The Topeka state journal., 1899-05-29
Inhabitants of Negros Display
a White Flag
Then Fire on Americans as Soon
as In Range.
CAPT. TILLEY MISSING
FiIipinos Mutilate Corpses OF
e. $. Soldiers.
Are Becoming More Aggressive
Around San Fernando.

the signal corps, with a detachment
made up of other members of the corps,
landed at Esca1anto, on the Island OF
Negros, to pick up and repair the cable
The natives had white flag flying
over the cable house when the party
landed. The latter, however, were no
sooner on shore than they were fired
upon by the natives. They at once
took to the water and a number of them
were picked up by a boat, but Captain
TilIey and two native men of the party
are missing. General Smith, with a
detachment of troops, has started on
board a gunboat to investigate the af-
fair.
MUTILATE THE DEAD.
New York, May ga Herald special
from Washington says:
Information received here in private
letters from officers serving in the Phil
ippines state that the Filipinos show no
respect to the American dead. In one
instance an officer who was on the fir
ing line says he was shocked to see
three bodies of American soldiers who
had been killed in an advance and
which were brought within the Ameri-
can lines badly mutilated. The ears OF
each of the corpses had been removed,
the noses cut off and the hearts torn
out.
Such mutilation disproves Aguinal-
dos claim that the insurgents are con-
ducting a civilized warfare. The Ameri-
can troops give the Philippine dead
decent burial and provide every COM
fort and afford the best medical treat
znent possible to the wounded
FIFTEENTH REACHES MANILA.
washington, May 29.-The war de-
partment has received the following ca
blegram from General Otis:
Manila, May 29.-TranspOrts Ohio and
Senator with the Fifteenth infantry
ri John
son. company E, drowned and five men
deserted at Honolulu; no other casual
ties.
The transports referred to left san
Francisco April IS.
INSURGENTS AGGRESSIVE.
Manila, May 29-The approach of the
wet season finds the insurrection seem
ingly taking a new lease of life. All
along the American lines the rebels are
showing more aggressive activity, in
their guerrilla style, than at any time
before since the fall of Malolos. They
keep the United States troops in the
trenches, sleeping in their clothing and
constantly on the alert against dashes
upon our OutpOsts. and they make life
warm for the American garrisons in
the towns.
The bands of General Luna and Cen
eral Mascardo, which retreated toward
Tarlac when they feared they would
be caught between General Macarthur
and General Lawton. have returned in
force to their old trenches around San
Fernando, where there are daily col
lisions.
Opposite our lines on the south pro-
tecting Manila, all the way around to
San Pedro Macati, the FilipinOs have
three rows of trenches most of the dis
tance.
Reports from prisoners Indicate that
the insurgents cOnstrue the peace negO-
ttatiOnS to mean that the Americans
have had enough of fighting. The Fill
ipinos are encouraged by the belief that
the Americans are preparing for an in
terval of Inactivity during the wet sea-
son
This period is sure to be followed by
some suffering Thousands of acres of
land that were under cultivation last
year have not been plowed this year,
and the government will probably be
obliged to feed thousands, just as it fed
the Cubans
Friendly natives. amigos. continue to
pour into the American lines. by land
and river routes. coming from the ter
ritory of the insurrection into the
country where the passage of the two
armies has left no food, and practically
throwing themselves upon the charity
OF their conquerOrs. Such able bodied
men as are not in the Filipino ranks
have been kept by the insurgent lead
ers to dig trenches, and old men, wO-
men and children form the mass of the
refugees. These are doing some pIow-
ing, but they will be confronted by hun
ger before they can realize any subsist-
ence from their crops The United
States army has organized a system of
distributing rice at MalOlos and some
of the smaller towns where Filipinos
stores We're captured, but the latter
will soon be exhausted.
OTIS REPORTS ON JOIO
Washington. May 29-The war de-
partment has made public the follow
ing dispatch from Gen. Otis. command
ing at Manila:
Manila, May 29-Two battalions
Twenty-third infantry in quiet posses
sion JOlo.
spanish troops withdrawn from Zaln-
boanga after battle with Insurgents
with severe loss to the latter. Spanish
loss nine killed. 27 wounded among
whom Commanding General Montero:
died from wounds, buried here yester-
day Insurgents used rifles artillery
and ammunition captured from gum
boats, expending major part of amrnu-
milton Conference followed between
Gen Rios, who went from Manila to
Withdraw troops and Insurgents Lat
ter stated to him would not oppose
landing Americans, but would accept
conditions in Luzon- Spanish troops
withdrawn now here depart for Spain
tomorrow.
Feeble attack by insurgents on in
habitants southeast portion Negros ne
cesSltated sending battalion troops from
Manila there Will soon restore
Insurgents falsehoods circulated in
southern islands of overwhelming in
surgent victories in Luzon keen mn ex
more ignorant classes, although intel
Ggent people know American army