Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-25
tBy Telegraph to v,rr,nian-P,lot.,

tBy TeleGrapn 10 VrRlnlan-Pllot.)
Hong Kong. Jan. 24.-The members
OF the Filipino Junta here have issued
the following statement:
THE purchase by the American au-
thorities Mt Hong Kong Of number OF
steam launches for river work In the
Philippine islands Is high-handed, I'M
necessary and vexatious.
"Domiciliary visits throughout Ma
Mia are exasperating the Filiplno,.
Their suspicious are aroused by such
actions. The dispatch OF reinforce
ments Is Incompatible with-Peaee- and
the appointment OF n commission is
only pretext to gain time. The Amer
lean secret police is acting extensively
toward the Fillpinos at Hong Kong
who are British subjects.
The Filipino Congress at Malolos
has unanimously vetoed annexation"
RUMORS FROM MADRID.
Madrid. Jan. pa dispatch from
Hong Kong to the Reforma OF this
city. says a letter received from the
Philippine islands under date of Jan
uary 10Th, announces that the rupture
cans is an accomplished fact, and that
the lives of the Spaniards in the arch
ipelago are endangered.
DISABLED PRISONERS RELEASED
The Minister OF War, General Correa.
received a cable dispatch to-day from
General Rios. the Spanish commander
in the Philippines, announcing that the
click and manned civil and military
prisoners were released by the Filipinos
"a nnd ha
hopes the remainder Of the prisoners
will be liberated shortly.
THE AMERICAN PROGRAM.
The impartial to-day says:
''All the intelligence from the Phil
ippine islands shows that the Ameri-
cans recognize their inability to over
come the insurgents in the island OF
Luzon and the Visayas. The Filpinos
understand that the Americans wish
TO tyrannize over them and exploit
them as the Spanlards never did. The
Americans intended To exercise their
power merely al the important ports
: but they are already convinced that
such a domination would not be eff
cacious. They would be constantly
ilshiinS The insurgents. and the latter
would soon pot an end To the Amcri-
cans. as the E'ilipinGs have on their
Side not only bullets. but The climate
and the enormous expenditure the sit
uhtion VIII entail on the Americans
rms explains Washington's desire to
first gel the treaty of Paris voted, ana
then open negotia lions with the rebel
chiefs IN order to see If AGuinaldo ana
his colleagues viii consent at least to
accept an American protectorare with
SELF government"
flLlPiNOS ARE SUSPICIOUS.
Manila. January 20. via Hong Kong.
Inn yi-rTh,. In
sues n supplement containing dis
latca, purportinS 10 come from Ma
loiis, the scat of the rebel government
IL comments upon the appointment of
the commission. and save:
me hIlipinos naturally suspect this
- new attempt to humbug. Both
Dewey and Spencer Pratt, promised us
Independence if the Filipino republic
was stable. The tllpnos are dsiilu-
STONED. They believe the commission
Is ruee 10 gain time till they have
accumulated formidable forces, when
America abusing her strength. will be-
gin war TO ratify her sovereignty"
me Independence then alleges that
all the commissioners are partisans of
colonial expansion and incidentally as
serts that the archbishops also favor
annexation with the sole object of
gaining the sympathies OF the winning
side"
READY FOR THE FRAY.
The Filipinos of Caloocan and Gega-
lanein. MISLEADING salutes exchanged be-
tween British and German warships on
January 18th. moved three thousand
men 10 the front in order of battle.
covering the adjacent country. but they
did not attack the American lines.
AGUINALDO'S AUTHORITY RECOG-
MED.
Reports from the interior indicate
that Aguinaldo's authority Is now gem
orally recognized. Every available male
Is peing recruited and arms depots are
Deing established at San Bernardino
Union, Trinidad. and other large towns.
The surrounding country is being levied
on for supplies. and the Filipino troops
are living on the fat of the land, while
the native villagers are compelled to
subsist on rice.
INDEPENDENCE THE WATCH
WORD.
There is some friction between the
Filipino civil and military authorities
but they are united on the question OF
independence
1t Is estimated that there are fully
10000 F'ilipinos under arms, and IL is
said there are nearly fifty Maxim guns
at Malolos. some of them having been
recently acquired.
The Filipino authorities are convinc-
ed. they say, that the Americans Will
be unable to work effectively outside
OF Manila in the event OF hostilities
hence they feel confident Of the future
In - H.