Evening star., 1899-02-08

the American forces, while they will prove
somewhat burdensome and will make a
heavy draft on the resources of the medi-
cal department, will prove a good thing in
the end The wounded Filipinos who are
cared for in the American hospitals and fed
with good American rations will make very
effective missionaries when they return to
their own people. The idea of wounded
prisoners being carefully nursed and cared
for is wholly new experience to the in
surgents and will go far to convince them
that they may expect something different
under American regime from what they
were accustomed to at the hands of the
Spaniards.
The impression seems to prevail that
A guinaldo himself may be captured at no
distant date and he will be an important
hostage for the good behavior of his fol-
lowers.
Repeating Cuban Experience.
The situation seems to be very much the
same as that existing in Cuba before the
assault on Santiago. The Spanish prison.
ers captured at San Juan and Caney said
very frankly after the battle that they
would not have resisted with one-half the
determination had they not been repeatedly
assured by the Spanish authorities that the
Americans never took prisoners except 10
scalp and torture them, and that it was
far better to die fighting in the trenches
than to fall into the hands of the remorSe-
less northern invaders.
One officer in the depar today re-
called in this connection his experience be-
fore the attack on Caney, when he was one
of accommodating party which went up to
the edge OF the town and gathered in a
large party of pacificos, who were out hunt
ing mangroves, The prisoners were simply
imp with terror when they We're marched
back to Skaters headquarters, expecting
nothing more pleasant than being boiled in
oil. After they had been fed and questioned
they were turned loose, their capture being
only made to protect the accommodating
party while it was beyond the American
ines, but they could not be driven back to
santiago, and remained with the American
headquarters camp ill after the surrender
OF the city 1t is thought that the Eilipinos
Will prove quite as susceptible to practical
work after they have found
what treatment they may expect from the
American forces in peace as well as in ac-
tual hostiities.
Instructions Not Given Out.
Reverting to the policy pursued during
the late war with Spain, the officials of the
war department, as we'll as those of the
Navy, decline most positively to afford any
for publication respecting the
instructions given or to be given to the
and naval commanders in the Phil
lppines. The reason is obvious. With spies
IN Canada, and even in Washington, with
Philippine juntas in the European capitals
and in Hong Kong, and with malicious
spirits in Europe to contend with, the de-
partments will have all they can do to get
news of their intentions to the American
commanders in the Philippines in season to
prevent the insurgents from profiting by it.
AGuinaido Wants a Truce.
Therefore, they refuse to give any inti-
nation as to what instructions have been
or will be sent to Otis and Dewey respect
ing the application by Aguinaldo for a ces-
satlon of hostilities and a conference. New
there is reason to believe that up
to this point at least no instructions have
been sent. As before stated, the admins
tration has unlimited confidence in Gen
Otis military abilities and they are con-
graduating themselves that his experience
in Indian warfare in the past is exactly
what is needed for the safe conduct of the
American campaign now. He will know
just how much confidence to place in this
overture. These Filipinos are not to be
taken as guileless natives, but the history
of their insurrection is said to be fun of as
many instances of bad faith on their part
as could be found in one of our own Indian
The plea of Aguinaldo is there
fore likely to be left with Otis, and it will
be for him to judge whether it is a proper
offer of submission in good faith, or moth
ing more than a cunning device to gain
time to reorganize and reinspirit the badly
demoralzed Ftlipinos. Nevertheless, the
news conveyed by Otis was received with
great qualification, simply holding out
hope of more speedy terminate of hos
tilities on Luzon than was expected after
the first outbreak.
There Is no reason to believe that the
President has changed his policy respecting
the treatment of the F'ilipinos because of
the battle, and 1t is believed tnat if they are
content to profit by the severe lesson ad-
ministered to them he will be willing to
receive them erring children and treat
them with as great a degree of liberality
as their state and due regard for the in
terests of the United States and of civiliza-
ton will permit
4 Movement at IIoiIo.
Notwithstanding the above semi-offical
utterances. it is believed that a forward
movement is probable at Iloilo where Gem
eral Miller has beeen for weeks lying in
front of the town in his transports. He has
never had any doubt of his ability to take
the place whenever he got the word, but
there has been a restraining influence from
based in part on the hope that
the insurgents could be brought to a peace
ful retirement from the town, and an ap-
prehension that an effort to force a land
ing might result in serious injury to foreign
interests Now, however, it is felt that the