The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-19
THE END IS NEAR AT HAND.
Washington Believes Filipino InsuI
rection Is same As Over.

Warrington Believes Filipino Insur-
| rection Is Same As Over.
| Washington, May 1s.-War department
officials are firmly convinced that the
end of the insurrection in3the Philippines
islat hand and that the representatives of
the insurgent cabinet and Of Agrinaldo.
who are to meet Gen. Otis tomorrow will
succumb. to the inevitable and surrender.
Their forces, 1t Is said at the department,
evidently are so demoralized by the per-
sistent advance Of the Americans that
they are ready to accept peace on the
best terms they can obtain, Driven north
ward to the foot hills of the mountains
as they have been, their fleeing and
scattering forces, disintegrated and dis
heartened, no longer can be made to face
our victorious advance. Less than a week
ago Gen. Luna was reported just north
of San Fernando, where Gen. Mac
Arthur's troops are concentrated, and in
the neighborhood of Bacolor. with about
5000 rebels.
nant of this force, about 250 men, has
Withdrawn to Tarlac. over 20 miles north
of San Fernando. 1t Is probable that the
remaider of this force moved east and
Joined the main body of the insurgents
which abandoned San Isidro yesterday
and fled northward TO the point from
which Aguinaldo Is now sending his
commissioners to sue for peace. If this
Is ruse to gain time, which none of the
officials at the war department believe, 1t
will avail them nothing, AS the Ameri-
cans will utilize the period during the
negotiations In rsconnoitering the conn
try ahead OF them preparatory to the
of nnaratiQnG fha pinnfp the
negotiations fail. The despatch of two
battalions OF the 23d infantry yesterday
to Jolo, the principal town in the Sulu
archipelago, is the fourth military expe-
dition detached from the main body of
our troops at Manila, The Sulu archi-
pelago Is u group OF 150 small islands ex-
tending In the form of a crescent south
of the Philippines. There are no insur-
gents, so far as known in the Sulu group.
The population of the islands consists OF
| aborigines, Chinese traders and negroes.
There is no absolute information Mt the
war department. concerning the present
strength of the American forces under
Macarthur, Lawton and Kobbe, which
have been operating against the insur-
gents north of Manila. The number of
men II each organization were up to its
maximum strength would be 16. $40. but
| 1t is doubtful If their strength totals H.
OOO men. MacArthur's troops, except one
4
are all regulars. recently arrived. Three
of the six regiments under Lawton are
regulars. There is one radical difference
between the volunteer and regular orga-
nizations. Losses in the former are per-
manent while the gaps of the ranks OF
| the regulars are being constantly filled
by new recruits. 1t is estimated that
| Macarthur now has about 450O men for
active service, Lawton about 5000 and
Koble 1900.
SEEKING TERMS OF PEACE.
Washington. May iS.-Gen Otis cables
| the war department that representatives
of Aguinaldo are seeking terms Of peace
| and that the forces of the insurgents are
scattering in the mountains.
Following 10 Gen. Otis's cablegrsm;
Manila, May 1S.
| Representatives Of the insurgents cab
met and Aguinaldo in mountains II
miles north OF San IsidrO, which was
abandoned 10Th instant, will send In com
mission tomorrow to seek terms of peace.
Majority of force confronting Macarthur
at San Fernando has retired TO Tarlic,
tearing up two miles railway; this force
has decreased to about $500. scouting
parties and detachmentS moving today
! In various directions. kobbe with col
umn at Cnndava on Rio Grande. Great
majority of inhabitants of provinces over
which troops hav, moved anxious for
peace supported by members insurgent
cabinet. Aspect of affairs at present
| favorable. Otis