Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-15
HEAVY LOSSES WERE FEARED
FUTURE DEPENDS UPON CONDUCT
OF THE FILIPINOS.
II They Are Ready to Quit, They Need
Not Fear Further Chastisement
Dewey and Otis Not to BE
Hampered by Unnec.
cssary Orders.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE confirna-
ton Of the press reports detailing the cap
ture OF Iloilo were received at the war
department to-day with considerable sat
isfaction. While no apprehension had peen
felt as to General Millers ability to cap
ture the capital Of the Viscayan federation.
or. for that matter anything else that was
wanted in the archipelago. the reports OF
strong intrenchments that the natives had
been constructing around the town led the
department to fear that the landing would
be bloodier affair than either Of the bat
ties of Manila. 1t was with great salts
faction. therefore. that Admiral Dewey
dispatch was received saying that we had
lost no men at all. and the casualties among
the natives were much smaller than at hrst
reported. The fact that foreign interests
at noilo are being satisfactorily guarded
is another source of qualification to the ad-
ministration. This forestalls criticism or
danger of interference from any Of the for
eign powers. which has all along been
complication that had to be considered as a
possibility. but which it was intended to
avoid at all costs.
What the future will be, it is scarcely
safe to say. TIE president, from the In
ception Of the Spanish war, has been earn
estly in favor of the most humane policy.
and it is not intended to follow the severe
check to the Filipinos with a war of SUBJ
jugation If the insurgents will allow this
government to avoid it. They have had
stern lesson at Manila and at noilo and If
they are content to profit by it and come
peaceabiy into camp they may do SO with
out fear of further chastisement. Still, 1T
is recognized that Admiral Dewey and
General Otis have a much better grasp Of
the local situation than is possible hero.
and the administration does not purpose to
tie their hands with unnecessary instruc-
tions.
MANILA, Feb. I'LL: so g. m--Particu-
lars of the capture of Iloilo by the United
States forces under Brigadier General M.
D. Miller. on Saturday last, have been re-
ceived here.
On the morning Of Friday. February 10.
General Miller sent an ultimatum to the
commander of the rebels on shore. notify
ing him that it was his inten-
ton to take Iloilo by force, if necessary.
Non-combatants and foreigners were
warned to leave the town within twenty
four hours. The rebels were also warned
that they must make no further beligerent
preparations: The gHnboat gI,ab Pstrel @ was was then
took up her station at the other end Of the
day. % many | refusees % left a the town Of folio: @
The majority Of them were taken on board
fEgn nPs ns snteS IN tse ssats. ssssr 4abs
were kept all night. long illuminating the
town and its defenses.
ships m could could discover. W remained auiescent
throughout the night.
At o'clock on the morning Of Saturday,
February II. the gunboat Petrol signaled
to the cruiser Boston that the rebels were
working in their trenches. In return. the
Petrol was ordered to fire warming shots
This was done and the rebels replied with
harmless fusilade.. The Boston and the
Petrol them bombarded the rebel trenches.
pants In a very short space of time.
Soon after the bombardment began.
parts parts Of f the town. tow % Thereupon: forty-eight
marines, acting as infantry and artillery,
| were landed from the cruiser Boston. and
boat Petrol. These detachments marched
straight into the town Of Iloilo and, hoist>
ing the stars and stripes over the fort
| Of the United States.
The capture of the town and Its de-
lenses having been accomplished. the ma.
ashore proceeded to the task Of saving the
American, English and German consulates
from destruction by the fire which was rag
| buildings Of the town. The Swiss consul's
residence, which was In the same row
| as the consuiates named. was burned. The
town were destroyed. but foreign mercan-
tile property escaped with slight damage.
There was some desultory firing by the
single American was injured. General Mil
| lers force had complete control of the
situation when the gunboat Petrol sailed
| States artillery regiment occupied posi-
tion commanding both The bridges leading
into the town, and the Tennessee volun-
| teers and the Eighteenth United States
infantry were occupying the trenches that
| had been constructed by the rebels.
General Otis said to q correspondent:
days ago Fflipinos, under Kapunan and
| Dolomep, came down the river, strong on
the Tondo district, in the rear of General
situation was alarming. ordered an at
| tack upon Caloocan. The order was to
would mot be asen en- Een tho
pino army and the forces of Kapunan and
| Dolomen.
where near Polo. His present estimated
strength is 10000 How many more he will
be able to collect it is impossible to tell,
perchance as many as 1900. The more he
brings together the more satisfied we will
be- for we would rather have him attack
US than to hunt for him."
| division, said: General Otis, in congratti.
lating me on behalf of the first division
said there were 5000 Filipinos opposed to
my division and that we cleared out 3,OOi
Of them. ''
~ think We shall have to give them an
The most prominent English business
men here say the Fflipinos received a mosi
is NOT that their military leaders are men
who know they must lose all power once
the fighting Is over, and consequently are
deceiving the natives into the belief thai
they have got the best of the recent fight.
ing these Englishmen do not think there
would be much trouble in bringing the Fiji.
pino government to terms.
In the opinion of English observers, the
campaign should be carried on energet.
fcally.
MORE TROOPS FOR MANILA.