The San Francisco call., 1899-08-25

turers and the funds of private individ-
uals, a system Of levy which they have
long enforced 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 govern
ment are supposed 10 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 a good private investment.
Reports brought through the lines to
Spaniards and Filipinos in this city are
that the spirits of the insurrectionists are
improving. Americans, like the Span
fards must defer TO nature and rest on
their arms most Of the time while the
country is a mud wallow. The generals
are telling their followers that American
inaction during the past month IS due
to Encouragement and Generalization.
The Filipino soldiers, according 10 these
informants, are tolerably contented. Al
though the paymaSter seldom appears
they are living as comfortably as they
have been accustomed TO-, being clothed
and receiving rations. which an Ameri-
can or European army could not live on,
chiefly rice with only occasionally a little
having taken possession OF the dwellings
and public and church buildings in the
towns upon which they are Quartered and
they add to their living by looung.
L
come different stories-that the Filipino
army is. becoming decimated by daily de-
sertions to the unmber of twenty or thir-
" and is fast losing heart and on the
verge of disruption. Past experience
with the secret service justifies a suspi-
cion that many OF its employees, most OF
whom are natives or Spaniards, are deep
ly interested in holding their places by
seeming to earn their pay, while the ref
ugees who come through the lines have
been disposed TO give reports which they
think Will please the authorities.
Almost since the beginning Of the war
they have pictured the Filipino army as on
its last legs. and its collapse but ques-
ton of days Two months ago General
with an offer Of $50 for each insurgent
rife voluntarily surrendered, though for
some reason the newspaper correspond
ents were forbidden TO telegraph to the
United States this fact, which was known
to every one in the island If the Filipino
soldiers were deserving by companies,
tired of the war and converted TO Ameri-
can rule, many OF them might be expect
ed to bring their guns into the American
lines and receive the reward. The entire
harvest from this offer, however, has
been less than a hundred guns.
There was a time when Aguinaldo' S
biggest army hung in the balance, when
its destruction appeared inevitable. That
was when Macarthur had captured San
uuon San Isidro with the Filipinos scat
tsriug before him. Lawton had made
himself a terror TO the insurrecttontsts
because no obstacles stopped him. II the
country was roadless his men cut roads.
and the general and his staff took off
their coats and helped. When rations
were not forthcoming they breakfasted
on another inch OF their belts ana
marched ahead, and they always man
aged TO attack from an unexpected quar-
ter. knowing what road or which side OF
a town had oeen antreiensd SIrart4on anu pouio-
with Lawton at San Isidro the rebels
feared he might swoop around upon Tar
lac where they had installed their no.
madic capital, and catch them between
two armies. All the archives, seals, gilt
triangIes and treasure boxes were packed