The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-04-04
More Encouraging News from
the Philippines.
NATIVES RETURNING TO HOMES
The Philippine Commissioners to Discuss
the Situation in the Belief that the Time
Is Favorable for the Restoration of
Peaceful ConditioBs-Gen. Otis Congrat-
nificent Work OF the Army

Manila April z-S.30 p m--Ihe Amerl-
can troops under Gen. Macarthur are
still resting at MaloIos, where everything
has been quiet to-day. Hostilities else
where-sO far as officially reported-have
been limited during the last twenty four
hS1rs to an occasional exchange of shots
between the insurgents and the troops
forming the lines of Gen. Lawton and
Gen. Hall. extending from the water
works TO La Lonia. But this shooting
has been just active enough to make the
lives Of the soldiers a burden, and 10
compel the officers to sleep in trenches,
clothed and in readiness to repel possible
attacks.
Most of the Americans are becoming
convinced that the backbone of the insur-
gent opposition is broken. There are
numerous rumors pointing to an early
collapse of the insurrecti0n One of
these is that Gen Pho del Pillar, the best
fighter among the Filipino officers, will
desert Aguinaldo and give his support 10
the Americans.
The Spaniards, reasoning from their cx-
perience Of the natives, refuse to believe
down. They declare that the Filipinos
will not take their defeat at Malolos,
with the loss of the city and the removal
Of their so-called government, seriously
TO heart.
Pred cted Insurcent Tact cs.
On the contrary. the Spaniards predict
that the insurgents will hover near the
American lines, bothering them as much
as possible, and when attacked in force,
dissolve. only 10 reappear at other points.
This sort Of tactics, the Spaniards say
will be followed until the wet season
compels the Americans TO be housed in
barracks. and then the Filipinos will re-
turn and reoccupy such towns as the
United States troops do not garrison.
With the next dry season a repetition of
the present operations will begin.
Time alone will show how much there
is in this theory; but. as against il, il
must be borne in mind that the Spaniards,
I'm all their domination of the Philippines.
never gave the inhabitants a demOnstra-
zion of power comparable in effectiveness
to that given them by the United States.
A priest and two members OF the So
ceIled Filipino Congress, who hid them
selves iE the woods during the fighting
which preceded the capture of Malolos.
retained there this morning and de-
clared that 1908 OF the Filipino soldiers
were anxious TO give up fighting and
would 90 SO but for their officers. who
keep them under arms
Civilians RUturn tn Their Homes.
The whole country between Malolos and
Caloocan is now full of friendless women
children, and old people. who are return
ing to their homes carrying white flags
The Americans are trying to gain the
confidence Of the inhabitants by proving
10 them that if they will return and at
tend 10 their ordinary work peacefully
no harm viii befall them. Two hundred
and fifty civilians came back to their
homes in MalOlOs last evening Two thou
sand women and children, with a .prfnk-
ling CT unarmed men, supposed 10 be
warriors. came TO the outskirts of Malo-
los on the sea side of the city, and after
ward sneaked away, carrying all the
goods they could.
There mas been no little good-natured
rivalry as 10 which regiment-the FIRST
Montana or the Twentieth Kansas-is en-
titled TO the honor of having Ia sed its
flag first in Ma!olos. Col. Funston and
twenty men of Company f. Kansas vol
ground as already cabled. OF having en-
tered the town at double-quick and rails
ed the company's flag, but the first flag
to be recognized officially was that CT
Company q, Of the Montana infantry
Manila, April $50 p. m.-The natives
continue returning to their homes. They
are coming in ali along the American
lines, and many Of them. seeing the
promises of good treatment are fulfilled.
are inducing their relatives to return 10
their homes.
Mai. Gen. Elwell s Otis, commander OF
the American military forces, has receiy-
ed the following message;
Hearty congratulations on the most
magnificent work Of the army.
DEWEY
The United States Philippine Commits
sion. the last member of that body, Col.
Charles DENLY, former Minister 10 China,
having arrived here. viii discuss the sit
uEtion The Commissioners are hopeful
Of a speedy restoration of peace, believ-
ing hostiities will soon be confined 10
the habirual revolEtionists.
Brig. Gen. Harrison Gray Otis sails for
home on board the United States trans
port ShVIILdH to-oas" II" says Ho Dc
heves the insurreCtion has received its
death biOw.
The Sherman will also have on board
the sons of Col John Hay, Secretary or
State. and Senator Hale, of Maine, who
have witnessed much of the fighting with
the army, and the bodies OF Col Harry {.
Egbert, OF the TWenty-second Infantry,
Killed on March 26, aid other officers, who
have recently fallen in battle.
IA hs3T0U has assumed command
az me brigade lately commanded by Gen.
Otis. The Third and Twenty second Regi-
utnts. of Gen. Wheaton's command, are
returning 10 this city.
C,pTTRE NOT IMPORTANT.