Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-13
CABLEGRAM FROM
GENERAL Otis
Reports Condition in Philip
pines as Improving.
THE SITUATION AT ILoILo
Insurgents Sink Lighters TO BLOCK
Channel Mt Entrance TO the River
Order Maintained and offenders
shos-Amcricnns Denied IL Landing
Anywhere Government at MaIOIos
I'm Favor of II Protectorate.
tBy Telegraph to virglnlan-Pnot.,

(By Telegraph to Virglnlan5P ilot.)
Washington, d. c., Jan. 1.-THE Sec
rotary of War was much gratifled this
morning by the receipt of the follow
ing cablegram at T:2O:
Manila, Jan. -, 1899.
Adjutant General washington:
Conditions apparently improving
Citizens feel more secure. Many ma
tlves returning. City quiet and bust
ness active.
(Signed) OTIS.
SITUATION AT ILOILO.
Manila. Jan. 12.-Thc situation at
lloilo is unchanged. The I'ilipinos are
increasingly active day and night On
Saturday they loaded some lighters
with rock and sank them at the en-
trance of the river, blocking the chan
nel for all vessels with the exception OF
launches. All the lights have been ex-
tinguished.
Order however. is maintained with
severity and offenders are promptly
shot.
ON Sunday one of the Arizona's boats,
manned by soldiers, was carried by ebb
tide to Quimarcs Island, and while at
assembled on the beach and compelled
the Americans TO retire
AMERICANS IGNORED.
The Filpinos refuse to have any deal
ingS with the Americans vegetables
and fruit are not obtainable, business
Is SUSPENDED and the warehouses are
full of rotting sugar.
AT Manila the situation Is critical but
qualification is possible. in spite of the
unyieldinG attitude OF the Filipinos
1t is reported that the rebel govern
ment at Malolo3 is willing that the
Americans should establish IL protecto-
rate on the condition that hey promise
TO give The 1'ilpinos absolute indepcn-
dence within Il stated time. 1t Is also
said that the l7ilipinos will demand Off
cla rccognitiOn
Efforts are being made to bring about
another conference with the rebels
The educated Filipinos are anxious to
avoid trouble. ana it is hoped that the
militant Filipiros will rccede before
wiser counsel
In tho meantime the tension is ex-
IRENE on both sides
AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS DESERT
Hong Kong. Jan. 12-Thc Fnipinos
here say that ton American volunteers
jumped overheard from the transports
bound from Manila to Iloilo. swan
ashore and said they had not volun-
tcered 10 light Filipnos. The report
is not confirmed.
TROOPS RETURN TO MANILA.
London. Jan. l$.-Thc Hong Kong
correspondent of the Daily Mail saws
that i.n00 additional Americans who
had embarked for lloilo have returned
10 Manila.
AGUINALDOS ATTITUDE.
The Hong Kong correspondent of the
Times says:
The Filipino refugees insist that
Agulnaldo will regard Il landing of the
Americans a Iloilo as Il declaration of
war, and will Immediately attack Ma
MIA. lie has already warned the for
elEhers' including the Spaniards, OF his
intention. offering them Il safe conduct
into the provinces. The American au-
thoritics still exercise Il strict censor
ship at Manila over all press MESA
RcS."
The Manila correspondent of the
Morning Post, tclegraphng Thursday,
says:
THE SITUATION OUIETER.
'"Thc situation is much cuetcr To-
day. The conference between the repre-
sentatives of General Otis and Agui-
naldo has helped to allay excitement.
and the Filipino newspapers arc ,nilder
IN tone. There is hope of Il peaceful set
tlcmcnt. The inSurgcnt government IS
now engngcd in considering the pre-
paration of II definite proposition as to
what they desire from the United
States"
AS VIEWED IN MADRID.
Madrid, Jan. 12.-Pcrsons who have
returned here from the Philippine ISL
nnds expatiate upon the "diniculties
facing the United States when under
taking To conquer the whole archipcla-
go in arms
They assert that it will be Impossible
for tho Americans to penetrate beyond
the ports without an immense .smv
declaring that the islands are $50 i'm
povcrished that the Americans will he
compelled to obtain provisions else
where" and that the climate is much
more fatal than the Cuban climate TO
Americans