Gloucester County Democrat., 1899-02-09
AGUINALDo wEAKENs.
After Declaration of war He Sues
For Peace.


After Declaration of War He Sues
For Peace.
Washington. Feb. 9.-There was an
almost complete release yesterday Of
the tension under which the rapid oe-
currence of events in the Philippines
has held the officials of the admins
tration since the first startling news
from Manila Saturday night. This was
brought about through the receipt of
a bulletin from General Otis summing
up the latest results of the fighting he
has had with the natives. General
Otis dispatch was as follows:
Situation rapidly improving. Re-
connoissance yesterday to south sew
eral miles to Lagunade bay, to south
east eight miles, driving struggling in
surgent troops in various directions,
encountering no decided opposition.
Army disintegrated and natives re-
turning to villages displaying white
flag. Near Caloocan enemy made a
stand behind entrenchments; charged
by Kansas troops, led by Colonel Funs-
ton. Close encounter, resulting in rout
of the enemy, with heavy loss. Loss to
Kansans, Lieutenant Afford killed, six
men wounded. On the 4th Aguinaldo
issued proclamation charging Ameri-
cans with initiative, and declared war;
Sunday issued another calling to resist
foreign invasion; his influence
throughout this section is destroyed;
now applies for a cessation of HOSTILE
ties and conference have declined to
answer"
The statement that Aguinaldo's in
fiuence has been destroyed and that
the Filipino leader was seeking for a
cessation of hostilities and for a con-
ference was most acceptable, and was
interpreted as an admission that he
had realized his terrible mistake. II
is entirely improbable that he will be
able to restore anything like the
status quo or to obtain anything like
the same terms as were possible last
week. No one here now knows Just
what General Otis intends to impose
in the way. of terms. He has absolute
power In that respect. Should he ask
for instructions on any point" said
Secretary Alger, 'he will be told to
exercise his own discretion
In this view of the case it will be
seen that no one here can tell at pres
ent how Otis will act toward Aguin-
aldo's application But the opinion is
expressed by men here who know Gen.
eral Otis experience with the Indians
that he will make the laying down Of
arms the condition of dealing with the
insurgents. and IL that condition is
met. of course it will mean a speedy
termination of the rebellion.
Dispatches have been received daily
from General Otis. In his dispatch Of
Tuesday he places the insurgent loss
at 1000, and asserts that Spanish sol
diers aided the insurgents in their ar
tillery fire Our casualties. he says,
probably aggregate $50, including half
a hundred dead.
A forward movement is probable at
Iloilo, where General Miller has been
for weeks lying In front of the town
In his transports. He has never had
any doubt OF his ability to take the
place whenever he got the word. but
there has been restraining influence
from Washington. based In part on the
hope that the insurgents could be
brought to a peaceful retirement from
the town and an apprehension that an
effort to force landing might result
In serious injury to foreign interests.
Now, however, it is felt that the latter
are perhaps more IN jeopardy from q
continuance of the existing state of
affairs than they would be through a
sanid seizure Of the town.