The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-29

Manila, April %, 1850 p. m.-Aguin-
aldo is evidently selecting the army as
cloak for his congress, hoping by
subterfuge to overcome General Otis
consistent policy of ignoring the Filipino
government. The Filipnos' argument
is that it is impossible to arrange an
| armistice without the sanction of the
congress- General Otis punctured this
assumption by saying that if Aguilal
do could make war without the con-
gress he could stop war without refer
ence to that body. One Of the confer
ees afterwards remarked that they are
shrewder than white men in diplomacy,
as the Malays are credited with being.
| While the insurgents are undoubted-
| ly tired of war the leaders are torn with
dissensions There is a suspicion that
it was hoped by means of a conference
| to ascertain what theJ could expect
If they saw that anything is to be gain
| ed by continuing the war an armistice
would afford them an opportunity for
recuperating their forces.
| 1t is interesting commentary upon
| Aguinaldo's scheme that only go of the
800 members of the Filipino congress
have taken the oath of allegiance which
their constitution requires.
A Filipino proclamation replying to
the proclamation of the American COM
missioners has appeared. 1t is signed
by Madini for the president, and is
dated at Caniasdro, April 19. 1t de-
clares that President Mckinley issued
the proclamation in order to force the
| American congress to ratify the cession
of the islands under the treaty of Paris.
This contract of cession was made
with the Spanish after Spanish domin-
| alton had been ended by the valor of
our, troops, the proclamation asserts
The proclamation complains that 'he
Filipinos were not represented at Paris
during the negotiations of the treaty
/ and that they are without assurances
of the fulfillment of American prom
Uses. 1t dilates upon the alleged Anglo
Saxon hatred of blacks, and asserts a
desire to enslave them. Deploring a
lack of foreign aid in prosecuting the
war, 'the proclamation concludes:
I'VE stand alone, but we will fight TO
the death. Coming generations will
pray over our graves, shedding tears Of
gratitude for their freedom"
11:45 p. m.-Yesterday furnished add
ed proof that the United States troops
have fear of bushwhacking that is
above their fears of battle The Wash
ington regiment, which is holding
Taguig with three companies of the
18th regulars, engaged a large force
of insurgents in a fight in the jungle.
The Americans lost two killed and 10
wounded. The Filipinos have been
massing at the mouth of Pasig river
and it is estimated there are 1000 of
them now They have mounted two
} guns, one three-inch Krupp, and have
thrown a number of shells into the
American lines. The gunboat Rapidan,
which is guarding the entrance to the
river, shelled launch which was car
rying supplies.
Yesterday large force of rebels ap-
! preached the town, seemingly bent on
Turing the Americans from Calumpt.
Three companies of the Washington
troops sailed from the town and at
tackled the natives and found they had
their hands full. Two other companies
of the Washingtons and three of the
18th regulars reinforced them and
} drove back the enemy, who removed
their dead and wounded as they retired,
as usual.
The Filipino officers walked down the
} railroad track to the Kansas regiment S
outposts at o'clock this morning. The
Kansas captain escorted them to
J Wheaton's headquarters, where they
We're provided with horses and sent to
the headquarters of Macarthur. The
latter invited the Filipinos to sit down
} at lunch with him and cOnversed with
them for some time. He refused, how
ever, to speak authoritatively on the
{ subject of their errand, referring all in
) quiries to Otis.
The Filipinos We're then escorted by
Major Malloney to Manila, reaching
: this place at 3 p m. Otis aide, Lieu
tenant Sladen. was awaiting their ar
rival at the depot with a carriage, in
which they We're driven to the palace
They were escorted directly to the of
flee of General Otis. Jacob B. Schur-
I man, president of the Philippine com
{ mission, and Charles DENLY, a mem
Der of the commission, soon Joined the
Z | party.
News of the arrival of the Filipino
{ officers under a flag of truce spread
through the city rapidly and many Off
: GERS gravitated TO the corridors of the
( palace, with crowd of natives gath
s cred in the square opposite the palace
At o'clock the two Filipino officers
I escorted by Lieutenant Sladen anc
( Major NIaliUney. left the palace. They
s did nor look a all elated as a result OF
their talk with Otis and members of the
( Filipino commission
I