The Indianapolis journal., 1899-08-25
FEELING AT MANILA.
General Sentiment In that the War
VIII He PROLONGED.

MANILA, July q. via San Francisco. Aug.
A-In Manila talk Of the ending OF the
war deals no longer with weeks, but with
months and even years. Among the mass
of people here. military men and foreign
residents. there Is but one opinion The
whole effort Of the insurgents for three
months was 10 hold OF the Americans until
their ally the rains, came. In this they have
been as successful as they could have hoped.
Unless affairs take some unforeseen turn.
the Filipinos will resume the war this fall
with fresh spirit and a replenished stock
Of arms and ammunition. One shipload OF
arms. it is learned on good authority. has
reached them within this week.
OF money the leaders of the insurrection
have no lack. They control the resources
Of a large and exceedingly rich country and
even though no crops were harvested for
several years. they could still obtain enough
cash and supplies by impressing to their
use the treasures OF the church, the store
house of farmers and manufacturers and
levy which they have long enforced with
considerable success. All the ships coming
and going in the ports recently opened TO
trade pay heavy tribute to the insurgents.
Much of the profits Of this informal sort
OF government are supposed to go into the
pockets Of the leaders excepting Aguinaldo.
who is generally acquitted of enriching him.
self by the present war, but when the pub
lie treasury becomes empty the politicians
who are exploiting Aguinaldo may. IL they
see a possibility Of success, consider the
war a good private investment.
Reports brought through the lines to-
spaniards and Fflpinos In this city are
that the spirits Of the insurrectionists are
improving. Americans. like Spanisrds, de-
fer TO nature and rest on their arms most
of the time while the country Is q mud
walow. The generals are telling their fol-
lowers that American inaction during the
past month Is due 10 discouragement and
decentralization. The Filipino soldiers. ae-
cording TO these informants, are tolerably
contented. Although the paymaster seldom
appears, they are living as comfortably as
they have been accustomed to- being clothed
and receiving rations which an American
soldier could not live on. chiefly rice. with
only occasionally a little fish or meat They
are fairly we'll housed, having taken pos
session OF the dwellings and public and
church buildings in the towns in which
they are quartered and they add to their
living by looting.
Through the American secret service
come different stories that the Filipino
army is becoming decimated by desertion
to the number OF twenty or thirty a day
and is fast losing heart and on the verge
OF disruption. Past experience with the
secret service justifes a suspicion that
many of It's employees most OF whom are
natives or spaniards. deeply interested
in holding their places by seeming 10 earn
their pay while the refugees who come
through the lines have been disposed 10
give reports which they think will please
the authorities. Almost since the beginning
of the war they have pictured the Filipino
army as on its last legs and its collapse
but a question Of days. Two months ago
General Otis caused the country 70 bs
placarded with an offer Of so for each In
surgent rife voluntarily surrendarod.
II the Fflipinos were deserting by coupa-
MES. tired Of the war and converted "a
American rule. many OF them might Be az
pected to bring their guns into the Aueri-