The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-05-24
SUMTER. s. c.. EDNESDAY. MAY "a. 1899

situation vas most encouraging and
that it was sppareut that the Filipiuos
realized the strength Of the Uoited
States aud saw that resistance would
mean exserminatioD i: they persisted io
defyiDg authority.
Speaking Of The pa:t taken By the
volunteers 10 the Philippines campaign,
the secretary says that instead of wish.
ing to be home they would not have
missed it as it was on event in their
lives. especially as the hard fighting
has been crowned with success.
The secretary believes that the com
mission which Aguiaaldo is eeudiug to
Gen. Otis will accept any terms
proposed by the United States.
I. is not likely that Otis will permit
himself to be deceived by the over
lures of the insurgents, OF that he will
give consideration to any propositions
which t6e present commission may
submit that are not sincere and final
beyond question. 1t is not clear to the
officials here what concessions Agui-
paldo expects to receive irasmuch as
Gea. Otis, With tho full approval Of the
president and his cabinet, has repeated
ly declared that he will consider moth.
iog but the unconditional surrender Of
the insurgents as a necessary prelimi.
nary to any negotiations for cessation
of hostilities. It is possible that the
silly insurgent leader believed that he
may make terms for the special benefit
of himself and his cabinet, and it is
even possible that be has an idea that
the United States may be willing to
reimburse hin literally for the eurren-
der of bis army. It is suggested that
Aguiualdo is merely looking out for his
own interests 10 this matter, DOW that
the Filipino cause is lost, and will
demand safe conduct GU. of the Philip.
pine 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
convinced that the end Of the insurrec.
ton 10 the Philippines is at hand and
that the representatives of the insur.
gent cabinet Of Aguinsldo, who are to
meet Ger. Otis tomorrow, will sucoumb
to the ipsyisabIe and surrender. Their
forces are evidently 80 utterly deu uoral.
izsd by the persistent advance Of the
Americans chat they are ready to accept
peace on the best terms they can
obtaic.
Driven northw ward to the foothills of
the mountains as they have been, their
fleeing and scattered forces, disin.e
grated and disheartened, can no longer
be made to face our victorious advance.
Less than week ago Gen. Luna was
reported Just north of San Fernando
where Gen. MacArsbur's troops are
concentrated and 10 the neigkborbood
of Bscolar with about 5000 rebels.
Today Gen. Otis reports that the
remnant of this force. about 2. 500 meu,
has Withdrawn to Tarlic. over twenty
miles ncr.h of San Fernando.
It. is possible that the remainder Of
this force moeed east and joined the
main body of the insurgents which
abandoned San Isidro yesterday and
aed porthward to the point from which
Aguinaldo is DOW sending his commits
sioners to sue for peace.
If this is ruse to gain time, which
none of the officials at the war
department believe. it will avail nothing
as the An ericans will utilize the period
during the negotiations iu reconnoiter-
ing the country ahead of them prepare.
tory to the resumption Of operations
the minute the negotiations fail.
The dispatch Of two batsalious of the
Twenty. third infantry yesterday to Jolo,
the principal toso 10 the se!u archi-
pelsgo is tbo fourth military expedition
detached from the main body Of our
troops al Manila. The Sulu archipelago
is group Of $50 small islands extend
log 10 the form of crescent like the
Aieutisn islands. scuth of the Philip.
pines. There are 90 insurgents. IS
far as koown, in the Sulu group. The
population Of the islands consists of
500 aborigiues, 612 traders and 5000
negroes.