The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-23
AGUNAlDOS UESFO2H PEACE
SENDS Commissioners to
General Otis.
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER

The Only Terms Our A%uthoriGie VIII
Treat-Otis Not TO be Deceived by Any
Ruse-Conjectures of Terms Aguf-
naido VIII Attempt TO Secure-End Of
the lDsurrecton Near AT he
Philippine Army Scattered. Demon
allied and Dwindltn:.
Washington, May 1S.-General Otis
cables the war department that the
representatives of Aguinaldo are seek
ing terms of peace and that the forces
of the insurgents are scattering in the
mountains.
Following is General Otis cablegram:
Manila, May IS.
"Adjutant General, Washington:
Representatives of the i~nsurgent
cabinet and Aguinaldo in the noun
tains twelve miles north of San Isidro.
which was abandoned 18th instant, will
send in q commission tomorrow to
seek terms of peace. Majority of force
confronting Macarthur at San Fer
nando has retired to Tarlac, tearing up
two miles Of railway; this force has
decreased to about $500. Scouting par
ties and d~etachments moving today in
various directions. Kobbe with column
at Candava, on Rio Grande. Great ma
jority of inhabitants of provinces over
which troops have moved anxious for
peace, supported by members of insur-
gent cabinet. Aspect of affairs at pres
ent favorable. OTIS"
The dispatch of General Otis was i'm
mediately sent to the president at Hot
Springs. Secretary Alger said that the
was most encouraging n
that 1T was apparent that the Philippi-
nos realized the strength of the United
States and saw that resistance would
mean determination for them if they
persisted in defying authority.
Speaking of the part taken by the
volunteers in the Philippine campaign,
the secretary says that instead of wish
ing to be home they would not have
missed it, as it was an event in their
lives, especially as the hard fighting
has been crowned with success.
THE ONLY TERMS AGUINALDO +,
CAN GET.
The secretary believes that the COM
mission which Aguinaldo is sending to
, General Otis will accept any terms pro-
posed by the United States.
1t is not likely that Genera Otis will
permit himself to be deceived by the
oVertures of the insurgents, or that he
will give consideration to any PROPOSE
lions which the present commission
may submit that are not sincere and
fina beyond question. It is not clear
to the officials here, what concession
AguinaldO expects to receive, inasmuch
as General Otis; with the full approval
of the president and his cabinet, has
repeatedly declared hat he will con-
slider nothing but unconditional sur
| render Of the insurgents as a necessa-
ry preliminary to any negotiations for
a cessation of hostilities. 1t is possible
that the willy insurgent leader believes
that he may make terms for the special
benefit of himself and his cabinet, and
it is even possible that he has an idea
that the United States may be willing
to reimburse him literally for the sur
render Of his army. 1t is suggested that
Aguinaldo is merely looking out for
his own interests in this matter; that
the Philippine cause is lost and he will
demand safe conduct out of the Phil
ippine islands for himself and a few OF
his chosen friends, together with suf-
fcient money to enable them to live in
exile for a reasonable period.
END OF THE RESURRECTION AT
HAND.
War department officials are convinc-
ed that the end of the insurrection in
the Philippines is at hand and that the
representatives of the insurgent cabi-
net of Aguinaldo, who are to meet
General Otis tomorrow, will succumh
to the inevitable n surrender. Their
forces are evidently so utterly demora-
lized by the persistent advance of the
Americans that they are ready to ac-
cept peace on the best terms they car
obtain.
Driver northward to the foothills OF
the mountains, as they have been, fee
ing and scattered forces, dis%integrated
and disheartened, can no longer be
made to face our victorious advance
Less than a week 6 General Luna
was reported just north of San Fernan.
do, where General MacArthur's troops
are concentrated and in the n~eighbor.
hood of Bacolor with about 5000 rebels
Today General Otis reports that thu
remnant Of this force, about 2, 500 men
has Withdrawn to Tarlac, over twenty
miles north of San Fernando. 1t i
possible that the remainder of thi.
force moved east and joined the mail
body Of the insurgents, which abandon
ed San Isidro yesterday and fed north
ward to the point from which Aguinal
do is now sending his commissioners t.
sue for peace. If this is a ruse to gail
IAiiO, - Will dNdll luGll HOCnlHS, as III
Americans will utilize the period dur
ing the negotiations IN r~econnotrein.
the country ahead Of them preparation.
to the resumption of operations tn
minute the negotiations fail.
THE SULU ISLANDS.
The dispatch of two battalions of tn
Twenty-third infantry yesterday t
Jolo, the principal town in the Sui
archipelago, is the fourth military ex
petition detached from the main bod
of our troops at Manila. The Sulu ar
chipelaso is a group of $50 small is
lands extending in the form of a cres
cent, like the Aleutian islands, sout
of the Philippines. There are no in
surgents, as far as known, in the Sui
group. The population of the islam
consists Of 500 aborigines. 612 Chimes
traders and 16, 900 negroes.
Worsfed Yarn Trust Formed
Philadelphia, May 1S.-The RecOr,