The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-20
THBREBELSVEaEENDNC|
lnsurgsnt Offer TO Deliver Amsri-
can Prisoners to General Otis.
THEY ALTO WANT A CONFERENCE.

Conference May Be Another Trick OF
the Insurgents to Gain Further Time
Washington, Sept. 2O.-Secretary
Root yesterday received a cablegram
from General Otis that seemed to in
dictate a weakening on the part of the
insurgents In Luzon. 1t contained q
prefer to deliver the American pris-
oners, who have been for so many
months in the hands of the insurgents,
and also sought permission to parley
with General Otis.
This cable2ram was at once taken
by Secretary Root over to the cabinet
meeting and formed the main topic
of discussion at the beginning Of the
session. However, upon reading the
message carefully its apparent import
ance seemed to diminish. Secretary
Root himeslf did not regard the mat
ter as of importance at this time. He
recalled frequent efforts on the part Of
the insurgents in the past to gain time
at critical moments by opening nego-
tiations, ostepsibly with the object of
making peace, and he was not sure but
this last offer was something Of the
same kind. However. the secretary
was of the opinion that 1t would fail
to afford the insurgents any advant-
age. General Otis would receive any
messenger and listen to him and make
answer to his proposals. but this would
not restrain the military operations in
the slightest degree and the American
arms would lose no ground. no mat
ter how the negotiations turned out.
There is a possibility also that the
insurgents may have become disheart-
ened at the renewed and intense &C.
tivity in the direction Of reinforcing
General Otis, and concluded, in viow
of the great force gathering to open
the campaign in the dry season, that
further resistance would be useless.
Ii Is pointed out as noticeable fact
that Aguinaldo's name does not aD-
pear in General Otis dispatch, ahd
though this may not be of great sig
nfcance still among some of the army
officers It Il surmised that there are
serious discussions among the insur-
gents and that perhaps some Of the
disordant elements are acting on thor
own responsibility. The text Of the
dispatch follows:
Macarthur reports from Angeles
visit of two lnsurgent officers with re-
quest for permission to send into our
lines American prisoners and to send
to Manila prominent insurgent general
officer for conference. The requested
interview granted and insurgent Of
ticers at Angeles return north with in
formation
The capture of Lieutenant Gilmore
and his party was one of the most
stirring incidents of the insurrection.
1t occurred while the cruiser York.
town was making a survey of the
western coast of Luzon. with a view
to locating some of the detached
Spanish garrisons which had been
long cut off from the populous centers.
1t was known that Spanish garrison
had been surrounded at Baler, on the
eastern coast, and Lieutenant Gilmore,
with boats party from the York
town, was sent ashore to reconnoiter
the surrounding country. He divided
his command, one party remaining
near the shore, while another pushed
inland This was the last heard Of
the lieutenant and the Is men who ac-
companied him. The other members
of the party waited for long time,
but got no trace of their companions,
and finally were obliged to return to
the ship without them.
Admiral Dewey at once reported the
loss to the navy department, and be-
fore he left Manila used every pos
sible means to learn the condition OF
the captive Americans. At first it was
feared they had lost their lives, but
later definite information was receiv-
ed that the following were alive at
San Isidro, an insurgent stronghold:
Lieutenant Gilmore Chief Quartermas-
, ter William Walton, Sailmaker's Mate
Paul Vandoit, Coxswain John Els
worth, Apprentice Albert Peterson,
Landsmen Slvio Brisolese, Lyman p.
Edwards and Fred Anderson.
Captain Charles M. Rockefeller, of
the Nineteenth infantry is also sup
posed to be prisoner with the in
surgents. He disappeared last April,
and no trace Of him has been discov-
cred.