Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-01-05
Insurgents IN CONTROL.
noilo Deserted by the Spaniards on
the 24th Before the Amer
leans Arrive.
EVENT CAUSES SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS
United States Troops May BE Forced
TO Fight the Insurgents 10 Get
Control OF City and Compel the
Surrender of spanish Prisoners
Now Being Held.

1 Washington, Dec. 20. u There Is a
good deal of anxiety in official circles
/ here over recent events at Iloilo Two
I official dispatches have been received
1 by the state and war departments, but
it is impossible 10 gather from them
an accurate knowledge as to the condi-
ton there.
The officials OF he war department
still decline to make public Gen. OTIS
telegram Of Tuesday, but there is no
doubt that he is meeting with great dif-
feulty in his effort to secure the release
| of the Spanish prisoners held by the
Filipinos. 1t begins 10 appear clearly
that a considerable element among the
Filipino leaders-probably a majority
ARE disposed to use these unfortunate
prisoners as basis for negotiations
with the United States government,
making their release conditional upon
certain more or less important conces-
sions demanded by them.
MuxI lie Released.
II Is not yet a foregone conclusion
that terms cannot be arranged by pri-
vate conferences in Manila to secure
the release Of these men, but the
United States government. being now
pledged by treaty to free them must
resort 10 other means if peaceful repre-
sensations fail.
Arrived TOO Late.
just before noon another dispatch
came from Gen. Otis that at once con
irmed the fears of the officials Of the
war department as TO what had taken
r. &
American forces had arrived too late on
the scene and that the insurgents had
added 10 the difficulty Of the problems
already presented by hosting their flag
over The city. which they had been be-
sicging for months.
CompIicntes the Problem.
Tie evacuation by the Spaniards {:
all the Philippine ports, rs reported 3y
Gen Otis, although doubtless inspired
by desire TO secure their safety by
concentration. undoubtedly has done
much to complicate the problem a
ready presented the war department
Of extending the military jurisdiction
of the United States over the islands
Ii will now be necessary to expedite
the execution of the original plans,
and il may be fully expected that with
in a week important events VIII have
happened in the Philippines.
VIII Demand Surrender of IIoiIo.
ii is presumed that Gen. Otis will & Il.
mand the surrender of lioilo into MS
hands and this demand may at once
raise the issue between the Insurgents
and our own government Of possession
Of she islands. The province Of lloiio
Is set down in the official directories as
having a population Of $4,000, and it
is the second seaport IN Importance
in the Philippine group 1t is located
On river nayigahle for vessels of T.
feet draught, so that very few of our
gunboats would be available 10 assis,
the troops IN case it should be neces-
sary TO take forcible possession of the
city.
Brings Report from IIoiIo.
Manila, Dee. 3l.-The Spanish steam
er Romulus. which has just arrived
here. confirms the report that the in
surgents at lioilo are inclined to sur
render that town TO the Americans if
satisfied as 10 the form of government