The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-07-21
WAR NOT ES,

Important cablegrams have been re-
ceived at the state department from
the Philippine commission and at the
war department from Gen. Otis, con-
corning a new move in the direction of
peace. These dispatches have been in
the hands of the President for several
days but he has declined to make them
public because the ultra optimistic
views heretofore received from the
same source have not been borne out
by subsequent events. The latest dis
patches, however, are more encourage
ing than the previous ones, but the
President wishes to have some positive
results before making them public.
All that can be learned definitely
about them is that direct overtures for
peace have been made to Gen. Otis by
leaders.
The state department has received
from the Philippine commission an
important dispatch conveying these
facts: BY the cooperation of the mil
itary and the commission, municipal
governments have been established in
seven important towns in the provinces
of Manila and Cavite. These are work.
ing admirably and one good effect of
them is that considerable numbers OF
the insurgents are constantly desert
ing and coming in, some of them with
arms. The system will soon be ex-
tended to other towns which are ask
ing for it. Continued success in this
direction will mean the beginning of
the end.
Those friends of Gen. Shafter who
are working to have him retained in
the army after his time to retire has
arrived will not meet with success. If
congress was in session and there was
an overwhelming desire to prolong the
services of Shafter as an officer of the
army, the law might be amended in
his case; but under the statute that
will control the President, General
Shafter must be placed on the retired
list. After that he cannot be en-
ployed without special act of con-
gress, even if the Santiago campaign
were about to be fought over again.
The truth regarding the recent proc
lamation issued in Matanzas shows
that a revolutionary party has been
established with headquarters in Ka-
vana, it's object being to incite Cubans
throughout the entire country. This
party has agents in every large city
and also a junta in Mexico, one of the
agents of which is now at Havana.
All this is perfectly well known to the
authorities and no manifesto comes off
the press without the government re-
ceiving a copy of it, Nothing is done
to stop the agitators, who would pose
as martyrs If interfered with.
Under command of Capt. McGraw
gunboat Napidan, commanded by
Lieut.. Larsen, had an engagement
with detachment of 500 Filipinos at
Mantiiupa, on the south shore of the
lake. The Napidan shelled the rebels
and party of 1875 Americans landed,
and by sharp running fight succeeded
in driving the rebels to the hills. Two
of the cavalrymen were wounded, and
the bodies of 10 insurgents were found.
1t is estimated that the enemy's loss
was 35.
The board of naval chiefs decided at
their meeting on the 18th to completely
refit the cruiser Buffalo as naval
transport, at cost of about $4,000.
This ship was bought of the Brazilian
government at the time of the war
and was commonly known as dyna-
mite cruiser. She has not proved all
that was expected, however, and it
seemed desirable to transform her into
q transport for the Philippine service.
The navy department has received
the first half of an order for 100 new
machine guns of a new type, the most
powerful in the possession of any gov
eminent. They are one-pounders,
carrying an explosive shell and can
fire $50 shots minute. They are
cooled by a water jacket and it is said
they can put so shots into the head of
a barrel at half a mile in q quarter
Of minute.
It is the intention of the war de- q,
partment to supply the American
troops with dynamite guns to be used
in the fall campaign against the Fill
pinos
The anniversary of the surrender of
Santiago de Cuba was observed at Ha-
vana on the 18th.
The yellow fever situation at San
tiago continues to improve.