The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-06-07
SUMTER. S. c.. WEDNESDAY. JUNE 1899.

Gen. Osis says the negotiations we're
barren Of practical results The insur-
gent members desired absolute inde-
pendeocs, but were unauthorized to
.preseo. any statement they could maln-
tain. In the latter part of January
the Insurgents became aggressive,
interfering with the American troops,
aud fually led Gen. Otis to address
another letter to Aguinaldo calling
attention to the arrest Of F.iipiuos of
some American soldiers and news.
paper correspondent and requesting an
exp,auation. Gen. Otis letter added /:
II am doing everything possible to
preserve the peace and avoid all fric-
tion until the Philippine people can be
'madefully acqusiBted with the sentiment
and intentions Of the American govern.
NEST when i Jam eon6dent that they
viii appreciate the eudeavors Of the
United States aud will again look upon
that country as their friend aud
protector. ] also fully believe that the
prseeu. unrest is the result Of machioa-
,ion of evil-disposed persons. !"
TO this letter Agninaldo sent sar
castle reply. bu: ordered the release of
the prisoners.
s Gen. O,is next tells how the Ameri-
can soldiers we're openly insulted and
how the insurgents. had continually
labored to strengthen their lines.
threatening to drive the Americans out
Of the island, and how 6ually on the
night Of Feb. 4 the demonstration vas
made. which resulted in the killing of
q Filipino by an American sentry aud
the firing on the Americaus by the
insargent troops Gen. OTIS continues
as follows
s.The iasurgens army had thus sue.
ceeded in drawing the FIRE Of small
outpost, which they had evidently Ia
bored With all their ingenuity to ac-
complieh 10 order to justify iu some
way their premeditated attack. It is
not believed that the chief insurgeot
leaders wished to open hostllities at
this time as they we're not completely
prepared to assume the initiative.
They desired two or three days more to
perfect their arrangements, bu: the
zeal Of their army brought on the crisis
which anticipated .heir action. They
could not have delayed long, ,ihowever,
for it was their otjeo. to force an issue
before American troops then en- route
could arrive at Manila.
..The movement Of troops duriog
the protrseted engagement which fol
loved and their success at every poios
are described in the accompanying re-.
porte Of the commanding generals Of
division / cannot speak too highly Of
the efficiency displayed by the troops
under tbs most trying ordeals. aod
where al organizations engaged con-
Quoted themselves SO courageously it
would be difficult to undertake special
mention.
'sDuriog the night Of Feb. 4 and the
following day the insurgents of the city
~ese greatly agitated. fearing for their
personal safety A portion to the
number of about 5000, had been en-
rolled in a secret society for the pur-
pose of attacking our troops within the
city aud performing ioceudiary work
while the insurgents pressed us from
without. This purpose was we'll known
and an at.aek upon our forces both 10
front and rear was anticipated. So
sdmirably. however. had Gen. Hughes.
the provost marshal general. disposed
Of 5000 troops of bis com mand that
the risiog was suppressed wherever
attempted"
To conclusion, Gen. Otis e1plsios in
detail his movement on Caloocan aud
says that it was attended With the accus.
toned success of American arms