Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1899-05-04
OTIS WAITING A BIT.
While Negotiations Are OIL for Peace
the Americans Rest.
THE OPINION OF Mr.. SCHURNAy.
The Chairman Of the Commission Believes
IL VIII Not Be IA Dlnlcult Matter to
Govern the Fillpnos No Re
port from Gen. Otis.

Manila, May While it is the gem
eral expectation among Americans that
the Filipino emssaries will return with
revised proposals from Gen. Antonio
Luna, Maj, Gen. Otis is not letting this
prospect interfere with his prepara-
tions for pushing the war. Saturday
he ordered Maj, Gen, Lawton to return
to Angat, few miles northwest of
Norzagaray, and not to advance ag-
gressively while the negotiations are
pending. Gen, Macarthur is apparently
acting on the same policy, but he is re-
pairing bridges and strengthening the
lines Of his force, which is stretched
out with four-mile front and within
quarter Of mile Of the enemy. The
possibilities of peace are gratifying to
great majority of the army, who
have regarded the war as an unpleas-
ant duty that must be performed ac-
cording to American traditions.
Manila is cheerful over the prospect
of 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 impor-
tant aid. The prisoners report that
there are $4,000 refugees north of San
Fernando. This is not impossible, con-
sidering the thickly populated region
which the Americans have cleared. 1t
seems also that smallpox is spreading
among them. The so-called Filipino
congress will meet ut San Fernando
to-day.
When Dean c. Worcester, of the
United States Philippine commission,
who accompanied the Filipino ennis
saries from Calumpit, said to Col.
Manuel Arguelles that the Americans
were under no obligations to refrain
from fighting, the Filipino officer said:
would you fight while we were dis
cussing terms of peace?" Mr. Worces-
ter responded with the suggestion that
an armistice would give the Filipino
leaders time to escape my God,
where would we escape to?' the Fill
Pine exclaimed, referring in this to the
menacing hostile tribes behind the
Filipino lines.
In the course of the conference Sat-
urday Jacob &. Schurman, chairman
of the United States Philippines COM
mission, told Col. Arguelles that If the
insurgents would now lay down their
arms he and his colleagues of the COM
mission would consult them regarding
+ba ALAN oF ,rova,nu,ant to ba cub
mitted to President Mckinley, He
said he could not promise that all their
suggestions would be adopted, but he
could assure them that there would be
presumption in favor of their sug-
gestions, adding that the commits
sioners would be especially DESTROYS of
satisfying the legitimate aspirations Of
the Filipinos.
Mr.. Schurman said yesterday to the
correspondent of the Associated press:
/ believe Col Arguelles is personally sincere
and honest, though have no means Of ascer-
tanning the sentiments and aims OF the author
tiles behind him. The Filipino people, like
other Asiatic peoples, have no trust in mere
words without force behind them. but, with
force, consider conciliatory spirit Of the ut
most Importance, 1 believe that, when peace
has been established, governing the Filipnos
will not be difficult matter, provided we show
them firmness, justice and kindness. At the
present time they distrust and dislike us, but
these sentiments, which are perhaps not unnatu-
raj will soon be dspelled by the effects of the good
government we have promised TO establish here.
It will be the foremost duty of American OH
Cials to understand and sympathize with the
Filipinos themselves.
Saturday, before Gen. Otis had issued
the order directing Gen. Lawton to re-
turn to Angat, the troops of his COM
mand encountered the rebels in cir
Gle of hills outside of San Rafael, about
five miles northwest of Angat, dislodg-
ing them, after an hours hard fight
ing. The Americans had three wound
ed. A thousand armed Filipinos fell
back as the Americans advanced.
NO REPORT FROM GEN. OTIS.
Washington, May Mot a line of
official news from Manila was received
yesterday by either the war or the navy
department. Since the opening of the
campaign against the insurgents scarce
ly day has passed without dispatches
from Gen. Otis and the absence of adj
vices yesterday is taken by the war
officials to mean that, pending further
negotiations on the part of the Fill
pinos for peace, the situation sprecise-
ly as Gen. Otis reported it Saturday.
1t is known that supplies are
being pushed forward from Manila
to the troops at the front, in
order that they may be prepared
for an advance movement, should such
action become necessary. There has
been no suspension of hostilities, but
it is regarded as likely that Gen. Otis,
while not losing any of the advantage
he has gained, will afford the Filipinos
reasonable time to consider the situa-
ton and terms as he presented them to
the envoys of Gen. Luna. 1t is ex-
pected confidently by officials of the war
department that the way to peace now
being paved, further negotiations will
be opened by the insurgents. 1t is be-
lieved to be probable that the next inn
ported news received from Manila will
be that the Filipinos have made addi-
tional overtures toward conclusion of
hostilities.