Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-13
ON The Run.
General Wheaton Drives the
Rebels to the Mountains.
Slight Resistance at Santa Maria
Enemy Bolts and Burns Towns.
lawton Mailing Good Roadway in Swcepins
FiIpinos from Santa Cruz.

Manila, April l2-(61O. General
Wheaton started at daylight with the
10th Pennsylvania and the ID Oregon
Regiments and two guns to drive the
rebels from the American right flank.
between the railroad and the foot hills
He met with slight resistance near
Santa Maria and had one man wound
ed But the enemy bolted when shelIed
by the artillery and burned and aban-
doned the town of Santa Maria, where
a thousand rebels were reported to
have been concentrated. During the
rest of the day the enemy was in full
retreat towards the mountains, burn
ing the villages behind the retreating
forces
Occasionally a few of the rebels
dropped to the rear and fired at the ad-
vancing American troops from the
jungle, apparently with the idea that
this would check our advance and COW
er the retreat of the F'ilipinos. But
finding these tactics Intellectual, these
rebels scrambled after the main body.
TIL American guard along the rail-
road has been materially strengthened
and it is not likely the rebels will sue
coed in getting in the future to as close
quarters as they did, yesterday, even
if they return from the mountains.
g. 50 p. M.-The United States Philip
pine commission is hearing the leading
residents of various nationalities.
priests and Spanards, on the subject
of the future of the islands The ques-
tons put to all are:
do you believe the Filipinos are
capable of elf-government in the
Townships"
do you believe the Filipinos are
capable of self-government in the pro-
vinces?'
DO you believe the Filipinos are
capable Of government in the
archipelago" XII
All of those who have been interro-
gated. including Filipinos. who sympa-
thize theoretically with independence.
have replied to the third. question with
the remarkably unalfinity, the mega
tive. Independence, they say would re
suit in chaos. endless tribal wars and
European Intervention. A few of them
think that provincial -self-gosernment
is practicable, but most of them favor
self-government in the townships with
form of American supervision pro-
tcctinG the inhabitants against the
perculations and 'extortioIls which their
experience with the Spanish regime has
led them to consider the natural per-
uuisites of official dominion. ~--.
The commercial classes urge the
sending of attachments of American
troops each numbering about 100 men,
to take possession of the towns in the
southern provinces and in the Vissa-
vas island. now held by bands of Tag
alloys They declare the natives find
the Tagalog oppression worse than
Spanish oppression and that they Will
welcome the Americans. The case Of
the inhabitants Of Gubat. in the prov
ince of Sorsegon. is cited as a typical
instance. The Spanish taxes amounted
to $4,000. but the rebel Tagalogs ex-
tort $4,000 from the people of Gubat.
Agunaldo's brother-in-law. the prov
incial governor. is said TO be unmerci-
fully despoiling the people.
Gen. Luna. who retired from the
command of the Filipino forces and
who was editing newspaper at San
Francisco del Monte. his retirement
being due to the fact that the Fill
pinos rebelled at his rigid discipline,
had been recalled to the command.
This is taken a showing that the rebel
army is only kept together by harsh
measures.