Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-04-06
PREP AIRING DEFENSES.
Rebels Massing Strong Forces
North of Calumput.
THE WARNING PROCLAMATION.

our Commissioners Assure the Fiji
pinos OF kindly Treatment, and De-
clare That the Supremacy of the Uni
ted states Must and VIII Be Enforced
Manila. April 5.-General Macarthur
reconnoitered in force yesterday, with
the Montana regiment. the Fourth cav
airy and two guns Of the light artillery,
as far as the river north of Malolos. The
reconnaissance developed the fact that
there are fully 900 rebels, armed with
Mauser rifles. preparing for defense.
Shots were exchanged, and two OF the
Montana regiment were wounded and
one killed, but there was no engagement.
Later in the day General Macarthur
moved northward, as the water supply
of MaIolos is inadequate.
The insurgents are massing strong
forces north of Calumpit, about flye and
half miles northwest of Malolos, and,
according to the observations of the re
connoitering parties, they have fine en-
trenchments there.
1t is expected that hard fighting will
be necessary to dislodge them at that
point and at San Fernando, where
Aguinaldo is supposed to be. Large
rivers strengthen both positions.
The belief is spreading among the resi-
dents here that the effect of the cap
ture of Afalolos, followed by the proc
Iamation of the United States Philip
pine commission, will be to convince the
natives that Aguinaldo's bubble has
burst.
DIR. Schurman, president of the com
mission, said:
s.The Filipinos have been asking un-
eeasingly: What do you propose TO dc
for nsg The proclamation answers the
question. and it should satisfy them.
Colonel Charles DENLY, member of the
commission and former minister to
China. remarked:
at is the most important proclamation
since the declaration of independence
Spanish, Tagalo and English versions
have been printed, and it Is proposed t.
circulate them about Malolos and at all
the seaports. They will be sent to the
lake towns by gunhoats"
The preamble of the proclamation re-
cites the eession by the peace treaty OF
the Philippine Islands to the United
States, refers TO the appointment of the
commission. assures the people of the
cordial goodwill and fraternal feeling
of the president of the United States
and the American people. and asserts the
object which the United States govern
ment, apart from the fulhllment of the
solemn obligations, nas assumed towards
the family of nations by the acceptance
of the sovereignty over the islands Is
the we'll being. prosperity and happiness
of the Philippine people and their Gle
walton and advancement to a position
among the most civilized peoples of the
world. The proclamation proceeds in
substance as follows:
Unfortunately these pure aims and
purposes of the American government
and people have been misiDterpreted tc
some of the inhabitants of certain isl
ands and as a consequence the friendly
American forces have. without provoca
ton or cause. been openly attacked
sThe supremacy of the United States
must and will be enforced throughout
every part of tk} archipelago, and those
who resist it Gan accomplish no end
other than their own ruin. To the
Philippine people will be granted the
most ample liberty and self government
reconcilable with the maintenance of q
wise, just, stable. effective and economi
cal administration of public affairs and
compatible with the sovereign and in
ternational rights and the obligations Of
the United States.
1.-THE civil rights of the Philippine pco
pie will be guaranteed and protected tC
the fullest extent, freedom viii be as
sured and all persons shall be equal and
have equal standing in the eyes of tht
law.
Honor, justice and friendship forbid
the use of the Philippians people or tn,
islands they inhabit as an object Of
means of exploitation. The purpose OF
the American government is the wei
fare and the advancement of the Phil