The evening times., 1899-04-19
WEDNESDAY. APRIL 10, 1899.
The Nnyy'a LOSS.

As long as we attended strictly 10 our
own business in war-making. the navy
suffered so little as to amaze observing
mankind. In the destruction of the Span
isb fleets but one American life was lost
When the marines were landed on the coast
of Cuba to do the work of infantry SIX
we're lost II is a record to go down 10
posterity as showing the efficiency OF the
Americans of this generation.
n WAS when the marines were used 10
effect a landing for land forces that were
not at hand to take advantage OF IL that
one-third of all the navy's losses were
suffered. II is when il has gone into 'ne
benevolent and sentimental business tha'
the navy adds fifteen to its casualty list
whether merely prisoners or dead is TN
known. These are the first Americans TO
fall into the hands of the Fillpinos eN-
eept three or four men who ventured WIN
out leave into the enemy's country. II Is
encouraging TO recall that these were NOT
killed. but treated with some considera-
lion.
If was a pledge of the American Pace
commissioners that this Government
would use its influence 10 effect the release
of the Spanish prisoners captured by the
TagaIs. When it vas given Asu'haiuo
was apparently tractable and obvious
bopeful of a bargain By which he should
receive Office or money from the Ameri-
cans. It was reasonably assumed that un-
der pressure he would yield up the Span
iards Then came the break, and the condi-
lion under which our promise was made
Iaap
eager to do anything practicable to restore
the captives to freedom. except to allow
Aguinaldo to receive millions of dollars
to use in increasing the efficiency OF his
army. Only last week General Otis made
the generous offer to General RIOS, the
Spanish representative, of 1.6O0 Tagal
prisoners TO exchange for Spaniards.
Then it was learned that there was danger
of the capture of more Spanish troops by
the rebels. At a station remote from Ma
Mia. Baler, there was a garrison of some
thirty-three officers and men who were
surrounded by four hundred natives and
unable to hold out.
II was the dictate of humanity that the
Americans should go to the relief of the
besieged. 1t might have been distinct
obligation but for the fact that the Span
ish government should have recalled them
long ago and for the other fact that We
were basely betrayed by the surrender of
Iloilo to the rebels by the Span
order of the Prime Minister at
Madrid. OF this there is no doubt. That
commander and the Madrid officials knew
General Miler's expedition was on its
way to receive the surrender. but in .heir
hate of the Americans they preferred to
give il into rebel hands, and hastened 10
do so the day before General Miller ar
rived. Such perfidy did not deserve the
ready response TO the appeal from Baler
that Admiral Dewey made. Why so small
a force as fifteen should have been sent
into a region known to be in the posses
sion OF an enemy that always depends on
ambuscade is not explained. There was the
inevitable ambush that neither Spaniards
nor Tagals have ever omitted when it could
be achieved, from the first day in Cuba
down to this moment.
Knowing what We do of Aguinaldo's Gu
pidity. we have no cause to believe the
prisoners have been killed. except those
killed in the ambuscade, if any were; that
is. il Aguinaldo has direct authority over
The natives at Baler. This is outside the
part of Luzon which Aguinaldo's army
covers and it is probable that there was
only local uprising against Spain. The
Spaniards in the town did not know there
was war between the Americans and the
Filipinos and ii is fair to infer that the
natives did not. II the Tagal chief has
won the allegiance of these insurgents the
prisoners will be held for -ansom, for
much as he would love to torture Ameri-
cans. he loves money very much more.
Ii was discovered that ten years after the
Civil War in this country closed, there
were men in the Southern mountains who
thought it was still going on. That is
hardly as surprising as fighting be-
tween a garrison to uphold Spanish sover-
eighty in the Philippines and natives to
free themselves from Spanish tyranny. The
government at Madrid either forgot or
deliberately neglected and abandoned the
troops at Baler.