The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-05

Manila, May 2.-Major Manuel Ar
guelles and Lieutenant Jose Bernal, Of
the staff of General Antonio Luna, re-
turned here today to renew and press
the request of General Luna for a ces-
sation of hostilities. They have found
the field of labor a most ungenial one.
The officers were received in conference
by Major General E. S. Otis.
The proposals which they had to SUBJ
NIT differed but ~slightly from those
which they brought from the Philip
,Dino commander in the first place.
They desired a little time in which to
summon the congress, and expressed
themselves as being confident that the
ngres will decree peace, because the
people desire it. They represent that
Aguinaldo is without power to surren-
der the arms and that congress must
decide that question. Incidentally, the
Philippine ENJOYS asserted that Agui-
naldO had not yet made a fair test OF
his strength against the American
forces, because only one-third of his
army a been assembled together. The
ENJOYS presented a letter from Senior
Mabini, president and minister of
foreign affairs in the cabinet of Agui-
IAlIuOJ dLlu viz - the DdCkDOLe OIL the
fhlIipplno organization. The commun-
ication is PERSONA and unofficial, and
seconds Major Arguelles' arguments.
The ENJOYS will see General Otis
again tomorrow. They will sleep to-
night in Manila. They lunched with
General Macarthur at his headquar-
tiers on a car of the armored train at
Calumpit before coming to Manila.
Whether or not General Luna is sin
cere in his Overtures, the negotiations
are giving the insurgents a much need
ed opportunity to rehabilitate their de-
moralized forces. The truth is that
discussions among the leaders of the
rebels is helping the Reorganization of
the Philippine army as much as the
American campaign.
In the curse of the conference with
the Philippine ENJOYS General Otis
agreed with the statement of Major
Arguelles that the people of the Phil
ippine islands wanted peace and he
added that requests for protection are
pouring in upon him from all parts of
the n
LAYTON FIGHTING HARD.
Major General Lawton was engaged
in hard fighting early his morning.
Telegraph communication was cut at 9
o'clock a. m. and there lave been no
repOrtS from Genera LaWtOn since
that time.
NEWS FROM THE PRISONERS.
The first authentic information re-
garding Lieutenant j. c. Gilmore and
his party of fourteen men from the
United States gunboat Yorktown, who
were captured by the Philippines on
April 18th, was received today from the
hands of Major Arguelles, of the staff
of General Antonio Luna. Il is in the
form of a list of the missing men and
is signed by Lieutenant Gilmore. The
lieutenant reports that he and his par
ty have been brought across the noun
tains from Baler, where they We're cap
tured.
This information az brought in re-
Spouse to a note which Major General
Macarthur SEM to General Luna by
Major Shields and Lieutenant Hayne,
and which those officers, bearing a flag
of truce, carried across General Luna
lines on yesterday evening. The note,
after asking for information regarding
the American prisoners in General Lu-
mas hands, concluded with the mes
sage that he General MacArthur)
would be pleased to meet General
Luna.
Major Shields and Lieutenant Hayne
found a span of the railroad bridge, a
mile from st, Thomas, broken. The of
ticers left ten days provisions for the
prisoners on a hand car at the end OF
the bridge, placing the a in the keep
ing of Philippines, whose conduct
throughout the various negotiations
has been all that could be expected
of a civilized nation.
INSURGENTS PREPARING FOR
FIGHT.
Refugees report that the Philippine
army is DESERVING San Fernando anG
massing at st. Thomas, where General
Luna's headquarters are located. anG
that strong entertainments are beins
constructed at the sides of the railway
and on the swamp front, in the best
positions possible.
Men of the ! United States sigma
corps have established telegraph com.
mlnication with Major Genera Lawton
who is advancing in a westerly direc.
ton. General Lawton lost one killed
and five wounded on yesterday, near
San Fafael, where ne strongly en-
trenched himself. General Lawton to
day is marching on Balinag, where
large body of rebels have been concen
trated.
MACABEBEES JOIN THE AMERI
CANS.
General Hale started at daybreal
with the lowe and South Dakota regi
ments, a squad of cavalry and tw'