Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-09-20
FILIPINoS ASK FOR A CONFERENCE
WITH GENERAL OTISS
SECRETARY ROOT SKEPTlCAL
THINKS INSURGENTS MAY BE MERE
LY FIGHTING FOR TINE.
Insurgents Also Offer TO Give Up the
American Prisoners They Now
HoId-operations VIII Not
Re Delayed Pending
Negotiations.

WASHINGTON; Sept. 19.-Secretary
Root to-day received Il cablegram from
General Otis that seemed to indicate a
weakening on the part of the insurgents
IN LuZon. 1t contained n proffer to deliver
the American prisoners who have been
ior so many months In the hands of the
insurgents. and also sought permission TO
parley with General Otis
ihls cablegram was at once taken by
secretary Root over to the cabinet meeting
ana formed the main topic for discussion
at the beginning of the cabinet session.
however, upon reading the message care
luiiy' ITS apparent Importance seemed to
diminish. Secretary Root himself did not
regard the matter as of Importance at this
time He recalled frequent efforts on the
part of the Insurgents in the past to gain
Ime at critical moments by opening nego-
tlationS, ostensibly with the object of max
ing peace, and he was not sure but this
last orer was something of the same
kind. However. the secretary was of the
opinion that ii would fail To afford the in
surgents any advantage. General Otis
would receive any messenger and listen to
MIN and make answer to his proposals,
but this would not restrain the military
operations in the slightest degree and the
Americans would lose no ground. no mat
- ''N" 'i'C icSOti'tlioIn turn Out mere
Is a possibility also that the insurgents
may have become disheartened at the re-
ncwed and intense activity in the direc-
tion of reinforcing General Otis and con-
cluded, in view of the great force gather
Ing to open the campaign in the dry sea-
son. that further resistance would be use
less.
1t is pointed out as q noticeable fact that
Aguinaldos name does not appear in Cen
eral Otis dispatch. and, although this may
not be of great significance, still among
some of the army officers it is surmised
that there are serious dissensions among
the insurgents and that perhaps some OF
the discordant elements are acting on their
own responsibility.
The text Of the dispatch, made public by
the war department. is as follows:
Manila, Sept. 10.
Adjutant General. Washington.
Macarthur reports from Angeles a visit
of two insurgeut officers with request for
permission send into our lines Ameri-
can prisoners and to send to Manila prom
inent insurgent general officers for confer
ence. The requested interview granted.
and insurgent officers at Angeles return
north this morning with information.
While no names are mentioned in the
| dispatch, it is inferred that included i'll the
list of American prisoners to whom the
HSSOtiulloIlS relate Is 1>ituleHaHl
and the fifteen men OF the Yorktown. who
We're captured by the insurgents on the
east coast of LuZon. Major Rockefeller
who was captured beyond the American
lines one night shortly after his arrival liz
the Phiipptnes. and about half Il dozen
private soldiers who have been reported
missing
The capture of Lieutenant Gilmore and
his party was one of the most stirring in
| c!dents of The insurrection. 1t occurred
while the cruiser Yorktown was making
survey of the western ronst If Iuzon. with
view to locating some of the detached
Spanish garrisons which had been long
cut off from the populouS centers. 1t was
known that n Spanish garrison had been
surrounded at Baler. on the eastern coast,
and Lieutenant Gilmore. with Il boats
party from the Yorktown. was sent ashore
| To reconnoiter the surrounding country.
He divided his command, one party re-
| naming near the shore, while another
pushed inland. This was the last heard of
the lieutenant and the fifteen men who ac-
CGmpanied him. The other members of
the party waited for Il long time. but got
| no trace of their companions and finally
We're obliged to return TO the ship with
out them Admiral Dewey at once report
ed the loss 10 the navy department and be-
| fore he left Manila used every possible
means to learn the condition of the Amer
| leans. At first 1t was feared they had lost
| their lives. but later on definite Informal
ton was received that the following We're
alive at San lsidro, an insurgent strong
| hold:
Lieutenant Gilmore. Chief Quartermaster
William Walton, Sailmakers Mate VAN
doit, CoXswain John Ellsworth, Appren-
tice( third class Albert Peterson. Lands
Paul Edwards and Landsman Fred Ander
son.
Captain Charles NJ. Rockefeller. of the
Nineteenth infantry. is also supposed to be
apra Jared last April and no trace of him has
been discovered.