The San Francisco call., 1899-03-18
NEWS THAT
HASN'T BEEN
CENSORED
Inability to Estimate the
Numbers and Resources
Of Filipinos.
VIEWS AS TO STRIFE
Englishmen Think That Extermina-
tion of Tagallos Is the Only
Way to End the War.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

HONGKONG, March 17.-The follow
ing general view of the situation is
from correspondent of the Associated
Press at Manila, and has not been sub
jected to censorship:
The most remarkable feature of the
situation is the inability of the Americans
and residents to estimate the numbers,
resources and plans OF the tflipinos.
Prominent generals say that two or three
disastrous battles will break their spirit
and make terms.
The English and other residents are of
the opinion that the exterInination of the
IAagallos A is the only guarantee OF peace;
give battle, but that they will dodge a
meeting with the American forces. Some
people think they will risk battles at
Malabon and Paranque, for they are
strongly intrenched and if they are de-
feated they will resume buShwhacking as
long as any of them are left.
United States Consul Williams says
II don't expect to live to see the end of
the war"
The rebels shift about so much that it
is impossible to estimate their numbers.
The correspondent questioned several OF
rebels, and the replies ranged from 10000
to 100, ,000 The estimates of the quantity
of arms possessed by the. rebels are
equally uncertain. The best authorities
say 30,0O0 Large sections of the armed
natives are ignorant of the use of their
weapons.
picket lines is rice fields, cane and brush.
THE rebels are familiar with the hiding
places. The residents say the Tagallos are
unanimously rebels, and they predict the
Americans will be resisted at Mindoro
and Mindanao and that they VIII De
obliged to subdue them.
The extent of the support which the
other Luzon tribes are giving Aguinaldo
is a mystery. 1t is known that several
regiments were under arms before the
outbreak, and majority of them are
n he iaa Ions of the TaPallOS.
who are reported to be treating the other
tribes in the fashion of the Spaniards,
dominating the island and holding all the
offices.
Reports from the rebels are TO the effect
that the recent tactics of the Americans
in retiring to their established lines after
pursuing makes the rebels think they are
winning a victory. The Oriental charac-
ter is so deceptive that the residents of
Manila are ignorant as to whether their
own servants svmpathiZe with the rebels
or not. 1t is known that rebel organl-
zation exists in the city, and the evidence
is growing that there was a widespread
plot to assassinate the Americans, the
signal being the commencement of hoStll-
tiles. The servants were instructed to kill
tbeir emnIovers. but they were terrorized
by the vengeance dealt out to offenders,
and they weakened Every Tagallo would
have cut his employers throat II ne oareo'
or at least this is a current saying.
The faithlessness of the natives is illus
trated by the action of the commissioners
who came here to offer the allegiance OF
the island of Negros. 1t is now known
that they were in friendly communication
with Aguinaldo while here.
The rebels have been reSuppl1ed with
ammunition and are using smokeless
powder. Nearly every house here dis
PLAYS a foreign flag for protection. All
flags except the Spanish flag are seen.
white flag on a bamboo as a protection
against being mistaken for active rebels.
Every hut between the city and the
American line is a heap of ashes.
The residents are the chief sufferers
from the present state of affairs. Food
commodities have doubled and trebled in
a standstill After Z o'clock in the even
ing a deathlike silence prevails in the city
except for the footsteps of the sentries
or their challenges as an occasional civil
ian is halted Each sentry calls upon the
passing civilians to explain their business.
The shutters are all closed for fear of
shootings occurring on the streets and the
theaters, restaurants and stores are also
closed Uniformed Spanish officers in the
public places sneeringly say. 1T would
be different if we were in control
AS an instance of the nervous tension
prevailing it is cited that when the sunset
gun was fired on Sunday whole regi-
ment encamped on the Luneta jumped
for its arms as if at the word of com
mand.
About 300 new saloons have been opened
here since the American occupation with
the result that many drunken soldiers are
to be seen in the streets. The officers,
however, say the conduct of the soldiers
is better than that of any other nation
under similar circumstances.
The chief topic of conversation at pres
ent is the delay In assigning Major Cen
eral Lawton to command. Everybody
expected that he was to take command Of
the troops and he is eager to get to work
but he has been a spectator of ali the
weeks fighting and his staff and. 1O-year-
old son have been exposed to the hottest
fire. There is an impression that Jana
nese firms are supplying the rebels with
arms. The Japanese papers are urgine
Japanese mediation