Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-05-04

uiuas Gen. Otis and Col.
Manuel Argueleses and Lieut.. Jose
Bernal, who came from Gen. Luna
under a flag Of truce to ask for a ces-
sation OF hostilities, was fruitless. 1t
Is understood that the Filipino com
mlssioners We're given the terms upon
which the Americans will consent to
negotiate. The Filipinos admit that
they have been defeated, and it is ex-
pected that they will return fresh pro-
posals from Gen. Luna. The ENJOYS
We're very Hospitality treated by Gen.
Otls. The conference at the palace
lasted three hours. Jacob q. Schur-
man, of the United States Philippine
commission, attended. and Admiral
Dewey dropped in for an hour. The
discussion was mostly between Gen.
Otis and Col. Argueleses, who had
been selected for the mission because
he had known Gen. Otis.
Fresh Proposals Expected.
While ii is the general expectation
among Americans that the Filipino
emissaries will return with revised
proposals from Gen. Luna, Mai. Gen.
Otis is not letting this prospect inter-
fere with the preparations for push
ing the war. He has ordered Mai.
Gen. Lawton to return TO Angat. a few
miles northwest of Norzagaray. and
not to advance aggressively while the
negotiations are pending. Macarthur
is apparently acting on the same policy
but he is repairing bridges and
strengthening the lines Of his force,
which is stretched out with n four
mile front and within a quarter of a
mile of the enemy. The possibilities of
peace are gratifying TO a great major
ity of the army. who have regarded
the war an unpleasant duty that must
be performed according TO American
traditions. The so-called Filipino on
gress will meet at San Fernando to-
day.
When Dean G. Worcester, of the
United States Philippines commission,
who accompanied the Filipino ennis
saries from Calumpit. said TO Col. Man
uel Argueles. that the Americans were
Under No obligations
to refrain from fighting, the Filipino
officer replied:
Would you fight while we are nego-
tiating terms of peace?"
Mr.. Worcester responded with the
suggestion that al armistice would
give the Filipino leaders time to es-
cape.
MY God. where would we escape
to?' the Filipino exclaimed, referring
in this 10 the menacing hostile tribes
behind the Filipino lines.
Col. Argueleses told the correspondent
that he was much disappointed in the
results Of his mission. He said also
that Aguinaldo expected Calumpit to
be the cemetery of the American
army. Lieut.. Col. Wallace. of the
First Montana regiment: Maj. Adams
and Maj. Shields. who slept on Friday
hight in Gen. Luna's camp, where they
went to inform the Filipinos that their
ENJOYS would return in safety, found
the FiliupinO commander cordial. The
Filipino troops removing their hats as
the Americans passed. Gen. Luna
said he regretted being obliged
To XIII Americans,
but that was his business. Gen Whea-
entertained Col. Argueles and
Lieut.. Bernal, and provided them with
horses to return TO their camp.
In the course of the conference ia
cob G. Schurman. chairman of the
United States Philippines commission,
told Col. Argueles that if the insur-
gents would lay down their arms, he
and his colleagues of the commission
would consult them regarding the plan
of government to be submitted by
President Mckinley. He said that he
could not promise that all their sugges-
lions would be adopted. but he could
assure them that there would be a
presumption In favor of their sugges-
tions. adding that the commissioners
would be especially DESTROYS of salts
flying the legitimate aspirations Of the
Filipinos.
Saturday before Gen. Otis had issued
the order directing Gen. Lawton to re-
turn to Angat the troops of the com
mand encountered the rebels in a circle
of hills outside of San Raefel, about
five miles northwest OF Angat, dislodg-
ing them after an hours fighting. The
Americans had three wounded. A
thousand armed Filipinos fell back as
the Americans advanced. The yillag-
ers met Gen Lawton, offering him pro-
visions. They dare not flee into the
mountain country on the east because
of the robber tribes. and on the west
are the troops of Gen. Macarthur.