The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-11
Philippine Town Assured by Lawton of Pro-
lection. Bombarded Without Cause.
TO WAGE VIGOROUS WARFARE
Against N philippines After the Rainy Season Closes-Otis' Armvt OBJ
RAISED to Fifty Thousand Men, and Moreif Observation-Disclosures
Sends a n Appeal to the European Nations for Recognition
OF Philippine observation-disclosures as to the
Course Foreign Consuls at Manila Will
Pursue Regarding the Appeal.

Manila, August 2, via Hong Kong,
August 8.-The gunboat Napidan last
week shelled Paete, on the lake near
Santa Cruz. The town was full of peo-
PIE who a been encouraged to return
after General LaWton's expedition, hav-
ing been assured tina they would not
be mOlested if they peaceably attended
to their business. Lieutenant Copp,who
was in command Of the Napidan, heard
that the insurgents had reoccupied the
town and steaming close in, opened fire
with his 6~-pounders without warning.
The people, seeing the boat approach
ing, fled to the hills in a terrified con-
ditiOn and with barely time to escape.
One child was killed and many build
ings were damaged. The authorities
express great regret on account of the
incident.
After the taking of Calamba< by the
Americans General Lawton ordered that
Captain Otis, of the Washington regi-
ment, be relieved of his command and
placed under arrest on account of slow
ness and seeming reluctance of the
IdC LIE L. " -
ing the order to disembark from the
cascOes and wade through the marshes
under fire.
The men say that a majority of them
have been sick and Unfit for duty and
were given to understand that they
would not be asked to do any more
fighting.
AGUINALDO'S APPEAL TO THE
POWERS.
Il 49,
for recognition of philippine independ-
ence' in a document dated from Tar
lac, July 9th and signed by Buenca-
minO. 1t has been received by all for
eign consu in Manila with the request
that they forward it to their respective
governments.
The Philippines use their old argu-
ment that they had conquered the SOW
~ereignty of these islands from Spain
before the signing of the treaty of Paris
and, therefore, Spain was in no position
to cede them to the United States. They
argue that the possession of 1000 Span
iSh prisoners, captured with their arms,
fighting against the Philippines, is "elo-
quent proof of the nullity of Spanish
sovereignty, as when they SURRENDERED
Spain's hold was irrevocably lost"
The document then reads: Replying
to the Spanish commissions requests tC
release the prisoners because Spain No
longer has political interests in the
islands, we asked for a treaty of peace
and friendship between Spain and the
Philippines, whereby the prisoners would
be released. But the commissioners re-
fused, because it would mean recOgnl-
ton of our independence. This is equiv
alent to ayng that the prisoners must
stay in our hands Indefinitely because
their possession is our most eff1cacious
method to adjust our account with
Spain and obtain from her recognition
of our independence"
The Philippines claim that they con.
quered all the country except Mantle
and that they c~O-Operated in securing
the latter's capitulation by surrounding
it at a cost of thousands of lives. They
also claim they conquered the country
unassisted, except for sixty guns tina
Admiral Dewey gave Agulnaldo anC
that Admiral Dewey and the British
and Belgian cOnsuls recognized the
Philippines sovereignty by asking TO
passes to visit the country.
They repeat the claim that they have
letters from American consuls and gen.
erals, recognizing their sovereignty ant
promising that the Americans woul(
recognize their independence" which
was at the disposition of the powers
The Philippines attempt to max
capital of the statement that Admira
Dewey had such confidence that Agui
naldo would observe and fulfill the rule
of war that he gave him 100 Spanisl
prisoners which the American navy hai
captured.
Finally, the Philippines appeal to tn
powers to influence Washington tt
bring to a determination 1.-The unjus
wal which is devastating the coun
try"
The authorities at Madrid have or
dered the Spanish commissioners not t
turn at Tarlac and it is reported tina
two special commissioners, Seniors Ca
priles and Cuerbo, are on their way her
from Spain to cOnduc the negotiation
for the surrender of the Spanish pris
oners now held by the Philippines.
NO NEWS AT WASHINGTON OF
THE APPEAL.
Washington, August S.-The state de
part is entirely without information a
to any address by Aguina1do to foreigl
powers for the recognition of the Phil
lippinoS, either as beligerents, or a
constituting an independent govern
ment. The appeal is looked upon, how
ever, as creating no particular chang
as il has been the desire of Aguinald
and his associates from the first to Sc
cure such recognition. The appeal put
this desire into rather formal shape
and it may bring to an issue me att
tude OF outside governments. There j
no apprehension, however, that an
foreign government will heed the ad
dress. The international usage as [
recognition was qu4NN
during the Cuban inSurrection.
The course which the foreign consul
at Manila will pursue in c~onnectlo
with Aguinaldo's communication is
matter of some conjecture among ON
Gals here. At the state departmer
there is no disposition to limit the cor
suls in forwarding the appeal TO the
respective governments. AS a rule IL
quite unusual for consulS holding exc
quaturs from a friendly government
n having official relations with 1t, I
carry on communications with an lnsul
rectionary leader; but it is appreciate
that in this case the consuls are 10
innocent victims of Aguinaldos lette
writing. AS military authority is ST
nranna in the PhiEnninoc anu question