wav
if he wants to do So The American
commander does not mean to give the
rebel chief time to rally and recuper-
ate his shattered forces.
q believe Gen, Otis said. that the
| insurgents are thoroughly demoralize3
They had considered Calumpit the
strongest position on their lines. II
was there that they made their sue
cessfui stand against the Spanlards in
1896, Many of their former trenches
were still there, not having been de-
stroyed, and were used by the insur
gents when the Americans drove them
out | presume after that defeat the
Filipinos lost all confidence and spirit
The emissaries who have been here
came to ask for an armistice until Nav
| l. when the Filipino congress, they
said, would convene and discuss the
question as to whether the natives Of
this island favor a declaration of peace
or continuation of war. told them
the only terms that would be ac-
cepted by the Americans would be IN
conditional surrender, with amnesty
to all Insurgents bearing arms. The
representatives Of Aguinaldo did not
think the insurgents would agree to
this. They said it was not consistent
with their idea of honor, and if forced
to surrender the peace thus procured
would not be permanent. | considered
this expression in the nature of
threat, and ] so told the insurgents.
and requested the officers in whose
company they had come to the palace
to take them back to the lines.
consider that possibly the insurgents
are only sparring for time in making
this request for an armistice Further
aggressive action on our part will be
necessary"
Tell your general" said Gen Otis
to the iNlipino representatives "tha,
he must lay down his arms without
any reservation whatever | canno.
recognize the Filipino government or
its congress. If you wish peace, sur
render. You will be allowed perfec.
amnesty. There will be no punish
ment for acts already committed.
America forgiyes you. The proclama-
ton issued by my government is sim
cere, ana you shall share with our own
people the fullest liberty But now
you must make a complete and unre-
served surrender. You are compelled
to admit that you are defeated Amer
lea did not begin this war. 1t was OF
your own making. There is a big army
on the way from the United States ana
there is nothing for you to do but sur
render. This is absolute"
Col. Arguellese in reply said that be
was not in position 10 make a definite
answer to the demand. which was I'M
expected, He said that he would re-
turn to his leader and that he and the
Lieutenant might be expected back
with another proposition.
It is reported that San Fernando
where for a time Aguinaldo had has
headquarters is thronged with panic
stricken refugees. The insurgen,
troops are i'm mu,iny The great body
of the Fi.ipinos are ready to give up
.he fight Many natives are between
the American lines and Manila nov
hurrying TO their homes. They show
friendly disposition toward .la
Americans and most all OF them agree
that Friday victory at Calumpii
broke the backbone Of the insurrecdon
Cen Macarthur has been appealed
70 hy natives and property owners at
Calumpit for protection from disorder
and vandalism. A large delegation Of
Iaccabebes came to Calumpit Friday
afternoon and asked that American
forces occupy San Fernando. They
represented that the insurgents were
destroying an property they could Jay
their hands upon, and unless the
Americans assumed control there vas
small hope that anything would p
saved
TeiegraphiC connection viii at ones
be established between Manila ana
Gen, Lawton. who is operating east Q.
QuiHgua. An entirely new line has
been put In by the signal corps.
VFarre Ir-ve+,,- p~gr4pfad