Arizona republican., 1899-09-06
Report Regarding AguinaldO'S
 Purpose DisbelieVed.
SPYING ON THE INSURGENTS
The Generalization in inc South Is So Great That HguInaIdo'S Chief General Wants 10 Surrender. Establishment of Local Ameri. can Government In inc island of IuZOn.

Washington, Sept. 5.--The report
 that Aguinaldo had ordered forward
 movement in Cavfte province and an
 attack upon our forces at linus diff l fers widely from advices received in private letters from officers on Gen
 eral Otis staff. One of these states that the insurgents in Cavite province
 have been thoroughly whipped"
 much more so than those north of
 Manila. The writer states that the in->
 surgent demoraliza.ions is. so great in
 the south that Agnina1do's chief gem
 eral in Cavite province has indicated
 a desire to surrender if he can obtain
 the consent of his chief. The letter is dated last month, and has just been
 received here.
 Another letter from one of General
 Otis staff officers states that the com
 manding general has much greater fa- cilities for obtaining correct informa-
 tion as to the status of the insurrec-
 tion than is commonly known, and that his spy system ramifyine she in- surgent camps makes it clear to tr9se ! in authority in Manila that the na- tives are anxious to secure peace and
 return to their usual vacations.
 The opinion is expressed that the
 best means Of bringing about this end is to hurry forward achievements and then inaugurate a short, sharp and vigorous campaign during Novem- Der.
 These letters have been brought to the attention of Secretary Root and other high officials and have been faivcTably commented upon as offset ting the reports current of late s
 General Lawton's course in extend ing municipal government in the Phil ippines is explained in detail in Ma nila newspapers, which have just been received at the war department They state that the general has made a tour of many towns along the line of his division, including Santa Ana, Pan- dacan and San Felipe, and has estab- lished in each complete system of civil government. The inhabitants of the towns are to have entire charge of affairs, according to General Lawton's system. The general called before him the principal men of the towns, and after pointing out the general pur- poses and desires of the Americ government had these natives desig- nate mayor, viee-mayor and head men for the various wards. The mayor chosen for Santa Anna is Rafael Ber~s. nado Lozado; at San Felipe, Buena Domingo.
 General Lawton explained to the in habitants that the United States gov ernment did not wish to meddle at all with the local affairs of the Ieople, and they were told to proceed with tax levies, to start schools and public improvements and to establish such civil offices as they saw fit. The peo- pie were told that the tax n oney was to be expended at home, and none of it was to be contributed to the mili- the first civil government at Baluag. Senor Guerrero being in stalled as captain-general Similar local governments have been put in force at Baccor, Paranac and Los Pinas.
 The officials of the state, war and navy departments have been devoting ! good deal of time lately to the con sideration Of means whereby the Phil ppine insurgents may be deprived of he great assistance they now receive through the admission of food and the admission of their own valuable products. There is much difficulty in inding way to do this without inter- :ering injudiciously with legitimate rade. and raising some ugly interna- ional questions At present it is pos 'ible, and, in fact, such a thing has for a merchant ship carry ng the American flag to enter an in- urgent port and sell food supplies at ,reatly enhanced prices, taking out in 'eturn cargoes of hemp, .tobacco and ,ther raw materials, at an enormous profit. The insurgents are sHbstan- ially aided by this trade, yet so far he means have not been found to pre- ent it.
 The merits of the United States rmy transport service have so far commended themselves to the French that Captain Vignal, the military attache of the French en-