The Irish standard., 1899-04-22
FIFTEEN CAPTURED.
Members of Yorktown's Crew Fall
Into Hands of Rebels.
Am bush ed and Made Prisoners While
Trying to Rescue Spanish Pris.
oners-Anxiety Regarding
Their Fate.

washington, April 1S.-lne navy de.
partment has given out the following
dispatch from Admiral Dewey:
Manila, April 1s-Secretary Of the Navy,
Washington: Yorktown visited Balem, 1.u-
zon. east coast of Luzon, P. l., April ~.
for the purpose of rescuing and bringing
away the Spanish forces consisting of so
soldiers, three officers and two priests.
which were surrounded by 400 insurgents.
Some OF the insurgents armed with Mauser
rifles by natives. Lieut.. j. c. Gill
more, while making ambushed
were fired upon and captured. Fate un-
known. as insurgents refused to commu-
nicate afterward. The following are MISS
ing:
The officer previously referred to. Chief
Quartermaster w. Walton, Coxswain ].
Ellsworth. Gunner's Mate H. j. Hygard,
Sa1lmaker's Mate Vendgit, Seamen w. H.
Rynders. and c. w. Woodbury., Appren-
tees d. w. A. Venville, A. j. Peterson, Or
binary Seamen F. Brisolese, O. B. McDon-
aid, Landsmen L. T. Edwards, F. Anderson.
'(Signed) DEWEY"
The y n denote portions of the
dispatch which could not be deciphered.
First Naval Reverse.
The capture of the Yorktown's men
was discussed with much feeling in
naval circles. The misfortune was felt
with added keenness, as the navy has
prided itself thus far on immunity from
reverses. The admiral's dispatch of
Tuesday was the first knowledge the de-
partment had that the Yorktown had
gone on this special mission to relieve
the Spanish garrison at Baler. That the
capture should have been effected while
the American forces were on mission
OF mercy towards the Spaniards, rather
than in the prosecution of campaign,
led to the belief that Spain would have
no further ground for questioning the
good faith with which the Americans
were seeking to relieve the condition of
the Spanish prisoners.
Great Anxiety.
Although the dispatch gave no indi-
cation that Lieut.. Gilmore and his men
had lost their lives, yet great anxiety
was aroused by the mystery surround
ing their fate while in the hands of an
uncivilized enemy. This is the first cap
ture of any Americans, military or
naval, so that it is unknown how the
insurgents will treat our men. If civil
lied methods were pursued an exchange
has a large number of Filipino pris-
oners, but the insurgents have been
averse thus far to exchanging Spanish
prisoners, and this raises question as
to what they will do with the York.
towns men.
Are Anxious For Peace.
Manila, April ia number of prom
inent and wealthy Filipinos are organ
izing a committee to take steps to
bring about if possible an understand
ing between the rebels and the Ameri-
cans. One branch of this committee
intends to ask the United States Phil
ippine commission to make statement
as to what terms will be offered the
rebels if the latter will surrender.
Another branch of the committee will
approach Aguinaldo with the terms and
will endeavor to persuade him to accept
them. 1t is considered doubtful, how
ever, if any members of the committee
will dare to personally confer with the
rebel leader.
The committee includes several per-
sons recently condemned to death by
Aguinaldo for petitioning him to cease
fighting
Too Late to Draw Back.
London, April 19.-The morning pa
pers all comment upon the situation in
the Philippines to the general effect
that it is now impossible for the United
States to draw back and that the Ameri-
cans must from time to time expect
such apparent reverses as Mai. Gen.
Lawton's retirement from the Santa
Cruz district. The Daily Mail in an
editorial entitled Dare America Re-
treat?" says: "We do not believe for an
instant that the wistful prophecies of
France, Germany and Italy will be
verified and the United States retire
vanquished and Inundated" Compar-
ing Americas task to England's in
Burmah, the Daily Mail says: "Pluck
and doggedness will triumph in the
end. No true-hearted American can
raise his voice to recall the troops or to
refuse reinforcements. That would
be cowardice. and continental nations
would never cease to sneer." o.,
Threaten to Leave the State.
Des Moines, Ia, April 19.-Represent-
atices of Iowa life insurance COM