The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-05

ing for the Cub
Manila, May 3.-There was a confer
ence lasting two hours today between
Major General f. S. Otis and the en-
vows who came here from General An
tonic Luna bearing a proposal for
cessation Of hostilities. General Otis
adhered to his refusal to recognize the
so-called government of the insurgents.
The Philippines now ask for a truce
Of three months to enable Aguinaldo
to summon the congress and consult
with the insurgent leaders on other Of
the islands. The ENJOYS admitted the
contention of General Otis that Agui-
naldo has little control over affairs
outside of the island Of Luzon.
The question Of the release of the
Spanish prisoners in the hands of the
Philippines being mentioned, Major
Manuel Arguelles, the chief member
of the deputatiOn, said that he consid-
cred them as being in the same cate
CORY with the Americans, the United
States being the successor Of Spain in
dominion over the islands and acquir-
ing by treaty all Spanish rights and
obligations.
After the close Of the conference
with General Otis, the Philippine en-
voys had a consultation with the
United States Philippine commission
erS.
AGUINALDOS AGENTS.
8 p. m.-The Philippine ENJOYS, Ma
jor Manuel Arguelles and Lieutenant
Jose Bernal, have abandoned the pre-
tense under which they came to Gen
eral Otis that they represented General
Antonio Luna and today they annOunc-
ed that they came as representatives
of Aguinaldo himself The two ennis
saries used all their wiles to secure a
reply from General Otis to the letter
from Senior. Mabini, Aguinaldo'S prime
minister and minister of foreign affairs
in the dictator's cabinet, which they
presented to General Otis yesterday,
but General Otis refused to make re-
ply on the ground that to do so would
be equivalent to q recognition of the
so-called government of the Philip
pinos.
Major 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 Major
Arguelles termed peace with dignity.
Mr. Schurman, the president of the
United States Philippine commission,
expresses the opinion that the inter-
views accorded by General Otis to the
Philippine ENJOYS will have a good
moral effect, as tending to convince
AguinaldO's representatives that the
American authorities mean to give the
Philippines good government, and
not one of the Spanish sort. Certainly
it has had a civiliZing influence in in
ducing them to observe the amenities
Of 70 hn
furnishing food for American prison
erS.
The exodus of natives from the in
surgent lines continues.
PREPARING FOR THE DECISIVE
BLOW.
By filling in the roads where is was
required, putting canoes on the rivers
and plowing fields south of Malolos,
the American army is in a fine posi-
tion for the expected decisive blow.
General Macarthur has moved his
headquarters to San Vincente, across
the Rio Grande. General Wheaton's
brigade has advanced beyond Apalit.
General Hale has returned to cooper
ate with General Lawton.
At Balibog last evening there was a
running fight in the course of which
one American soldier was killed and
three were wounded. The rebels scat
tered before General Lawton and Gen
eral Hale.
On yesterday while Captain Wheeler,
with a detachment of the Fourth cav
airy, was covering General Hales ad-
vance, he discovered a large body OF
rebels at Pulilan. The cavalry opened
fire, but there was no response. Think
ing that the rebels wanted to surren-
der, Lieutenant Bell went forward to
parley with them. The Philippines re-
piled that they did not wish to Surren-
der but that they had been ordered to
refrain from fighting during the nego-
tiations. They asked what Lieutenant
Bell wanted, and in reply were given
half an hour in which to retire which
they improved.
A Spanish prisoner who escaped into
the American lines, reports that after
General Hale's advance on Quingan,
zoo Philippines were buried, thirty-ive
in one trench and twenty-seven in an
other. This is the largest number of
rebels that has been killed in any en-
gagement for several months.
CABLEGRAM FROM DEWEY.
Washington, May 3.-The following
caHlegram has been received from Ad-
miral Dewey:
Manila, May 5.
Secretary OF the Navy, Washington:
The following are the Yorktown
prisoners at insurgent headquarters at
SanisedrO: Lieutenant Gilmore. Chief
QuartermaSter William Walton. Sail
meker's Mate Paul Vondoit; CoxsUain
John Ellsworth, Apprentice (third
class) Albert Peterson, Landsman Svl
vic BrisoIese, Landsmen Lyman Paul.
Edwards, Fred Anderson. Provisions
have been sent to them by Otis. l am
continuing inquiries as 10 the fate of
the other seven. DEWEY"