The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-11
BRUSH WITH Insurgents
Troops Land on Island
of Balabac.
ATTACKED BY THE MOROS

Who Had Taken Possession of Cape
Melville Lighthouse-Ghe Philippe.
nos Repulsed with LOss-NO Casual>
ties on Our Side Cavalry Start for the
Philippines OTIS Army 70 be RAISED
to Forty-Six Thousand Men-Samoan
Matters.
Washington, August THE following
dispatch was received today from Ad-
miral Watson, in command of the
Asiatic station:
'.Secretary Navy, Washington:
Mario, the commander of the Ma
Mia, on July 18th ~re-established the
lighthouse at Cape Melville, Balabac,
Philippine islands! hoisted flag with ap-
propriate honors. July 18th, on his re-
turn, thirteen Moros, under arms, were
found to be in possession of the light
house. Landing party, commanded by
Ensign E. L. Bissett, encountered re-
s~istance. No casualty in u party.
Loss in killed, one officer and n man
of the enemy. Dieago Manolo, chief of
the Balabac Moros, was killed,
taken prisoners, two escaped. Chief of
party was very unpopular with h
people of BaIabac, PHILIPPINE islands, ow-
ing to fear of him. Light has been re-
stored. Manila has landed force. Char
leston is on her way to Balabac, will
ie"oe' oil WATSON"
THE ISLAND IF BALABAC.
The island of Balabac, the scene of
the brush with the Moros, detailed in
Admiral Watson's dispatch, is situated
southeast of the island of Palawan,
which is the most westerly of the Phil.
ippine islands and directly west of the
island of Panay. The light there, which
was re-established by Lieutenant Com
mander Nazro, shows for twenty-five
miles n is regarded as of considerable
Importance to navigation, being in di-
rect line between Singapore and the
Straits Settlements and the Islands to
the north. The island is 227 miles long
and. according to the information in the
possession of the department, has but
a population of 100. These are de-
scribed in Admiral WatSOn's dispatch
as Moros, the name applied to- the fierce
natives of the Sulu group. They are
Mohammedans, and are regarded as the
most warlike people in the Philippines.
The capital, Balibac, has a population
of 200. The Spanish government estab-
lished a military post there in 1857. 1t
consists of a barracks, a hospital and
an armed fort. The Manila, the vessel
described in the dispatch, is a captur-
ed transport. It's mission in that vi
Unity is unknown to the navl depart
ment. 1t is evident from the dispatch
tha the Manila has left a landing force
there to guard the light and that the
Charleston, which is or its way there,
will see that the landing party receives
such reinforcementS a. may be deemed
necessary.
CAVALRY START FOR MANILA.
Troops A, D and M, Third cavalry,
left Fort Myer, Va, today for Seattle,
en- route for the Philippines. Troops D
and A left on the Pennsylvania rail-
road. Troop M goes over the Baltimore
and Ohio to Chicago, where it will be
Joined by the other commands. Five
other troops of the Third from Fort
Ethan Allen will join the at
Seattle. The mounts for the cavalry
accompany them in specially rranged
stock cars.
The fourth class postoffice at Phoebus,
Va, has been raised to the presidential
class; also those at High Springs and
Mariana, Fla.
THE SAMOAN COMMISSIONERS
ARRIVE.
The state department has received a
brief dispatch from San Francisco, an
%nouncing the arrival of the American
and the German members of the Sa-
moan commission. They will come on to
Washington for a conference with the
officials, bringing their report and the
draft Of the treaty, which is it propos-
ed to substitute for the treaty of Ber-
lin. Chief Justice Chambers will be
here abou the same time, and this will
afford an opportunity for clearing up
some of the misunderstanding in con-
nection with his retirement from the
chief justiceship.
At the state department it is not ex-
pected that the commission will hold a
meeting here, as the British commits
sioner, Mr.. Eliot, has gone to london
by way of New Zealand, thus making
it doubtful whether two Of the commits
sioners could do anything beyond sub
uniting their individual reports.
VOLUNTEER ENLISTMENTS.
The humble Of enlistments on Satur-
day were 515, making a total of 1882
for the new regiments. General Corbin
thinks the enlistments will be closed
up by the end of the week.
THE REINFORCEMENTS FOR OTIS
A statement prepared al the war de-
partment shows that by October 22nd
there will be at Manila, or on the way
to the Philippines, $4,000 men. They
will all reach the islands before the be-
ginning Of the dry season The troops
to be sent from this country are ten
regiments OF volunteers, amounting to
13, 900 men; recruits for skeleton regi-
ments organized in the Philippines,
900; recruits for regulars, $500; eight
troops of the Third cavalry, 965; ma
rines, 400. Beginning and up to Oc-
tober 22nd, there will sail from the Pa
cific coast seventeen transports, with
a carrying capacity Of 500 officers and
1870 men, which will include nearly
all the organizations above named.
Fatal Freight Train Collision
Washington, August 5.-Two freight
trains ON the southern road collided at
Manassas early this morning. Engi-