The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-12-08
PLOTTED A GENERAL MASSACRE.
Scheme of the Rebels to Exterminate All
the Americans IN Manila.


the Americans IN Manila.
'Ten days later an order of the in
| surgent government was issued to its
adherents who had remained in Ma
| Mia, of which General Otis justly OBJ
serves that For barbarous intent it
Is unequaled in modern times 1t d.
reefs that at 8 o'clock on the night Of
militia shall come together in the
streets of San Pedro, armed with their
bolos, with guns and ammunition where
convenient; that Filipino families only
shall be respected; but that all other
individuals, of whatever race they
may be, shall be exterminated without
any compassion after the determination
OF the army Of occupation, and adds:
Brothers. we must avenge ourselves
on the Americans ard exterminate
them, that we may take our revenge
for the infamies and treacheries which
they have committed upon us. Have
no compassion upon them; attack with
vigor.'
"A copy Of this fell by good fortune
into the hands Of our officers, and
they were able to take measures to
control the rising, which was actually
attempted on the night Of Feb. %, q
week later than was originally contem-
plated. Considerable numbers of armed
insurgents entered the city by water
ways and swamps and In concert with
confederates inside attempted to de-
stroy Manila by fire. They were kept
in check during the night, and the next
day driven out Of the city with heavy
loss.
This was the unhappy condition of
affairs which confronted our commits
sioners on their arrival in Manila They
had come with hope and intention of
cooperating with Admiral Dewey and
Major General Otis in establishing peace
and order in the archipelago and the
largest measure of self-government
compatible with the true welfare Of the
people. What they actually found can
best be set forth in their own words:
'Deplorable as war Is the one in which
we are now engaged was unavoidable
by us. We were attacked by a bold,
adventurous. and enthusiastic army. No
alternative was left us except ignomin-
Gus retreat. 1t is not to be conceived
of that any American would have sane
toned the surrender of Manila to the
insurgents. Our obligation to other ma
tions and to the friendly Filipinos and
to ourselves and our flag demanded that
force should be met by force. Whatever
the future Of the Philippines may be
there is no course open to us now ex-
cept the prosecution of the war until
the insurgents are reduced to submits
sion. The commission Is of the opinion
that there has been no time since the
destruction Of the Spanish squadron by
withdraw our forces from the islands,
either with honor to ourselves or with
safety to the Inhabitants
1.-The course thus clearly indicated has
been unflinchingly pursued. The re-
bellion must be put down. Civil gov
eminent cannot be thoroughly estab-
lished until order Is restored. With a
devotion and gallantry worthy Of its
most brilliant history the army, ably
and Loyalty assisted by the navy, has
carried on this unwelcome but most
righteous campaign with richly de-
served success The noble self-sacrifice
with which our soldiers and sailors
whose terms of-service had expired re-
fused to avail themselves Of their right
to return home as long as they were
needed at the front forms one Of the
the brightest pages in our annals. AL
though their operations have been some
what interrupted and checked by
rainy season Of unusual violence and
duration they have gained ground
steadily in every direction, and now
look forward confidently to q speedy
completion Of their task.