Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-19
WHEELING, W. VA, FRIDAY, NAY 10, 1899

commissioners to sue for peace If this %
q ruse TO gain time, which none of the of
ffc.als at the War Department believe, it
will avail them nothing, as the Americans
will utilize the time during the negotia-
tons in accommodating the country ahead
of them preparatory to the resumption OF
operations the minute negotiations fail
The despatch of two battalions of the
Twenty-third infantry yesterday to Jolo
the principal town in the Suiu arch.pela-
go, is the fourth military expedition de-
tached from the main body of our troops
/ at Manila. The Sulu archipelago is a
group of $50 small islands extending in the
form of crescent, like the Aleutian ISL
andAs, south of the Philippines. There are
no insurgents so far as known in the Sulu
group. The popuation of the islands con-
sists of aborigines, Chinese traders and
negroes
There is no absolute information at the
war Department concerning the present
strength of the American forces under
Macarthur, Lawton and Kobbe, which
have been operating against the insur-
gents north of Manila If the number of
men in each organization were up to It's
maximum. the strength would be 49, 500
but 1T is doubtful if their strength totals
II, 900 men. Macarthur s troops except one
regiment, are volunteers. ALI of Kobbe $
men are regulars recently arrived. Three
of the reg ments under Lawton are also
regulars. There is one radical difference
between the volunteer and regular organ
iZations. Losses in the former are per-
manent, while the gaps in the ranks of
the regulars are beng constantly flied by
new recruits. 1t is estimated that Mac
Arthur row has $500 men for active ser
vice; L4awton 900. and <obbe l,500
MANILA, May 1S.-Maj. Kobbe's column
has reached San Luis, eight mics up the
R-o GRANGE, meeting with but little oppo-
s.tion. One man was. wounded during
brush with the rebels At daybreak the
Americans began further advance to-
ward Candaba about SIX mics up the
river beyond San Luis
The insurgents along Gen. MacArthurs
front evacuated their pos4l1ons during the
nisht, presumably moving further up the
railroad.
The Twenty-th.rd infantry has sailed
on the transport Leon III. for Poo ISL
and 10 reeve the Spanish garrison there.
At dayl ght to-day Lieut. Hill, who. with
% men OF the Fourth Infantry, was con-
eea.ed in the trenches near Pasig, was
attacked by force of rebels who evil
dent.y imagined they could capture one
OF our outposts because only a few shots
had been fired by the American force. A
few vol-eys put the ene my to flight, the
rebels losing five men killed and a num-
Ter of wounded
Two Spanish prisoners, who have just
arrived here from Nsuva Ecika, say
Aguinaido had lost prestige with the rebel
army, which is described as being COM
pietely demora.ized short of food suffer
ing from diseases, afraid of the Ameri-
cans and rapidly d.sso,ving into armed
bands of pillagers
The prisoners add that Gems Pillar ad
Luna are the on.y .nfiuentill riipinos w o
are continuing resistance to the Ameri-
cans.
Agunaldo's personal retinue was re-
Gently relieved of IT'S baggage and money
while on the way from San Isidro to Ce-
banatan. by marauders
The Chinese are being victimized every
where by both rebels and ooters
Beucamino. a prominent Filipino leader
(who was friend, to Spain and Joined in
the compromise arrang m mt, whereby the
Span.ards hoped to conciiate the rebel
leaders, without sacrificing too much) is
reported as saying Aguina.do sits indoors
crying, blames himself for the miserable
condition of the country, and is afraid to
surrender
MANILA. May 10, 10 a. m.-PhiEpp:ne
commissioners to confer with the Amer
lean commission regarding surrender ar
rived last night at San Isidro, and are
coming to Manila. The people of Manila
are confident that the insurrection is end
ing