Arizona republican., 1899-02-08
Probable Cause of the Filipino
 Attack.
THEIR AMMUNITION SEIZED
Officers st Washington Who are His Report of inc Insurgents Losses are UndereSiinafed-Csp- lure of inc Water Works at Manila of Great Importance.

Washington, Feb. 7.-There was little abatement of interest in the stir ring events at Manila exhibited today at the war department. The feeling of anxiety for the safety of the Amer ican forces had given way entirely, save in the case of personal friends and acquaintances of soldiers sup posed to be injured, ard there was dis played instead the greatest interest in the extent of the loss inflicted upon the insurgents by the American sol diers and sailors.
 Officers at the war department who know General Otis well, declared when the announcement came of the killing, capture or wounding of 4,000 men, that he undoubtedly had underesti- mated the damage inflicted by him, as was his wont, instead Of magnifying it in Spanish fashion. The news of the day from abroad was found in the casualty list sent by Otis and in the concise and excellent description sent by him of the results of the engage ment of Saturday night and Sunday
 The officials say that nothing more can be expected from him on this point until he has had Gn opportunity to forNard report giving in detail all the history of the fighting. Naturally there was a great deal of speculation as to the future conduct of affairs by Otis, but to some extent this must re- main a speculation, inasmuch as Sec retary Alger has said that the general is to be left to follow his own discre- tion. To assist him to a correct un- derstanding of the diplomatic situa- tion, he has been cabled the full text of the treaty.
 A forward movement is probable at Iloilo, where General Miller has been for weeks lying in front of the town. He has never had any doubt of his ability to take the place whenever he got the word to do so, but there has been a restraining influence from Washington, based in part on the hope that the insurgents could be brought to a peaceful retirement from the town and an apprehension that an effort tC. force a landing might result in 9SlIOuo injury CO 1OIGISA 1uIe-cStS.
 Now, however, it is felt that the lat ter are perhaps more in jeopardy from continuance of the existing state of affairs than they would be through a ; rapid seizure of the town. General Miller now has with him the Eight eenth infantry and a battalion of ar tillery and it is likely that he will be strongly reinforced before an attempt is made to take Iloilo.
 Naval officers have watched with pride the achievements of the naval vessels during the recent fighting and they were gratif1ed when Secretary Long this afternoon sent the follow ing cablegram:
 Dewey, Manila:
 'Congratulations. LONG"
 It may be that it was Admiral Dewey's act in seizing a vessel loaded with arms and ammunition intended for them that melted the Filipino in surgents to attack the American sol diers Saturday night, for it is under stood that one of the bitterest of their grievances was what they declared to be the unwarrantable interference with their shipping. It is learned at the navy department that about week ago the admiral caused the seizure ot the schooner Taneng with a full supply Of arms for the insurgents.