Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-01-05
TROUBLE IS FEARED.
Insurgents Refuse to Deliver Iloilo
to the American Forces.
The DISAPPEARANCE OF ACUIyALDo.


Washington, Jan. 3-There Is grave
fear Of trouble In the Philippines. A
long message was received by cable
from Gen. Otis. He reports the disap.
pearance Of Aguinsldo and the refusal
Of the insurgents 10 deliver Iloilo ia
the American forces sent from Manila
to take possession Of that city. A
cablegram was drawn up and sent tc
Gen. Otis directing him to execute hi.
original orders rega riding lloilo, anc
this means that the United States
forces will take possessi on Of the city
and harbor, notwithstanding the re-
sistance Of the Filipinos.
Gen. OILS considers the Disappearance &C
OF Aguinaldo as one Of the most signi.
ficant OF the many suspicious acts OF
that leader during the last month. II
is not just known where Aguinaldo Is
though Gen. Otis believes that he Ia
still on the island Of Luzon on which
Manila is situated. Among bis fol.
lowers in Manilait was given out that
he withdrew TO the interior because
he feared assassination, but Gen. Otis
is said to be Of the opinion that
Aguinaldo has some other purpose 10
view and perhaps is really collecting
his forces for demonstration hostile
to the United States
The contents OF the message from
Gen. Otis were OF such an important
nature that the members OF the cabi-
net were summoned to meet at the
white house. The meeting lasted
about an hour and at its conclusion
message was sent in reply urging Gen.
Otis to deal with the Filipinos gently
but firmly. He was given renewed ex-
pressions of the presidents confidence
and urged to use his best Judgment in
meeting the delicate situation that
confronts him.
At the white house the contents OF
Gen. Otis dispatch would not be dis
closed in the most general way Sec
rotary Alger said that the dispatch
said that Gen. Miller had reached
Iloilo safely and that though the in
surgents had refused to surrender the
United States troops had been landed
without resistance, and at the time
the dispatch was sent Gen. Miller was
in conference with the insurgents re-
garding the surrender of the city.
The situation is irritating in the fact
that according to the experience Of
the last few days 1t Is not to be ex-
pected that anything more can be
head from lloilo for day or two at
least, except in the very improbable
event that the American force has
been repulsed 10 their efforts to make
a landing and had been obliged to re.
turn straight to Manila.
1t is surmised from the reports that
Gen. Miller is proceeding with more
tact and with less roughness In his
dealings with the insurgents than ap-
peared from a first inspection of the
reports. His purpose apparently was
TO avoid such formal recognition of
The insurgents as might tend to embar-
rass the United States government
hereafter, but at the same time not to
leal harshlv with them II they can be
brought to see the rectitude of his in
Therefore the officials are
If the opinion that there will be no
actual hostilities between the forces
lrrayed against Gen. Otis and his own,
)ut that at the worst the former will
'etire from the city without accepting
,r rejecting the American overtures
Until they have heard from Aguinaldo.
len. Otis has taken steps to acquaint
len. Miller with the latest instruc-
ions of the president, and special |!
Messenger is on his way from Manila
o lloilo.
Although officials profess their strong
relief that no serious trouble will &C.
ur, they have taken the precaution to
expedite the dispatch of military rein
nements to Gen. Otis commanding
he fnllipplnes. Oruers nave peen is
ued for the Thirtieth regiment Of in
antry at Fort Leavenworth to time its
departure SO as to be In San Francisco
~ the 18th inst. in order to sail for Ma
lila on that date If possible. The two
,ther infantry regiments which are
lnder orders to proceed to the Philip
,ines by the Pacific route, the Third
Ind Twenty.second, will follow as
loon as the means of transportation
ian be secured Three other regi-
nents are also under orders to proceed
70 Manila by the way of the Mediter-
-anean and the Suez canal. These
are the Fourth, Twelfth and Seven
teenth infantry. They will make the
trip on the new transports Mobile and
Mohawk and unless present plans mis-.
carry they will embark at New York on
the nth inst. Maj Gen, Lawton, the
hero Of III Caney, who has been ordered
TO take command Of the military forces
In the Philippines under the direction
Of Maj. Gen. Otis, as military governor
Of the archipelago will accompany the
expedition from New York after con-
ference here respecting the admins.
tration Of affairs in the Philippines.
er-----
story About Drey,.s.
London, Jan. 3.-The Paris corre-
spondent Of the Chronicle says he
learns that Dreyfus actually started