The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-13
CABLEGRAM FROM GEN. OTIS
SAYS MANY REBELS WE'RE KILLED
IN SATURDAYS ENGAGEMENT.
He Also States that 1t Is Reported
AguinaldO Was Advised from WASH
inEtOn to Open HOstiIities.

MANILA, Feb IL, 4:50 p. m.-Contrary to
general expectations, all is quiet along the
entire line, nothing having happened up to
this hour to disturb the peace of Sunday.
In Manila the inhabitants have generally
recovered from the alarm occasioned by the
fear of a native uprising and are resuming
their ordinary business. The shipping in
terests are naturally suffering, since there
have been no clearances for Philippine ports
Tor week. but, on the other hand, foreign
shipping has increased, especially for Hong
Kong, every steamer bound thither being
crowded with timid refugees.
Despite this quietude, however, many are
asking whether the problem is not still far
from solution. A week ago those who took
an optimistic view predicted that the ter
rible lessor just administered to the rebels
would settle the question of Filipino inde-
pendence in short order. But this predic-
tion has not been fulfilled. AS a matter of
fact, the rebels are now scattered through
out the country bushwhacking, except at
Malabon. where they are gathered in force.
Even there their methods SAVIOR more of
guerrilla than of civilized warfare, every
bush. clump of trees and tree furnishing
cover for their sharpshooters. Unfortu-
ately, for miles around. the land is studded
with bamboo Jungle, and open spaces are
few and far between. This affords the ma
tives, who fight better under cover, dis
tinct advantage. In many places the jungle
is so dense that the eye cannot penetrate it,
and only by the flashes of their rifles is the
whereabouts of the enemy indicated. Under
such conditions it is remarkable that the
American casualties should be so few, while
the number of dead natives found in the
aF4 fet, - 4t,o
precision Of our fire. Last week there was
not single day without fighting. but the
Americans steadily advanced, carrying ev-
erything before them, and gradually in
creasing their semi-circle. until now it
spreads fan-shaped from four to ten miles
around Manila, the water works being the
most distant point.
1t is now known that the Filipino loss is
fully 250O killed, with wounded vastly in ex-
cess of that number, and thousands are held
prisoners. All this has been achieved at the
cost of sixty-flve Americans killed and 257
wounded. There are two Americans miss
ing and unaccounted for.
No fewer than ten of the native villages
have surrendered or been captured. Several
have been destroyed because their houses
harbored men, frequently disguised In fe-
male attire, who shot from windows and
rooftops at the American troops. Many ri
hes and a ton of ammunition have been
seized. AS might be expected there has
been looting in the outskirts, but it has not
been general, and has been done in direct
violation of orders
The only incident that has broken the
quiet of the day followed the arrival of the
German f1rst-class cruiser Kaiserin Au-
gusta. When she saluted Admiral Dewey
this afternoon report spread rapidly that
the American war ships were bombarding
Malabon
To-day crowds have visited the scenes of
last weeks lighting All the roads from the
city were thronged with vehicles. but be-
yond burned villages and the new mounds
in the fields there was little to be seen. A
close inspection showed that most of the
enemys dead had remained at their posts
to the last, as the bodies were usually sur
rounded by empty cartridges, while in the
trenches, wherever there were no dead,
there was little and often no ammunition.
Among the distinguished prisoners cap
tured in Manila since the outbreak of hos
tilities are Capt. A. G. Escamillo. Aguin-
aldo's private secretary; Capt Z. p. Vera
guth Col. Martin de los Reyes and Senior
Tomas del Rosario, a member of the So
called Filipino Congress in session at Malo-
los. A few minor Filipino officials are also
in custody.