The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-06-20

lar infantry and the Wyoming regi-
ment have been added to General
Lawton's command and today they
were towed across in cascoes to Las
Pinas, preparatory to removing to
linus, five miles inland, where the
rebels are reported to have an arsenal
and a large quantity of supplies.
THE REBELS RETREAT.
Captain Cable, Of General uheaton's
staff. with three companies OF the
Twenty-irst regiment, r~econnoitered
in the direction of linus. The rebels,
who were apparently expecting an at
tack, retired, leaving behind them
twenty Spanish prisoners who Joined
the Americans. The rebels have prob
ably gone to the mountains along the
lake. a.
According to native stories, the reb-
els carried 100 dead and 300 wounded
through Bakoor after the recent battle.
The natives are now flooding into
Bakoor, and it is probable there are
many soldiers in plain clothes among
them. The whole section is practically
without food, and Major General Otis
has ordered the distribution or rice and
beef to the inhabitants.
ASSASSINATION OF GENERAL
LUNA.
Many people still refuse to credit
the story of the assassination of Gen
eral Luna by the guard at Aguinaldos
headquarters, though the reports to
that effect are most circumStantial and
from good sources. Rumors Of assis-
sinations and disasters from the rebel
camp are so frequently printed in the
local papers that they have come to
be regarded with Indifference. The lp"
est is that the governor Of -CuSa nas
been killed by natives because OF MS
friendship to Americans. -,
"A prominent commercial man Win
exceptional means Of learning Oh Ine
Philippines movements claims to know
General Luna is still alive, adding mat
if he were dead and if his death oc-
Cured a month ago, people would nave
expected a collapse of the revolution to
follor".
TThe failure of the Philippines to fol-
low up the peace negotiations strength
ems the impression that their overtures
were merely to gain time and in order
to lure the Americans to show their
hands.
The Independence, a revolutionary
organ, prints an interview with General
Luna, showing the arguments he used
to keep up the spirits of his followers.
He represents the Philippine cause as
prospecting, because the Americans
have gained only a hundredth part of
Luzon by hard fighting and says the
-o-zo~ n-I ahi1Iro- 4i11:rr +ho folds
within the American lines give pro-
ceeds of their work to support the
Philippine army. He is said to have
further remarked: More Americans
will be killed by ambuscade, surprises
and disease than in battles. 1 detest
war, but we cannot accept peace at any
price but independence. The Ameri-
cans suffered for their own indepen-
dence and in their own hearts they ap-
preciate why we resist them"
NEW REGIMENTS FOR THE PHIL
IPPINES.
Washington, June 15.-Pursuing a
policy determined upon some months
ago, General Otis is organizing three
regiments in the Philippines composed
of officers and men of the state volun-
teers who desire to remain in the ser
vice. The army bill authorized this
kind of enlistment in the Philippines,
If the full complement cannot be
made up from those discharged volun-
teers in the Philippines, the regiments
will be organized and differed in skel-
>eton form until recruits can be sent
from the United States to fill them.
General Otis and volunteer officers
in the Philippines have been consulting
to see how many men will enlist. The
number has not been very large as
there seems to be a desire on the part
OF the volunteers to return to the Unit
ed States with their organizations.
These proposed regiments of regu-
lars will sail from San Francisco on
the 22nd and Oath and those under ord
ers for Manila will give General Otis
$4,000 fighting men.
The field and staff officers and cap
tains Of these three regiments will be
selected from the volunteer and regu-
lar officers who have demonstrated
their special fitness to command and
who have distinguished themselves in
action. 1t is expected also that the
first lieutenants will be chosen from
second lieutenants in the service in
the Philippines h may be especially
commended by General Otis. The vol
unteer second lieutenants will probably
go out from the United States with
the recruiting squads.
General Otis cabled today as follows:
Manila, June Is.
"Adjutant General, Washington:
Success of Lawton's troops Cavite
province greater than reported yes
terday. Enemy, numbering over 1000,
lost in killed, wounded and captured
more than one-third; remainder much
scattered, have retreateT south to
linus, their arsenal; of five pieces OF
artillery, three captured. Navy aided
greatly in shore bay, landing forces
occasionally. Inhabitants in that u
try rejoice at deliverance and welcome
with enthusiastic demonstrations ar
rival OF our troops.
"OTTS."