The record-union., 1899-02-15
News Officially Confirmed in a Ca
hIegram From Dewey.
General Miller and His Forces Nov In Full
Possession Of the Town.

4AAE9 S.>~
Rebels From Their Trenches
No Casualties ON Our Side and
But Few on the Enemy's.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE con-
frmation of the press reports detailing
the capture of Iloilo were received at
the War Department to-day with con-
siderable satisfaction. While no ap-
prehension had been felt as to General
Miller's ability to capture the capltai
of the Visayan federation, or for that
matter anything else that was wanted
in the archipelago, the reports OF strong
intrenchments that the natives had
been constructing around the town led
to fear that the landing would be a
bloodier affair than either OF the bat
ties at Manila. 1t was with great sat
isfaction, therefore, that Admiral Dew
ey's dispatch was received, saying that
we had lost no men at all, and that the
casualties among the natives Was much
smaller than at first reported.
The fact that foreign interests at
Iloilo are being satisfactorily guarded
is another source of qualification to the
Administration. This forestalls criti-
cisms or danger of interference from
any foreign Powers, which has all along
been complication that had to be
considered as a possibility, but which
it was intended to avoid at all cost
What the future will be, it is scarcely
safe to say. The President from the in
ception of the Spanish war has been
earnestly in favor of the most humane
policy, and it is not intended to follow
~. - i;,~.,, xxvff h
a. war of subjugation, if the insurgents
will allow this Government to avoid it.
They have had a stern lesson at Ma
Mia and at Iloilo, and as they are con-
tent to profit by it and come peaceably
into camp, they may do so without fear
of further chastisement. Still, it is
recognized that Admiral Dewey and
General Otis have a much better grasp
of the local situation than is possible
here, and the Administration does not
essary instructions.
The Navy Departments cablegram
from Dewey follows:
"Manila.-Secretary of the Navy,
Washington: Petrol just arrived from
Iloilo. That place taken by our forces
Saturday, and now occupied No pris-
oners. No casualties on our side. In
surgents' loss not known, but believed
to be slight Insurgents tried to burn
the town, but foreign property saved
by our forces. DEWEY"
PARTICULARS OF THE CAPTURE
MANILA, Feb. 14-11:30 a. m.-Par-
ticulars of the capture of Iloilo by the
United States forces under Brigadier
General Miller on Saturday last have
been received here:
On the morning of Friday, February
10th, General Miller sent an ultimatum
to the commander of the rebels on
shore, notifying him that it was his
intention to take Iloilo by force if nec-
essary.
Non-combatants and foreigners were
warned to leave the town within twen-
ty-four hours. The rebels were also
warned that they must make no further
belligerent operations.
The gunboat Petrol was then moved
to a position close in shore and near
the rebel fort. while the cruiser Boston
took up her station at the other end OF
the town.
Friday passed quietly During the
day many refugees left the town Of
Iloilo The majority of them were taken
on board foreign ships lying in the
harbor.
Searcblights from the United States
warships were kept all night long illn-
minating it's defenses. The rebels, so
far as the lookouts on the ships could
discover, remained quiescent all night
At 3 O'Clock on the morning of Sat-
urday, February 18th, the gunboat
Petrol signalled to the cruiser Boston
that the rebels were working in their
trenches. In return the Petrol was or
dered to fire warning shots upon the
town from her three-pounders. This
was done. and the rebels replied with
q. harmless fusillade The Boston and
the Petrol then bombarded the rebel
trenches. completely clearing them of
their occupants in very short space
Of time. -
Soon after the bombardment began
flames broke out simultaneously in va
rious parts of the town. Thereupon
forty-eight marines, acting as infantry
and artillery, were landed from the
cruiser Boston, and company went
ashore from the gunboat Petrol. These
detachments marched straight into the
town of Iloilo, and hosting the Stars
and Stripes on the forts, took possess
sion of the place in the name of the
United States.
The capture of the town and its de-
fenees having been accomplished, the
marines and soldiers who had been sent
ashore proceeded to the task OF saving
the American, English and German
Cors,1lates from destruction by the fire.
which was raging among the frail and
infiammable buildings of the town. The
Swiss Consul's residence, which was IN
the same row as the Consulates named.
was burned. The entire Chinese ana
native sections of the town were de-
strcyed, but foreign mercantile prop
erty escaped with slight damage. Tnere
was some desultory firing by the enemy
in the outskirts of Iloilo. but not
single American was injured.
Colonel Miller's forces had complete
control Of the situation when the gum
boat Petrol sailed from Iloilo for Ma
Mia. The Sixth Artillery Regiment oc-
cupsed q position commanding both the
bridges leading into the town, and
the tennessee volunteers and the
Eighteenth United States Infantry
were occupying the trenches that had
been constructed by the rebels.
REPATRIATION OF SPANISH
TROOPS.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 1.-THE War