The San Francisco call., 1899-04-21

cans killed twelve of the enemy and cap
tured some of their arms.
A party of eighteen American soldiers
under command of a captain, went scout
ing this morning to the north of Guiguln-
TO, where they encountered a body of in
surgents. two hundred strong. A skir-
mish ensued in which one American was
wounded.
The American merchants here are petit
tiOning the San Francisco Chamber of
Commerce to use its influence toward get
ting a reduction of tariffs many Of
which are prohibitive
The thirteen Spanish gunboats have ar
rived here under convoy of the Concord
and Petrol. While lying in the waters OF
the south these boats were looted Of small
arms and cannon.
General Rios. Spanish representative in
the Philippines. says the steamships Porto
Rico, Catalina and Leontrice VIII pro-
ceed next week 10 Zamboanga and Jolo
10 transport direct to Spain the remaining
two thousand Spanish soldiers at those
places.
Colonel Rosales. representative of Cen
eral Rios. who was commissioned to negO-
tiate for the liberation of the Spanish
soldiers held as prisoners by the Fill
pinOs. has been notified by the insurgents
that his life Will not be safe outside the
American lines because of his having
been president Of the Spanish Military
Court which sentenced General Antonio
Luna the insurgent military leader, to
death. Colonel Rosales has consequently
resigned from the commission, and Ma
jor Lasheras has been appointed in his
place.
SPANS evacuation of the Philippine
Islands will be practically completed by
the withdrawal OF the Spanish garrison
from Zamboanga, island OF Mindanao.
and from the Sulu islands, and II the
United States assumes control Of Mindt-
anaO and the Sulu islands on the Span
iards' withdrawal the military authori-
ties here must, in order TO garrison these
islands, diminish the forces of the Amer
lean troops. already too small. There was
almost a mutny among the Spanish
troops in the islands because they were
expected. to proceed to the LadrOne and
the CaroIines. some Of them refusing to
do so, claiming that their enlistments had
expired. The latter were exempted and
were allowed to return to Spain.
The native troops in the Spanish garri-
sons are in a sad plight. They must ac-
company the Spantards or risk the rage
of their own people The Spaniards pro-
posed to disband them, but they refused
to give up their arms.
The natives of Zamboanga, emboldened
by the suspicious capture Of the arma-
ments on board the Spanish gunboats
which were purchased there by Francisco
Reyes Of this place. are likely TO prove
troublesome when the Spanish garrisons
are withdrawn from the coast towns of
the island of MindanaO. 1t is believed
that the smoldering tribal wars will then
be resumed, anarchy will prevail and the
fight with their neighbors.
A tripartite exchange of prisoners will
De arranged II II Is possible 10 negotiate
with the Filipinos as if they were civ
ilized nation. If the Fihpinos consent to
release the Spanish prisoners the Ameri-
cans might release the Tagallos they now
hold prisoners. in return for which Spain
would free her political prisoners. The
provisions Of the Paris treaty would thus
be carried out.
The Spanish commission. however. hest
tates to enter the Filipino lines, fearing
treachery, although Aguinaldo has guar
anteed the safety of the Commissioners
Of 20 iT1iO hold h1-+
Americans might be distinctly advanta-
geOus, as they all claim to have been
converted to the American cause by the
good treatment they have received and
announce themselves to be anxious TO in
huence their friends in favor of the policy
Of the United States.
A body Of about 100 rebels tried to break
through the lines of Prices battalion of
the Fourth Regular Infantry at the Pasig
RiVer last night. but they were repulsed
without any loss on the American side.