Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-01-26
THE CRISIS IS NEAR.
Aguinaldo Psoelaims the Philippine
~ Republtc At Malolas. ~
TROUBLE EXPECTED BY Cen. Otis.


and y HeAtsls Collision Probabls-Na-
tives Up In Arma-Ths Rapture
an Accommodated Fase
Manila, Jan. 95.-Aguinaldo pro-
claimed the Philippine republic at Ma
lolas yesterday morning. There WAS no
public demonstration in Manila The
civil Spanish prisoners will be set
free by the insurgents Rival native
authorities at Cebu are reported to be
fighting and the town is endangered
Aguinaldo's government cannot main
tain order 10 the interior Of Luson
and the native authorities are often
murdered II Aouinsldo commences
hostilities against the Americans the
northern provinces will probably
attempt to shake of his yoke.
| Reports from the interior indicate
that Aguinaldo's authority Is now gen.
orally recognized. Every available
male Is being recruited and arms de.
pots are ibeipg ests blished at San Ber-
nardina, Union, Trinidad and other
large towns The surrounding coun-
try is being levied on for supplies and
the Filipino troops are living on the
fat Of the land, while the native vii
layers are compelled to su bsst on rice.
There is some friction between the
Filipino civil and military authorities,
but they are united on the question of
independence. 1t is estimated that
there are fully 10000 Filipinos under
arms, and 1t is said that there are
nearly so Maxim guns at Malolas,
some of them having been recently &C.
quired. The Filipino military author
tiles are convinced, they say, that the
Americans will be unable to work ef-
fectively outside of Manila in the
event Of hostilities hence they feel
confident in the future.
GEN. OTIS EXPECTS TROUBLE
Washington Jan ?5,-The reports,
from Manila which have reached the
war department are far from reassur-
ing. II is understood that Gen. Otis
reports an expectation on his part that
the insurgents are about to force an
issue, and II this should be so the re-
suit cannot be foreseen. Manila itself
and not lloilo as might at first be sus-
pected, is regarded as the danger point
just now. While the instructions to-
Gen. Otis have been to avoid any
hostile clash with the natives, so
far as that plan is consistent with
the maintenance Of his position,
it is realized here that 1t is within
the power Of any excited or intoxicated
person to precipitate a'battle between
the two opposing forces. For it must
be understood that there is nothing in
Gen. Otis instructions to prevent him
from most vigorously defending him.
self and the interests confded to his
charge. Gen. Otis is so sure OF his
ground that the officials here
feel no doubt as to the out
come Of hostile collision between
the Americans and the insurgent
forces under Aguinaldo, particularly
as Gen. Otis would have the enormous
advantage Of the full cooperation of
the American fleet under Dewey. But
II is particularly desirable that even
battle ending in victory be avoided
just now, for the president has by no
means surrendered his conviction that
The misguided Filipinos can be brought
10 an understanding Of the real objects
# the United States aud peacefully ac-
,ept the conditions sought to be i'm
POSED.
NATIVES UP IN ARMS.
La Buean, British Borneo, Jan. &c.
The steamer Labuan, which has arrived
lere, came from the island of Balabac,
10 miles south Of Palawan Philippine
stands, and not from Palawan, as pre-
'iously cabled. The murder of the
spanish officers which she reported
occurred at Balabac. Tie Labuan
'rought 65 women and children here.
hey had been robbed, but otherwise
lad not been ill-treated The Sulus
SISTED the Balabacs in killing the
panish officers. The Spaniardsy left
'alawan, where the natives were fear
I'll of the Sulus. Stores had been
ooted, business was at a standstill
nd the natives were armed and ready
or mischief
HE RUPTURE AN ACCOMPLISHED FACT
Madrid, Jan. 25.- dispatch from
long Kong to the Reform of this city
avs letter received from Philip.
inc island under date of January 20
nnounces that the rupture between
he Filipinos and the Americans is an
ccomplished fact and that the lives
the Spaniards in the archipelago
re endangered.
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