Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-04-20
TAKEN BY REBELS.
A Party Of Dewey's Men Is Am
pushed by Filipinos.
rich FILIPIyOS WANT TERMS MADE.
Gen. COrbin Talks Ab0ut the Return Of
Volunteers from MAn,ls--G~n. shAfter
Has y Supreme I 0nfidence In
Gen. LAwton's judy ment.

Washington, April 49, The navy de.
partment has given out the follow
ing dispatch from Admiral Dewey:
Manila April IS Secretary Of the navy.
Washington Yorktown visited Balem, Luzon,
east coast Of Luzon. P | April II, for the pur-
pose OF rescuing and bringing away the Span
ish forces, consisting Of 80 soldiers, three on
GERS and two priests, which were surrounded
by 4OO insurgents, Some Of the insurgents
armed with Mauser rifles by natives.
Lieut. j. c. Gilmore, while making
ambushed were fired upon and captured Fate
unknown, as insurgents refused to com uni
Cate. The following ure missing: Lieut. Gil
more. Chief Quartermaster W. Walton, Cox
swain j. Ellworth Commensurate J. Nygard,
Sallmakers Mate Vand0it, Seamen w. Il
| Rynders and c. W. Woodbury., Apprentices
| b W. A kenville, J. A. Peterson; Ordinary
Seamen +. Brizolese. O Macdonald; Lands
men L. T. Edwards, +. Anderson, J. Dillon and
G A Morrissey. Dewey.
The dispatch caused much excite.
ment in naval circles as soon as its
contents became known. 1t was re.
ceived late yesterday and considerable
delay was occasioned by the blindness
OF some of the cipher words 1t was
impossible completely to decipher it,
and the asterisks indicate the unin-
telligible words. The capture Of the
Yorktown's men was discussed with
much feeling in naval circles The
misfortune was felt with added
keenness, as the navy has prided
itself thus fas on immunity from
reverses. The admiral's dispatch
OF yesterday was the first knowl.
edge the department had that the
Yorktown had gone on this special
mission to relieve the Spanish garri-
sou at Balem. That the capture
should have been effected while the
American forces were on a mission OF
mercy toward the Spaniards, rather
than in the prosecution OF campaign,
led to the belief that Spain would
have nc, further ground for question
ing the good faith with which the
Americans were seeking to relieve the
condition of the Spanish prisoners
Although the dispatch gave no indi-
cation that Lieut.. Gilmore and his men
had lost their lives, yet great anxiety
was aroused by the mystery surround.
ing their fate while in the hands OF an
uncivilized enemy. This is the first
capture of any Americans, military or
naval. so that it is unknown how the
insurgents will treat our men. II civ
ilized methods were pursued an ex.
changed could be quickly effected. as
Gen. Otis has large number Of Fill
pino prisoners, but the insurgents
have been averse thus far to exchang-
ing Spanish prisoners, and this raises
question as to what they will do with
the Yorktown's men. The purpose of
officials here is to spare no effort to
secure the speedy release of our men.
RICH FIIIPINOs WOULD LIKE TERMS MADE.
Manila, April IA number of
prominent and wealthy Filipinos are
organizing committee to take steps
to bring about if possible an under
standing between the rebels and the
Americans. One branch of this com.
mittee intends to ask the United States
Philippine commission to make a
as to what terms will be
offered the rebels II the latter will
surrender. Another branch OF the
committee will approach Aguinaldo
with the terms and will endeavor to
persuade him to accept them. 1t Is
considered doubtful, however, il any
members OF the committee will dare
to personally confer with the rebel
leader. The committee includes sew
eral persons recently condemned to
death by Aguinaldo for petitioning
him to cease fighting.
ON THE RETURN OF VOLUNTEERS.
Washington, April 10. Gen. Corbin
says nothing further has been done
the return of the volunteer
soldiers from Manila. II the troops |
could be spared, there is no transport |
service to bring them home and will |
not be for some time 1t is believed |
that the transports now on the way to
Manila and those which will leave in
a few days willreturn with volun teers. |
The war department officials think
that, by June |, there will be enough
transports at Manila to bring back all
that want to come
THINKS LAwTON Is RIGHT.
Chicago, April 49, Maj Gen. Shat.
ter passed through Chicago Monday en-
route to his brothers home in Syca.
more, Ill. He was much improved In
health. Discussing the Philippine
war he said
II Gen. Lawton states that 100000 men are
needed in the Philippines In order to efiectually
end hostilities and bring the natives to terms,
! should say that undoubtedly an army OF such
is required We, Of the army, have
sunreme confidence In Can Tawton's tudu.