Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-25
THE rILrprSos ENCOURAGED.
Their Spirits Rfsfng-Thefr He
sources STRENGTHENING.

weeks. but with months and even years.
Among the mass OF the people here. mill
tary men and foreign residents, there Is
but one opinion. The whole effort Of the
insurgents for three months was TO hold
off the Americans until their ally. the
rains. came. In this they have been as
successful as they could have hoped
Unless affairs take some unforeseen turn
the Filipinos will resume the war this
fall with fresh spirit and a replenished
stock Of arms and ammunition. One ship
load of arms, It is learned on good au-
thority, has reached them within this
week. OF money the leaders Of the in
surrection have no lack. They contro!
the resources Of a large and rich section.
and even II no crops were harvested for
several years they could stnl Obtain
enough cash and supplies by impressing
the treasures OF the churches. the store
houses of farmers and manufacturers,
and funds Of private Individuals sys-
TEN Of levy which they have long en-
forced 20 a considerable extent. All the
ships coming and going in the ports open
to trade pay heavy tribute 10 the insur-
gents.
Much or the profits OF this informal
sort of government are supposed 20 90
into the pockets of the leaders, except
Aguinaldo, who is generally acquitted Of
when the public treasury becomes empty,
the politicians who are exploiting Agui
naldo may, If they see a possibilitr OF
success, consider the war a good private
investment
FILIPINO SPIRITS RISING.
Reports brought through the lines 10
Spaniards and Filipinos in this city arc
that the spirits of the insurrectionsts are
improving.
Americans. like the Spaniards. must de-
fer to nature, and rest on their arms
most Of the time, while the country is a
mudwallow. The generals are telling
their followers that American inacuon
during the past month is due TO dis
enlargement and decentralization. The
Filipino soldiers, according TO these IN
formants, are tolerably contented. AL |
though the paymaster seldom appears, |
they are living as comfortably as they 1
have been accustomed 10, being clothed /
and receiving rations which an Amer- /
can soldier could not live on. chiefly rice,
with only occasionally a little fish or
meat. They are fairly well housed having
taken possession Of the dwellings ana
public and church buildings in the towns
in which they are quartered, and they
add to their living by lootng.
Through the American secret service
COUlc hlutTtuL SUITES Audl TIC # ittliit'
army is becoming decimated by defec-
ton TO the number Of twenty TO thirty a
day and are fast losing heart, and on
the verge of disruption.
Past experience with the secret service
justifes a suspicion that many Of It's en-
ployees. most of whom are natives or
Spaniards, are deeply interested in boiling |
their places by seeming 20 earn their pay,
while the refugees who come through |
the lines have been disposed 10 give re-
ports which they think will please the
authorities. Almost since the beginning
OF the war they have pictured the Fill
pino army as on its last legs, and its
collapse as but question Of days.
General Otis caused the country 20 be
placarded with an offer or $50 for each
insurgent rifle surrendered. If the Fill
Pine soldiers We're deserving by compa-
MES. tired Of the war, and converted 10 J
American rule. many of them might be
expected 10 bring their guns into the
American lines and receive the reward.
The entire harvest from this source,
however has been less than 100 guns.
WHERE OTIS MADE A MISTAKE.
There was a time when Aguinaldo's
army hung I'm the balance-when It's de-
appeared inevitable. That was
when Macarthur had captured San Fer
nando and Lawton was marching upon | ,
San isidro, with the Filpinos scattering
before him. Lawton had made himself a
terror TO the insurgents, because no OBJ
stacles stopped him.
With LawtOn at San Isidro. the rebels
feared he might swoop around upon
Tarlac. where they had installed their
nomadic capital, and catch them between
two armies. All the archives, seals, gilt
trlnkets, and treasure chests were pack ,
ed, ready for shipment at the first word
OF Lawton's advance. LawtOn asked 10 ! ,
be allowed 70 do 1t, with the men and
ratons he had. But orders came 10
withdraw his troops from San Isidro AMI
return 10 MalolOs leaving small gaIrl- ,
sons at some OF the towns he had cap /
tured. His retirement the Filipinos con- ,
strued into a retreat, and from that day
the sinking hopes OF the insurrecuonists
seemed 20 rise Luna and Mascardo,
who had reiterated northward from San
Fernando toward Tarlac brought their
armies back, and proceeded 10 construct a /
horseshoe line Of entertainments around
san Fernando, where, according TO re-
ports they led their followers TO believe
they had Macarthur besieged.
The assassination Of Luna was expected
to bring the whole Filipino organization
topping down in civil war, but while the
uSual ElDfltr OF ul1oFiripiH were Ht4Lht !
the result 80 far as outward appearances
20. was 10 leave 70 Aguinaldo the unais-
puted leadership.
The FllipinOs are encouraged by the
handicap the rains impose upon the
Americans, and the departure OF the vol
unteers. They read the American news
papers, and think the home sentiment
against war is growing.
FILIPINO PROGRAMME.
Their policy. after the rains. will be. as
it was befOre-a campaign Tor gaining !
time and wearing out their opponents.
They profess 20 imagine that Congress
will declare against annexation. Il Con-
gress fails them, they will try TO prolong
the struggle until the presidential cam
paign, with the expectation that one OF
the political parties will declare against
Imperialism, and the hope that such
party will win.
To whip them while they are pursuing
such tactics. an army will be needed that
can move rapidly and strike day after
day, following up a victory without hav-
ing TO wait for rations, and thus giving
the enemy time 20 reorganze. TO cap
ture them, most of the generals here
think, cavalry will be necessary Time
after time the Americans have carefully
planned movements which seemed sure
TO result in the rounding up OF 200 or
1900 rebels in a trap, but every time,
the difficulties OF the country, the slow
ness OF the wagOn-trains. and the superior
agility OF the iight-moying natives
have cOnsplred against them, and |
when these several divisions OF the army
came together they have found a handful
of obsequious brown men who announced
themselves amigos"
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