Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-07-13
.SCnUnNAN'S REPORT.
Brief Account Given Of the Commits
sioner's Trip in Philippines.
RAIN DISCONNODINC AMERICANS.
Our Soldiers Almost Drowned Ont and
Sleeping With Three Feet Of Water
Under Their Bunks- Manila Bay
Impossible to Navigate.

Washington, July lO.-Concerning
dispatches received at the state de-
partment from President Schurman
regarding his trip throughout the
Philippine archipelago, Secretary Day
authorizes this formal statement:
Dispatches have been received at the state
department from President SchurNan, Of the
Philippine commission, giving a brief account
OF his journey TO the southern islands Of the
archipelago He finds the conditions in these
Islands extremely gratifying. There Is dis
position almost everywhere south Of Luz0n to
accept American sovereignty and take ad-
vantage Of the things which the American oc-
cupatlon holds out. President Schurman ex-
poets 10 arrive at San Francisco about August
Is.
As the result Of a review of President
Schurman's dispatches, Secretary Day
has authorized Brig. Gen. Bates at
Manila to go to the Sulu groups to con-
suit with the sultan OF the Sulus re-
garding the future of those islands.
The authorities will not divulge
the nature of the instructions to Gen.
Bates, but it is understood that there
is no disposition here to infringe upon
the sultan's authority provided he ac-
knowledges the sovereignty of the
United States. Gen. Bates will ex-
plain the friendly purpose Of this gov
eminent and, If necessary, will agree
that this government shall pay him
II small annuity as was done by the
Spanish government. President Schur-
man reported that the sultan wasquite
willing to transfer his allegiance on con-
dition that treaties existing between
himself and Spain were respected by
the United States. 1t is further stated
by an Official in a position to know
that this government intends to estab-
fish home rule at places where il is
considered advisable, including the is
land of Negroes conditions in which,
according to President Schurman, are
especially suuisldctofy'
RAIN DIscoMMoDlNG AMERICANS.
Manila, July 1O.-lt has been raining
and storming almost constantly for two
days and the country along the Amer
lean south and bay lines is literally
flooded. The soldiers are suffering
great discomfort. The Thirteenth in
fantry at Pasay is in the worst posi-
ton, being practically surrounded by
water. The bridges that were used for
getting supplies have been washed
away and some of the companies are
nsw separated by streams six feet
deep In many cases the men are
sleeping with three feet of water be-
meath their hunks, which are elevated
on cracker boxes, The company cooks,
when preparing the meals, stand knee
deep in water. Some of the roads lead
ing to Pasay are simply impossible and
the rice fields on all sides are one great
lake. A high wind blew over several
tents of the Second reserve hospital,
Manila bay is impossible of navigation
by either launches or canoes, and no
vessels are leaving the harbor, The
United States transport Centennial is
ready to sail for San Francisco with
discharged soldiers but the latter have
to sit around the water front all day,
drenched to the skin, waiting for
launch to take them to the steamer.
The river Pasig and all the other
streams are swollen and city streets at
all low points are covered with water.