Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-19

En- LEADERS HAVE SOUGHT
SAFETY IN THE MOUNTAINS
TWELVE MILES NORTH OF SAN
ISIDRO, AND FROM THIS RE-
TREAT ARE SENDING A COM
MISSION TO GEN. OTIS TO SUE
FOR PEACE-WAR DEPART
MENT CONVINCED THAT THIS
LATEST MOVE OF AGUINALDO
AND HIS CABINET IS SINCERE,
AND THAT THE POWER OF THE
U. S. FORCES is RECOGNIZED.
Washington, May 18.-Gen. Otis has
cabled the War Department that repre-
sentatives of Aguinaldo are seeking
terms OF peace, and that the forces of
the insurgents are scattering in the
mountains.
The cablegram from Gen. Otis reads:
Manila, May IS.
Representatives of the insurgent
cabinet and Aguinaldo, who are in the
mountains II miles north of San Isidro,
which was abandoned on the 18th inst,
will send in commission tomorrow
to seek terms of peace.
The majority of the force confront
| ing Macarthur at San Fernando has re-
tired to Tarlac, tearing up two miles
OF railway. This force has decreased
to about twenty-five hundred. Scouting
parties and attachments are moving
to-day in various directions. Mai.
kobbe, with his command, is at Can
oava, on the Rio Grande. The great
majority of the inhabitants of the
provinces over which the troops have
moved are anxious for peace. and are
supported by members of the insurgent
| cabinet. The aspect of affairs at pre-
sent is favorable. OTIS.
Great satisfaction was expressed by
War Department officials with the
news contained in the dispatch of Gen.
Otis. The belief was expressed that
the end of the instruction was at
nand. The wisdom or refusing any
terms to the first commission and i'm
pressing the insurgents is everywhere
commended. On this account no doubt
is expressed that the new commission,
which is on its way to Manila, will be
ready to accept the favorable terms
which Gen. Otis has been ready to
grant upon the actual surrender and
cessation of hostilities.
The dispatch of Gen. Otis was i'm
medlately sent to the President at Hot
Springs. Secretary Alger said that
the situation was most encoura cling
and that it was apparent that the Fill
pinos realized the strength of the
United States and saw that resistance
! would mean determination for them
,, II they persisted in defying authority
| Speaking of the part taken by the vol
unteers in the Philippine campaign, the
Secretary says that instead of wishing
to be home they would not have missed
| 1t, as 1t was an event in their lives.
and especially as the hard fighting has
been crowned with success.
1t is not likely that Gen. Otis will
permit himself to be deceived by the
overtures of the insurgents, or that he
will give consideration to any promo
sitions which the present commission
may submit that are not sincere and
final beyond question 1t is not clear
to the officials here what concessions
Aguinaldo expects to receive. in
asmuch as Gen. Otis, with the full
approval of the President and his cab
met, has repeatedly declared that he
will consider nothing but the uncondi-
tional surrender of the insurgents as
necessary preliminary to any negotia-
lions for cessation of hostilmies. 1t
is possible that the willy insurgent
leader believes that he may make
terms for the special benefit of him
self and his cabinet, and it is even
possible that he has an idea that the
United States may be willing to reim-
burse him literally for the surrender
of his army. 1t is suggested that
Aguinaldo is merely looking out for
his own interests in this matter, now
that the Filipino cause is lost, and
will demand safe conduct out of the
Philippine Islands for himself and
few of his chosen friends, together
with sufficient money to enable them
to live in exile for reasonable period.
War Department officials are firmly
convinced that the end of the insurrec-
ton in the Philippines is at hand, and
that the representatives of the insur-
gent cabinet and of Aguinaldo. who
are to meet Gen. Otis tomorrow, will
succumb to the inevitable and sur
render.
Their forces, it is said at the DEPART
ment, are evidently so utterly demoralized