The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-10-04
MESSAGE FROM FILIPIN0S
Offered to Release Prisoners and Asked
For a Conference.
REQUEST GRANTED BY GEN. OTIS.

Enyoys From Aguinaldo Promised TO he'
lease Lieutenant Gilmore and His Com
rades-Latest Proposition From the
Filipinos Discussed by the Cabinet
Sincerity OF Their Offer Doubted.
MANILA (By Cable).-Two insurgent ma
iors entered the American lines under
flag OF truce. They visited General Mac
Arthur and offered to release sixteen Ame-
rlcan prisoners, including Lieutenant Gill
more and his men, from the gunboat York
town, who were captured some months ago.
In return they merely asked permission 70
send these prisoners through the lines ac'
companied by Fillplnos who desire to con-
fer with General Otis.
The request was granted and the tnsur-
gent officers returned to their lines after
promising that tho prisoners held by
them would be released In few days. NO
mention was made OF an exchange OF prls-
oners and the insurgents are evidently de-
sirous OF, showing their magnantmtty.
General Oils has consistently followed the
policy OF releasing Filipino prisoners OF,
war, retaining only their arms.
WASHINGTON, D. C. Especially .-Informa-
ton Was received OF the War Department
from Major General Otis which, In the
opinion OF the more optimistic or the high
officials OF the Administration, indicates
that A9ulnaIdo IS preparing to surrender
The advIces from General Otis were con.
tanned In the following telegram:
Macarthur reports from Angeles visit
OF two insurgent officers with request TOR
permission to send into our lines American
prisoners and send to Manila prominent
insurgent general officer for conference.
The requested interview granted and In
surgent officers at Angeles returned north
with Information"
The dispatch was at once taken by Secre.
tary Root to the Cabinet meeting, and
formed the chief topic for discussion at the
beginning OF the session. There was d.
versity Of opinion among the members as
to the significance OF Agulnaldo's request,
some members believing that 1t meant a
definite effort on the part OF the Filipino
leader to bring about pence on basis not
unfavorable to the American position, and
others expressing little faith that such
would be the outcome OF the proposed con"
ference.
After the meeting Secretary Root said
frankly that he was not inclined to place
too much reliance on Aguinaldo's good IN"
tentions, for this case might prove TO %
quite similar to the other movements OF
the insurgent chief In the same direction.
There was an inclination, however, to
hear promptly what the insurgent repre-.
sentatives might have to say and to deal
promptly and finally with any proposition
that might be forthcoming.
Secretary Root also received word from
General Otis that the insurgents had been
attacked at San Fabian, on Lingayen GULF,
by Ensign Davidson, In command OF the
"tin clad" Paragua. The news Is Of I'M
portance as showing that the Insurgents
are to be attacked in the rear and that the
American army proposes to utilize the Lu-
zon railway from its northern terminus at
Dagupan as we'll as from the southern ter
minus, Manila. The movement on Dagupan
was ordered by Secretary Root, although
1t has been obviously q necessity ever since
the summer campaign was opened by Gen.
eral Otis.