The Portland daily press., 1899-05-15
American Commissioners Favorable
To Conference
With Representatives
From Aguinaldo.
Gen. Lawton's Scouts Capture II
City.

Manila, May IA, p. m.-The civilian
members of the United States Philippine
commission. are favorable to the meeting
with Filipino commission which was
suggested yesterday on behalf OF ARuinal-
do by Lieut.. Reyes Of the staff OF General
Gregerio Del Pillar, who came to General
Lawton under flag of truce, bearing the
proposal. 1t is thought by the american
commissioners that the idea may have. re-
suited from meeting of the so-called OF
the Filipino congress at San 1sidro. Dell
mite information OF this point, however,
cannot be obtained, though the local FIJI
pino committee which Is in close COM
munication with the leaders of the re-
bellion, is doing its utmost to secure
peace.
Ten members of Major General Law
toms band of scouts, under VIM. Young,
the old Indian fighter, entered the town
of San Miguel, about fifteen miles north
of Norzagary not aware of what place 1t
was, They found 200 Filipinos there; but
the rebels, taking the scouts for the ad-
vance of General Lawtons army. fled
after firing a few shots. Young and an
other scout were wounded and have been
brought to Manila.
The ninth infantry and q mountain
battery of six guns have been sent to the
front.
The uniform quiet now prevailing in
Manila has led tie authorities to relax
the rule under which the city streets
were cleared from seven 30 $50 p. m.,
and this evening there Is the largest and
most brilliant assembly of pedestrians
and people in carriages to listen to baud
concert on the Luneta that has been
known here since the Spaliards left.
Prof. Schurman, presidents of tine Unit
farewell luncheon today to Admiral
Dewey at which Prof. Dean Worcester
and Col. Charles DENLY of the oomnis-
sion. with General Macarthur, Mrs.
La wton and others were present. Inc
health of the admiral was drunk with the
utm ost cordially.
WILL BE WITHDRAWN.
Madrid, May 14.-Senor Don Francisco
Silvela, the Spanish premier, in an inter-
view today regarding the attack by the
Filipinos upon the Spanish garrison at
Fam boanga, island of Mindanao, in
which two Spanish officers and three
men were wounded and one man was
killed, said:
ut is very painful to us to have
suffered these losses in territory that
does not belong to us. We left these
troops in the Philippines in the hope that
hey might aid in securing the release OF
the Spanish prisoners in the hands OF the
Filipinos. Our efforts in this direction
have been useless. Aguinaldo refuses to
treat with us, and a Frenchman IN.
Dumarais), who had offered on our behalf
to treat with the enemy, was killed by
them.
American has not yet succeeded, as
she has no more authority than we had.
We cannot leave troops any longer In
a territory that we are not obliged to de-
fend, and have telagraphed Gen. Rios
to use three steamers for the immediate
transportation of our troops from Fam
buangs and Yolo (O and to acquaint
Ma ajor e General Otis with these in,truc-
tions, SO that the American commander
may possess the territory we are abandon
ing.
The Filipino committee has issued
manifesto to the press declaring the "Fil-
ipino government" will reject all nego-
tiations for peace on the part OF the
Americans, based upon any scheme -of
autonomy and will demand that the
United States fulfill the agreement s1made
before the declaration of war with spain.
The manifesto denies that Gen. Antonio
Luna has surrendered and asserts that
Major General Lawton is routed and that
the hospitals are "hlled with Americans,
hundreds of whom are iasubordinate.
SITUATION AT MANILA.
Washington. May 14.-The following
despatch from Major General Otis giving
the status OF the military situation as 1t
now exists in the operations against the
insurgents was received at the war de-
partment today:
Manila, May IA, 1899.
Adjutant General, Washington:
situation is at follows: Lawton from
Balinag has taken, Ilde Ronso and San