The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-25

mdilld july ~, Via san fFdnciScO
Aug. 24.-In Manila talk of the ending
of the war deals no longer with weeks.
but with months, and even years.
Among the mass of people here, mill
tary men and foreign residents, there
is but one opinion.
Aguinaldo's Armies in Good shape.
The whole effort of the insurgents
for three months was to head off the
Americans until their ally, the rains,
arrived. In this way they have been
as successful as they could have hop
ed. Unless affairs take some unfore-
seen turn, the Filipinos will resume the
war this fall with fresh spirit and
replenished stock of arms and ammuni-
ton. One shipioad of arms. it is learn
ed on good authority, has reached
them within the past week. OF money,
the leaders of the insurrection have no
lack. They control the resources of a
large and exceedingly rich country, and
even though no crops were harvested
for several years, they could still OBJ
tain enough cash and supplies by i'm
pressing to their use the treasures of
the church, the store houses of farmers
and manufacturers and the funds of
private individuals, system Of levy
which they have long inforced with
considerable success.
All the ships coming and going in the
ports recently opened to trade pay
heavy tribute to the insurrection. Much
of the profits of this informal sort of
government are supposed to go into
the pockets of the leaders, excepting
Aguinaldo. who is generally acquitted
of enriching himself by the present
war. But when the public treasury
becomes empty, the politicians who are
exploiting Aguinaldo may, if they see
a possibility of success, consider the
war good private investment.
In Fine Spirits.
Reports brought through the lines to
Spanards and Filipinos in this city are
that the spirits of the insurrectionists
are improving. Americans, like the
Spaniards, must defer to nature and
rest on their arms most of the time
while the country is mud wallow.
The generals are telling their follow
ers that American inaction during the
past month is due to discourag cement
and decentralization. The Filipino SOL
diers, according to these informants,
are contented. Although the paymas-
ter seldom appears, they are living as
comfortably as they have been accus-
toned to, being clothed and receiving
rations which an American or Euro
pean army could not live on, chiefly
rice, with only occasionally a little
fish or meat. They are fairly we'll
housed, having taken possession of the
dwellings and public and church build
ings in the towns upon which they are
quartered, and they add to their liv-
ing by looting.
How Otis Is H,JoIliedb
Through the American secret service
come different stories-that the Filipino
army is becoming decimated by daily
desertions to the number of 20 or 80
and is fast losing heart and on the
verge of disruption. Past experience
with the secret service justifies sus-
picion that many of its employees, most
of whom are natives or Spaniards. are
deeply interested in holding their
places by seeming to earn their wages,
while the refugees who come through
the lines have been disposed to give re-
ports which they think will please the
authorities. Almost since the beginning
of the war they have pictured the Fill
ipino army as on its last legs and its
collapse but a question of days. Two
months ago General Otis caused the
country TO be placaded with an Offer
of $50 for each insurgent rifle Voluntar-
lily surrendered. If the Filipino
soldiers We're deserting by COM
panies, and converted to American rule.
many of them might be expected to
bring their guns into the American lines
and receive the reward. The entire har-
vest from this offer, however, has been
less than 100 guns.
Lawton Had Them "Going"
There was a time when Aguinaldos |
biggest army hung in the balance, |
when its destruction appeared inevita-
BILE. That was when Macarthur had |
captured San Fernando and Lawton |
was marching upon San Isidro with the |
Filipinos scattering before him. Lawton |
had made himself a terror to the in |
surrectionists, because no obstacles |
stopped him. If the country was road |
less, his men and the general staff took |
off their coats and helped. When ra-