The record-union., 1899-05-01
But Preparations for Fighting Have Not
Ceased,
General Otis Will Not Let Peace
Prospects Delay Them-Fil-
ipinos Expected Us to Stop Ag-
gressive Movements, but Will be
Disappointed - Aguina1do Ex-
4 pected Calumpit to be the Gene
terry Of the American Army, but
4
Was Mistaken.

MANILA, April 3O-S:10 p. NJ
While it is the general expectation
among Americans that the Filipino
emissaries will return with revised pro-
posals from General Antonio Luna,
Major General Otis is not letting this
prospect interfere with his preparations
for pushing the war. Yesterday he or
dered Major General Lawton to return
to Angat a few miles northwest Of
Norzagarac and not to advance ag-
gressively while the negotiations are
pending.
General Macarthur is apparently act
ing ON the same policy, but he is re-
pairing bridges and strengthening the
lines of his force, which is stretched out
with a four mile front and Within
quarter of mile of the enemy.
The possibilities of peace are crafty
ing to a great majority of the army,
who have regarded the war as an I'M
pleasant duty that must be performed
according to American traditions.
Manila is cheerful over the prospects
of a return to normal life, though there
are skeptics who remark that truce
would enable the insurgents to rest
until the rainy season, upon which they
have been depending as an important
aid
sThe prisoners report that there are
1900 refugees north of San Fernando.
This is not impossible, considering the
thickly populated region which the
Americans have cleared. It seems also
that smallpox is spreading among them.
<The so-called Filipino Congress will
meet at San Fernando tomorrow.
! When Dean c. Worcester of the
Emitted States Philippine Commission,
who accompanied the Filipino emissar
les from Calumpit, said to Colonel
Manuel Arguelles that the Americans
were under no obligations to refrain
from fighting, the Filipino officer said:
would you fight while we are dis
cussing terms of peace?"
Mr.. Worcester responded with the
suggestion that an armfstice would give
the Filipino leaders itine to escape.
x My God. where would we escape
tor the Filipino exclaimed, referring
IN this TO the rnefa cling hostile tribes
behind the Filipino lines.
General .Arguelles told the CORES
pondent Of the Associated Press that
he was much disappointed in the re-
suits of his mission. He said also that
sAguinaldo expected Calumpit to be the
cemetery of the American army.
Lieutenant Colonel Wallace of the
First Montana and Major Adams and
Major Shields, who slept on Friday
night in General Lunas camp where
they went to inform the Filipinos that
their ENJOYS would return in safety,
found the Filipino commander cordial,
the Filipino troops removing their hats
rs the Americans passed. The Filipinos
complained to them that the Ameri-
cans used explosive bullets, which is.
not a fact. The American officer re-
torted that the copper shells used by
the Filipinos are worse than explosive
bullets General Luna said he regretted
being obliged to kill Americans but
that was his business. General
Wheaton entertained Colonel Arguelles
and Lieutenant Jose Bernal and pro-
vided them with horses to return to
their camp.
In the course of the conference yes
terday Jacob H. Schurmann, President
of the American Philippine Commits
sion, told Colonel Arguelles that if the
insurgents would lay down their arms
he and his colleagues of the commission
would consult them regarding the plan
of government to be submitted to Pres
ident Mckinley. He said he could not
promise that all their suggestions would
be adopted, but he could assure them
that there would be a presumption in
favor ofatheir suggestions. adding that
The Commissioners would be especially
DESTROYS of satisfying the legitimate as
pirations ofsthes Filtpinos. When Colo
mel Arguelles protested that uncondi
tional surrender would be humliating,
Mr.. Schurmann replied: sfsas,.ia-
There would be no humiliation in
General Otis treating our brother Fill
pinos as General Grant treated our
brother Americans at Appomattox."
Mr.. Schurmann said to-day to the
correspondent of the Associated Press:
IT believe Colonel Arguelles is per-
sonaIly sincere and honest, though I
have no means of ascertaining the SEN
timerats and aims of the authorities be-
hind him 5 The Filipino people, like
other Asiatic peoples, have no trust in
mere words without force behind them,
but with force I consider a conciliatory
spirit of the utmost Importance.
IT believe. when peace has been es-
tablished, governing the Filipinos will