Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-02

Washington, Feb. 28.-There is moth
ing in the situation at Manila to cause
alarm for the safety of the American
troops in the opinion of well informed
administration officials. Since Gen.
Otis cabled Saturday evening to this
effect there has come no word from
him tending to qualify the statement
in any sense. Admiral Dewey has not
been heard from further according
to Secretary Long, and from this abb
sence of positive news the officials
draw the conclusion that nothing has
happened to warrant any apprehen-
sion. Respecting the reported land
ing of foreign marines at Mania, not
a word of confirmation has been re-
ceiyed at either the war or navy de-
partments. A press dispatch received
several days ago mentioned the land
ing of a few British blue jackets each
evening to wet down the British con-
sulate, a means of protection from fire
during the intensely dry season in
the Philippines, and it is probable
that this is the foundation for the
Madrid story of a general landing.
Some notice is beginning to be
taken here of the markedly hostile
reports being cabled from Madrid by
Col. Rios, the ranking officer at Manila.
If he persists in this course he may be
called to account by Gen. Otis who
probably does not understand what he
is doing Technically Gen. Rios is a
prisoner of war and his actions are
subject to the complete control Of the
United States officers at Manila. His
reports, it is said in official circles,
have been uniformly misstatements of
the facts or gross distortions for the
plain purpose of giving a false impress
sion of the American position in the
Philippines and perhaps with the de-
liberate purpose to justify some of the
powers of recognizing the belMgerency
Of the insurgents. The latter are be-
lieYed to be suffering from a lack of
war supplies and such recognition at
the hands of even one of the nations
whose possessions border on the China
sea would be of the greatest assistance
to their cause.
Tired of War.
Manila, Feb. 2S.-6:15 D. M. Monday
Two Spanish commissioners, ROsatiO
and Abogado, who were permitted 10
pass through our lines to confer with
Aguinaldo with reference to the Span
ish prisoners at Malolos, returned
through our lines this morning. The
commissioners said that Aguinaldo
and Sanduinako were both at MaloIos
and inclined to pacific overtures.
While the Filipinos were not yet pre-
pared to surrender the Spanish prison
ers, they will gladly release the two
Americans who have been held six
weeks on the payment of $50, the value
of the food and clothing furnished
them. Shortly afterwards the rebels
sent out a flag of truce borne by Com
mandante Sinforoso de La Cruz and
several hundred of the enemy left the
Filipino lines crying: mo quire, -
Mas Combate," "Americanos MuchC
Bueno." The commandante SAID thai
fully 500 of his men had had
enough and were anxious to surrender
Among the enemy in the jungle many
women and children were visible. A
woman laid down rifle and attempted
to cross with the parleyers, but she was
sent back. After the party returned to
the American lines the enemy on the
right fired, the bullets dropping at
their. The casualties to date, by regi-
ments, are as follows: