The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-04-21
WASTE, RUIN. AND OPPRESSION
PREVAIL.
The Young Men are Impressed Into
the Army and the Old Men to Build
Fortifications

Especial correspondence of The Starr
MANILA, March 26.-A vivid pic
ture OF the appalling conditions exist
ing among the insurgents is given by
Alfonso Emanuel de Garcia, formerly
a Spanish soldier, and later prison
er of war in the hands of the insur-
gents. For several months he has
been telegraph operator at Agui-
naldo's headquarters in Malolos, and
has just escaped to the American
lines after enduring privations and
undergoing dangers that would have
appalled, any but man intent on es-
Gaping an irksome and dangerous
imprisonment.
His story as he tells il is this:
81 was formerly Spanish officer in
the hunter regiment but have been
in civilian life as Il telegraph operator
for the past two years. Upon the ter
mination of the Spanish-American
war, | was taken a prisoner by the
insurgents and for my board and
clothes, have been compelled since to
act as postmaster, county clerk, tax
collector, and telegraph operator at
Bayumbang, until January a, when
| was removed to Calumpit, where |
| acted as operator until February S,
when ! was called into Malolos and
where ! have worked eighteen hours
a day as telegraph operator in Agui-
naldo's headquarters.
"Since the insurgents have gained
control in the interior Aguinaldo's
| government has ruined and laid
waste what was once fertile waving
| fields of rice. Young boys who never
| thought of war have deserted their
homes to become soldiers. The aged
and intirm have been left to get
along as best they could Those who
titled the land, grew Respondent, for
/ over ninety per cent of what they
| produced, was taken as bounty for
the new cause. Taxes and tolls were
placed upon roads and buildings on
which nothing was ever paid before
| Every household was forced to take
the official paper. which teemed with
abuse of the Americans and claiming
perpetual slavery if this yoke was not
thrown aside.
Such was the condition of affairs
until the present trouble broke out
when things became worse. Old men,
women and mere children were or
dered to proceed to Malolos and aid
in the construction of trenches and
breast works, until it was very
strongly fortified. While the natives
were thus engaged armed bands pro-
ceeded through the provinces and rob-
bed them right and left
"The old stocks that had not been
used for years, were once again put
in use. and those unwilling to work
were almost tortured to death. The
most ridiculous reports, such as the
seizure of Deweys fleet, the burning
of Manila, and 10000 Americans kill
ed, were circulated and believed by
the poor natives. The present trouble
cannot last much longer as hundreds
of the natives are nearly starving.
Many are almost naked and fever and
ague has broken out among the sol
diers. The land lies idle, with few
willing to work while others reap the
benefit. To my knowledge there are
81 prisoners at Malolos, including
a Spanish merchant, and six English
men but who | think are Americans
Their lives are not in danger but they
do not fare the best, and they must
be getting tired of rice and bananas
Senior de Garcia escaped from Ma
lolos last Monday and only walked
through the bamboo at night, hiding
in the day time as the country fair.
ly swarmed with insurgents, but only
armed with bolos, as there are only
5000 armed with rifles. The insur'
gents have plenty of powder but little
lead and their leaders are growing
fainter, as the supply lessons day by
day. "a.
H. +. SEYMOUR.