Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-04-15
FILIPINO CAMPAIGN.
Gen. Lawton's Command Captures
Pagsa Jan and Lumbar.
FILIPINOS BEFORE OUR COMMISSION.
A Number OF Natives Questioned ON the
Future of the Iaiands-Junta Com
menta on the Proclamation
Enemy Barn the Villages.

New York, April IA dispatch to
the New York Herald from Manila
says: Lawton's command captured
the villages of Pagsajan and Lumbar
yesterday, with some resistance ut the
latter place. The mouth Of the river.
commanded by Lumbar, was effec-
tually blocked against the entrance OF
the gunboats. Shells from the Laguna
de bay drove most of the insurgents
In fight up tho mountain side. A
small force remained In IN old
church side, offering resistance until
II was rushed by the troops About
80 were captured and several killed.
There was one casualty among the
Americans, that being an arm wound.
The river mouth was to be dredged
to-day and the distractions removed.
Santa Cruz and Pagsajan are now
guarded by the men of the Fourth
cavalry. Part Of the Fourteenth In.
fantry with Gen. Lawton are In Lum.
ban. More troops are needed out here.
The fighting has only just begun.
While 1t is probable that there Is an
end to the big engagements in the
Philippines between the Americans
and the Filipinos. the war Is not Mt an
end by any means II is the universal
opinion among army men here that II
will require the presence OF $4,000
American troops to occupy the terri
tory that has been taken and to keep
open communication among the Is.
lands.
Gen. Lawton's advance promises to
meet with harassing resistance.
Trenches are built by the enemy from
town to town. On all sides the rebels
are in nightly communication by
means Of signal fires. They avoid be-
ing caught in trap and are quick to
harass the flank. Since the 25th the
enemy's losses have not been more
than double ours. Our kindness TO
the rebel prisoners does not allay the
logged enmity. Only small portion
OF the population of the north have
returned to their homes. Only the
diseased and aged remained In Santa
Cruz
Aguinaldo Is reported to be in San
Fernando and still in absolute charge
OF the defenses OF the new capital and
OF Calumpit.
FILIPINos BEFORE COMMISSION.
Manila. April i3.-The United
States Philippine commission is hear.
ing the leading residents Of various
nationalities, priests and Spaniards,
numbers of them appearing volun.
tarily on the subject of the future OF
tho islands. The questions put to oil
are: "Do you believe the Filipinos are
capable OF self.government in the
Townships "Do you believe the
Filipinos are capable OF self-govern-
ment in the proviucesg do you
believe the Filipinos are capable of
self.govcrnment in the archipelago?
All OF those who have been interro-
gated, including Filipinos who sym.
pathize theoretically with independ-
ence, have replied to the third question
with remarkab BILE unanimity in the neg
alive. Independence, they say, would
result in chaos endless tribal wars
and European Intervention. A few Of
them think that provincial self-gov.
eminent Is practicable, but nost OF
them favor self-government in the
townships with form OF American
supervision protecting the inhabit.
ants against the populations and ex-
tortions which their experience with
the Spanish regime has led them to
consider the natural perquisites OF
officialdom.
JUSTA COMMENTS on PROCLAMATION.
Hong Kong, April 10. The Filipino
junta here regards the proclamation
Of the United States Philippine COM
mission as being Objectionable and has
issued q grandiloqueut statement to
the effect that 1t Is "tissue OF gener.
alities, bristles with pharisaism and
cant. vaguely promises much and
grants nothing to the Filipinos, who
are tired Of promises and surfeited by
Spanish promises similar to the Amer.
ican." Continuing, the statement
reads:
The proclamation proves that the fair prom
Uses OF independence under protectorate ana
President McKinley's declaration OF the OBJ
jects OF the Spanish war wcro only mask OF
humanitarianism TO cover the real intention
The Invitation OF the United States Philippine
commissioners TO the Filipinos to meet them
for exchange OF views Is meaningless. as DUR
ing the hoslllities the representative Fllipinos
are necessarily absent from Manila. assisting
the struggle for independence The Filipinos
continue to resist violent and aggressive usur>
patton, not because they expect complete VIC
tory, but 10 emphasize their rights and 10 pro-
test against o ruthless invasion We also deny
the legality Of the sale Of the sovereignty over
the Philippines by Spain, ana we reiterate
positively that the Americans began the hos
tllities on FebruaryA
THE ENEMY BURN THE vILLAaEs
Manila, April I3.-Gen. Wheaton
started ut daylight with the Tenth
Pennsylvania and the Second Oregon
regiments and two guns 10 drive the
rebels from the American right flank
between the railroad and the foot
hills. He met with slight resistance
near Santa Maria and one man was
wounded. But the enemy bolted
when shelled by the artillery and
burned and abandoned the town oil
Santa Maria, where 1000 rebels were
reported TO have been concentrated.
For Disturbing Church serviceI
Hillsboro. Tex, April Is. Several
well-known young people have been
indicted for interrupting the preacher