The Chanute times., 1899-03-24
AN UNCENSORED REPORT.
Situation at Manila as seon by News
paper Man.

4
HoNG KoNa, March 1s.--The follow
ing view of the situation is from
correspondent present at Manila and
has evidently not been subjected to
censorship:
"The most remarkable feature of the
situation is the inability of the Amer
leans and residents to estimate the
| numbers, resources and plans of the
Filipinos. Prominent generals think
two or three disastrous battles will
break their spirit and make them sue
for terms. A majority of the English
and other residents are of the opinion
that the determination of the Tagalos
is the guarantee of peace, that they
can easily be whipped if they give
battle, but that they will dodge a
meeting with the Americans in force.
Some people think they will risk
battle at Malabon and Parnaque,
where they are strongly entrenched,
and that if they are defeated they will
resume bushwhacking as long as any
Of them are left"
United States Consul Williams says:
81 don't expect to live to see the end
of the war"
The rebels shift about SO much that
it is impossible to estimate their num-
bers.
The correspondent questioned sew
eral generals as to the number of the
rebels and the replies ranged from
20, 600 to 100000. The estimates of the
quantity of arms possessed by the
rebels are equally uncertain. The
best authorities say $4,000. Large Sec
tions of the armed natives are ignor-
ant of the use of their weapons.
The country beyond the American
lines is rice fields, cane and brush.
The rebels are familiar with every
inch of it and it affords fine hiding
places. The residents say the Tagalos
are unanimously rebels, and they pre-
dict the Americans will be resisted at
Mindoru and Mindanao, and that they
will be obliged to subdue them.
The extent of the support which the
other Luzon tribes are giving Aguin-
aldo is a mystery 1t is known that
several regiments were under arms,
but the majority of them are supposed
to be jealous of the Tagalos, who are
reported to be treating the other
tribes in the fashion of the Spaniards,
dominating the island and holding all
the offices.
The Oriental character is so decep-
tive that the residents of Manila are
ignorant as to whether their own SER
wants sympathize with the rebels or
not.
1t is shown that rebel organiza-
tion exists in the city, and the evil
dence is growing that there was a
widespread plot to assassinate the
Americans, the signal being the COM
mencement of hostilities. The SER
wants were instructed to kill their en-
ployers, but they were terrorized by
the vengeance dealt out to offenders
and they weakened. Every Tagalo
would have cut his employers throat
if he dared, or at least this is cur
rent saying.
The faithlessness of the natives is
llluSUraIeu Oy Une dcIlOH VI Ine com-
missioners who came here to offer the
allegiance of the island of Negros. 1t
is now known that they were in
friendly communication with Aguin-
aldo while here.
Nearly every house here displays
foreign flag for protection, whether it
is entitled to it or not. All flags ex-
cept the Spanish flag are seen. From
the native huts hang white towels or
shirts The natives working in the
fields plant white flag on a bamboo,
as a protection against being mistaken
for active rebels. Every hut between
the city and the American line is
heap of ashes.
About 300 new saloons have been
opened here since the American occu-
patton, with the result that many
drunken soldiers are to be seen in the
streets. The officers, however, say
the conduct of the soldiers is better
than those of any other nation under
Ci1ni1ar piroun1s