The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-20
FILIPlNOS TO FARLEY
OFFER TO RELEASE THE AMERI-
CAN PRISONERS THEY HOLD
AND TO TALK PEACE
THE ENEMY rs WEAKENING
quest of the FiliDinOs in the
Hope of Delivering Lieut.. Gil
ment-StOry of the Capture OF the
Men of the Yorktown.

WASHINGTON, Sept 10-Secretary
Root today received a telegram from
Gen. Otis that seemed to indicate weak
ening on the part of the insurgents in
LuZon. 1t contained a proffer to deliver
the American prisoners who have been
for so many months in the hands of the
insurgents, and also sought permission
TO parley with Gen. Otis.
This telegram was at once taken by
Secretary Root over to the cabinet meet
ing and formed the main topic for dis
cussion at the beginning of the session.
However, upon reading the message care
fully its apparent Importance seemed to
diminish. Secretary Root himself did not
regard the matter as of Importance at
this time. He recalled frequent efforts on
the part of the insurgents in the past
TO gain time at critical moments by open
ing negotiations, ostensibIy with the OBJ
iect Of making peace, and he was not
sure but this last offer was something of
the same kind However, the secretary
is Of the opinion that it would fail to
afford the insurgents any advantage
Gen. Otis would receive any messenger
and listen to him, and make answer to
his proposals, but this would not restrain
the military operations in the slightest
degree, and the American arms would
lose no ground no matter how the negotia-
tons turned out. There is a possibility
also that the insurgents may have
become disheartened at the renewed and
intense activity in the direction of re-
inforcng Gen. Otis and concluded in
view Of the great force gathering to open
the campaign in the dry season, that
further resistance would be useless.
1t is pointed out as a noticeable fact
that Aguinaldo's name does not appear
in Gen. Otis dispatch, and though this
may not be of great significance, still
among some of the army officers it is
surmised that there are serious dissen-
sions among the insurgents, and that
perhaps some of the discordsnt elements
are acting on their own responsibility
The text of the dispatch follows:
Manila, Sept. 19.-Adjutant General,
Washington: Macarthur reports from
Angeles visit of two insurgent officers
with request for permission to send into
our lines American prisoners, and to
send to Manila prominent insurgent gem
eral officer for conference. The requested
interview granted, and insurgent officers
in Angeles return north this morning
with informa ton. -"Otis."
CAPTURED AMERICANS.
The capture of Lieut. Gilmore and his
party was one of the most stirring Incl
dents Of the Instruction It occurred
while the cruiser Yorktown was making
a survey of the western coast of Luzon
with a view Of locating some of the de-
tached Spanish garrisonS which had been
long cut off from the populous centers.
1t was known that Spanish garrison
had been surrounded at Balero, on the
eastern coast, and Lieut.. Gilmore with a
boats party from the Yorktown was
sent ashore to rpconnOiter the surround
ing country. He divided his command,
one party remaining near the shore
while another pushed inland, This was
the last heard of the lieutenant and the
fifteen men who accompanied him. The
other members of the party waited for
long time but got no trace of their COM
panions and finally We're obliged to re-
turn to the ship without them. Admiral
Dewey at once reported the loss to the
navy department., and before he left
Manila used every possible means to learn
the condition of the captive Americans.
At first it was feared they had lost their
lives but later definite information was
received that the following were alive at
San Isidro, an insurgent stronghold:
Lieut.. Gilmore, Chief Cuartermaster Will
liam Walton. Sailmaker's Mate Paul
Vandoit. Coxswain John Ellsworth APP
prentice third class Albert Peterson,
Landsman Silvio Brisolese, Landsman
Lyman Paul Edwards and Landsman
Fred Anderson.
Capt. Charles NJ Rockefeller. of the
Nineteenth infantry, is also supposed to
be a. prisoner with TIE insurgents. He
disappeared last April and no trace Ct
him has been discovered.