The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-12-20
PROMINENT REBEL LEADER TAKEN.
BACKED THE INSURGENTS.
mablnl Was The Brain Of The Filipino Move.
ment, hguinaldo Being Considered
figurehead- Cagayan Captured.

The news Thursday from General
Otis tells OF the capture OF Mabini, the
Filipino leader, who, IL is believed, was
trying to make his way across country
from Bangued where he had been
Obliged to part company with Agunal-
do fortnight ago, to the east coast OF
Luzon.
The members of the Philippine com
mission now in Washington declare
Mabini was the head and front OF the
insurrection, and that Aguinaldo was
only fgurehead.
Mabni was the brain and directing
power behind him. He is a paralytic,
an old man, but OF extraordinary ability,
and his counsels are always conclusive
with the Filipinos. He was concerned
in the first uprising against the Span
iards. For short time he wavered up
on Aguinaldo's breach with the Ameri-
cans, but finally cast his fortunes with
the insurrection, and was president oi
the council He was also the financial
strength OF the movement as without
his backing Aguinaldo would have had
no credit.
Next in importance to the capture oil
Mabini was the bold stroke OF Captain
McCalla, of the Newark, in captain
the whole province OF Cagayan. With
Macarthur holding the province OF lsa-
bella, adjoining, and Young's holdings
on the opposite or western shore OF the
upper peninsula, the American forces
are now in technical occupation OF the
whole northern end OF Luzon from a
point just north OF the Gull OF Lingayen.
Reuters Telegram Company, OF Lon
don, has received the following dispatch
from Hong Kong, which evidently
comes from the Filipino junta there:
The insurgent government (so-call.
ed) OF the Philippines will be. changed
to dictatorship to continue hostilities
against the Americans exclusively by
the methods OF guerrilla warfare. lhe
| Filipino army is being split up into
small bands, the troops taking an oath
before separation that they will fight un-
til their country's rights are recognized.
"a force OF United States marines
who landed at Vigan, South llocos
province, from the battleship Oregon,
was defeated by the Filipinos under
Gen. Finio CTinoO on December a.
The Manila newspapers, despite the cen
sorship, admit that Gen. Lawton is miss
ing"
Col. Smith, with detachment OF the
Seventeenth infantry, surrounded ana
captured in village near Malasqui a
party OF guerrillas who had made their
headquarters there. The party included
the band which assassinated seven OF
ficials at Malasqui for friendlness to the
Americans.
All are insurgents who became ban
dts when the disntegration OF the Fill
pino army began. They kept the cour-
try around Malasqui. in state OF terror
for several weeks, and committed TWEEN
ty-fve murders in less than that number
of days. When they were caught they
were promptly sent to Gen. MacAr-
thurs headquarters at Bayombong by
train.
1t is expected that they will be speed
lily tried and either shot or hung as an
example, il convicted
Isolated bands OF bushwhacking in
surgents who are caught by our forces
in the Philippines are likely to be sum
marily dealt with. At the Cabinet meet
ing Saturday the matter was discussed,
the situation demanded vigorous treat
ment.
So long as the insurgents keep up a
show OF an army, under a semblance OF
discipline, they will be treated as pris-
| oncrs OF war when captured, but when
they degenerate into isolated bands OF
maraudears, harassing our forces by
cold-blooded assassinations, it is the
judgment OF the officers in command in
the Philippines and of the President and
the members OF the Cabinet that the sit
uation demands summary action.