The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-13
Gen. Otis Cables That the Situation
is Apparently improving.
MANILA SITUATION CRITICAL.
Although the Chance for Paciiication
There j. Better Than at Iloiio.
Efforts are Being Made 10 Bring
About Another Conference
Between Otis and the
Rebel Leaders.

WASHINGTON. Jan. i2-Ihc Secretary
OF war was much gratihed this morning
by the receipt OF the following cable.
gram at 7.2O a. NJ:
Manila. Jan. l2-Adjutant-Genera'
Washington: Conditions apparently I'M
proving. Citizens feel themselves secure.
Many natives returning. city quiet and
1s,gne.n otis"
THEY ARE ACTIVE
MANILA. Jan l2-The situation AZ
Tlolio is unchanged. The Fllpnos are
increasingly activo day and night. on
Saturday they loaded some lighters with
rock and sank them az the entrance OF
the river. blocking the channel for All
vessels. with the exception Of launches
All the lights have been eXtingushed.
order, however. IS maintained with se-
verify. and offenders are promptly shot,
on Sunday one OF the Arizonas boats.
manned by soldiers, was carried by tho
ebb tide 70 Qulnmaraes Island, and while
attempting TO land there, armed natiVes
assembled on the beach ana compelled
tho Americans 10 retire.
NATIVES UNFRIENDLY.
The Filipnos refuse 20 have any deaf
ings with the Americans; vegetables and
fruit are not obtalnable. business is sus-
pended. and the warehouses are full or
rotting sugar
Al Manila The situation IS c'!tical, but
plcincatlOn is possible. in spite OF the
unfrendly attitude of the Filipinos.
It IS reported that the rebel government
ar Malelos is willing that the Americans
should establish a protectorate on the
condition that they promise 10 give the
tillpin0s absolute independence within a
stated time
It Is also said that the Filipinos will
demand official recognition Efforts are
being made TO bring about another con-
terence with the rebels. The educated
FilipinOs are anxious 90 avoid trouble.
and Il Is hoped that the militant FIJI
uinos will recede before wiser counsel.
In the meantime the tension Is extreme
on both sides.
WILL ATTACK MANILA.
LONDON, Jan. l3-The Hong Kong
correspondent OF The Times says.
The Filipino refugees insist that Agul-
Waldo will regard "a landing If Amori-
cans an Iloilo as "a dec.aration Of war.
ana VIII Immediately attack Manila. Ffs
has already warned the foreigners in
Guiding The spaniards. of his intention.
ouering them "a safe conduct in tho pro-
Ninccs. The American authorities will
exercise q strict censorship AZ Manila
over AN press messages
Tho Manila correspondent OF The
Morning Post 1slegctphing -tesday,
says.
"Tho situation IS much qilcter to-day.
Tho conference between the representa-
t.ves 0f General Oti5 and Aguinli 10 has
helped 20 1Ilay 'Neiia'nrnt. a1d the Fiji
pino newspapers ere milder IN tone.
There is hone of "a peaceful settlement.
Tho insurgeuf government Is row IN
gaged In considering the presentation or
81 definite pr0p0 -IIn .s % what they
desire from the United States"
AMERICANS RETURN.
The Hong Kong CORES -pOndcuf of The
Daily Mail says that oO additional
Americans who bad embarked for Iloilo
have returned 90 Manila
ISIANDS SHERMANfIED.
MADRID. Jan 12-Pcfs0ns who have
returned here from the Philippines oN-
United States when undertaking 10 con-
quer the whole archipelago I'm arms"
They assert that 10 viii De impossible
for the Americans 10 penetrate beyond
the ports without an immense army. de-
cariug THAI the islands are $50 impovcr-
ished that the Americans will be COM
PEELED 10 obtain provisions elsewhere" and
THAI the climate is much more fatal than
the Cuban climate 20 AMERICANS
VOLUNTEERS DESERT
HONG KONG January u The Fih-
pinos here say that ten American v0lun-
teers Jumped overheard from the trans
ports bound from Manila 10 lloilo, swan
ashore and said they had not volun-
teered to fight Tiliplnos. The report Is
not confirmed.