The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-18
TAGAL0S WILL FIGHT 1T OUT.
THEIR DIFFERENTIATION THE ONLY
GUARANTEE OF PEACE.


ed Plot for Massacre in Manila.
Everybody Has Put Out a Flag.
Many New Saloons - Layvton Is
SdlI Unassigned.
Hong Kong, March 17.-The following
general view of the situation is from
| correspondent Of the Associated Press at
Manila, and has evidently not been sub
jected to censorship:
The most remarkable feature of the sit
uation is the inability of the Americans
and residents to estimate the numbers, re-
sources and plans of the Fllipinos.
Prominent generals think that two or
three disastrous battles will break their
spirit and make them sue for terms. A
majority OF the English and other resi-
dents are of the opinion that the extermi-
nation of the Tagaios is the only guaran-
tee of peace; that they can easily be whip
ped If they give battle but that they will
dodge a meeting with the Americans in
force.
Some people think they will risk battles
at Malabon and Parnaque. where they are
strongly entrenched, and that If they are
| defeated they will resume bushwhacking
as long as any of them are left
United States Consul Williams says: 81
don't expect to live to see the end of the
war"
Rebels Are Numerous.
The rebels shift about so much that it
is impossible to estimate their numbers.
The correspondent questioned several
| generals as to the number of rebels and
replies ranged from 10000 to 100000 The es-
umates of the quantity of arms possessed
| by the rebels are equally uncertain. The
best authorities say 10000. Large sections
| of the armed natives are ignorant of the
use of their weapons.
The country beyond the American lines
is rice fields, cane and brush. The rebels
are familiar with every inch of II and 1t
| affords fine hiding places.
The residents say the Tagalos are unan-
| lmously rebels, and they predict the Amer
leans will be resisted at Mindoro and Min
danao, and that they viii be obliged TO
subdue them.
The extent of the support which the
other Luzon tribes are giving Aguinaldo
is a mystery. II is known that several
regiments were under arms before the out
| break, but the majority of them are sup
posed to be Jealous of the Tagalos, who
are reported TO be treating the other tribes
| In the fashion of the Spaniards, dominating
the island and holding all the offices.
TagalOs Are Deceptive.
Reports from the rebels are TO the ef-
| feet that the recent tactics of the Ameri-
cans in retiring to their established lines
after pursuing. makes the rebels think
| they are winning victories.
| The Oriental character Is so deceptive
that the residents of Manila are ignorant
| as to whether their own servants sympa-
| thiZe with the rebels or not 1t Is known
| that a rebel organization exists in the
city, and the evidence is growing that
| there was widespread plot 10 assassinate
the Americans, the signal being the com
mencement of hostilities. The servants
were instructed to kill their employers;
| but they were terrorized by the vengeance
dean out to offenders, and they weakened
! Every Tagalo would have cut his employ
ers throat IL he dared, or at least this Is
a current saying.
The faithlessness of the natives Is Illus
| trated by the action of the commission
ers who came here to offer the allegiance
of the island of Negros. II Is now known
that they were In friendly communication
with Aguinaldo while here.
| The rebels have been resupplied with
ammunition and are using smokeIess DOW
der.
Flags Out for Protection.
! Nearly every house here displays a for
elgn flag for protection, whether 1t is
| entitled to 1t or not. All flags except that
| of Spain are seen. From the native huts
hang white towels or shirts.
The natives working in the fields plant
a white flag on bamboo as a protection
| against being mistaken for active rebels
Every hut between The city and the Amer
/ ican line IS a heap Of ashes The residents
are the chief sufferers from the present
state of affairs Fair commodities have
| doubled and trebed in prices, and many
| lines of business are at a standstil
After o'clock in the evening death
like silence prevails in the city, except for
the footsteps of the sentries or their chal-
| lenges as an occasional civilian is halted.
| Each sentry calls upon the passing civil
ians to explain their business. The shut
ters are all closed for fear of shootlngs
occurring in the streets, and the theaters,
restaurants and stores are also closed.
Uniformed Spanish officers in the public
| places sneeringly say: at would be diff
| ferenl IL we we're in control"
Nervous Tension Everywhere.
| AS an instance Of the nervous tension
prevailing. it is cited that when the sun
set gun was fired on Sunday whole reg
iment eneamped at the Luneta jumped for
| its arms as II at a word of command.
About 300 new saloons have opened here
| since the American occupation, with the
| result that many drunken soldiers are to
| be seen in the streets. The officers, how
ever say the conduct of the soldiers is bet
ter than those of other nations under sim
! liar circumstances.
The chief topic Of conversation at pres
| ent is the delay In assigning Maj. Gen.
| Lawton to a command. Everybody ex-
pected that he was TO take command of
the troops and he is eager to get work,
but he has been a spectator of all the
weeks fighting, and his staff and ten
year-old son have been exposed TO the hot
| test fire.
| There Is an impression that japanese
| firms are supplying the rebels with arms.
| The Japanese papers are urging Japan
ese mediation.
MORE PRISONERS CAPTURED.