The Mena star., 1899-04-20


 for Spanish Prisoners if AguinaIdo Is
 Wiliing-Release of Volunteers Wanted.
 Manila, April 1S.-During the ab. sence of Gen. Law toms expedition to the Santa Cruz district, on the south eastern side of Laguna de Bay, the in surgents have been concentrating at the northern end of the lake, near Pasig, and the American scouts report that several thousand are already there.
 Gen. Lawton's expedition to the Laguna de Bay district embarked last evening, anchored for the night at the head of the river Pasig and reached Manila this morning. bringing all the men and the captured insurgent boats. Its objects the capture of the insurgents boats and the distribution of the proclama- tion, emphasized by lesson of Amer ican power throughout the lake region have been attained. Gen. Lawton immediately began preparations for an important expedition on land. There has been no fighting on the lake for three days.
 Gen. Lawton returned with his ex- petition to Manila, by order of Gen. Otis, after evacuating the towns of Paete, Longos. Lumbar, Gasaian and Santa Cruz, from which the rebels had been driven. Gen. Lawton's troops are needed in the movement north of Manila, and Laguna de Bay will be left to the insurgents until the rainy season, when the water will be higher thus enabling the army gunboat to get into the rivers. Gen. Law ton said in an interview:
 With the forces have there is no doubt could go through the whole island, but if gov ernment is to be established it will be neces- sary to garrison all the towns It would take 100, 900 men to pacify the islands regret the necessity of abandoning the captured territory
 Gen. Otis to Release Fiiipinos.
 Washington. April 1a-The with drawal of Gen. Lawton from the Laguna de Bay country was not un- expected by officers of the war depart ment Gen. Schwan, acting adjutant general, said:
 Gen. Otis sent this expedition to southern Luzon for the purpose of destroying any in surgent forces that might be found there, to make a careful reconnaissance and to spread broadcast the recent proclama- tion of the Philippine commission. setting forth the purposes of this government with respect to the islands. understand that Gen Otis will release all prisoners that he has taken and that they will be sent to their homes By this action it is proposed to prove to the Filipinos that the Americans are not as barbarous as the insurgents pretend we are and that we propose to treat the Filipinos humanely.
 1t is believed here that movement is to be made at once on San Fernan- dino, where the Filipino insurgent leader has established his headquar- ters. It would not surprise military men here if Gen. Law toms force, now at Manila, should be augmented, put on transports and landed on the north coast of the island of Luzon. This movement it is expected, will catch the insurgents between the forces of Gems. MacArth0r and Lawton and would scatter them into small bands if it did not effectively crush them.
 FlIpinos In Exchange for spaniards.
 Madrid, April :S. Gen. Rios, Spain's principal commander in the Philip pines, cables that Maj. Gen. Otis has granted him a safe conduct for his chief of staff and another officer, whom he is sending to Aguinaldo with q letter demanding the liberation of the Spanish prisoners in the name of hu- manity and international law. In the event of a refusal the commissioners will ask Aguina2do for definite deci- sion in order that they may acquaint the civilized world with his attitude. Gen. Rios has empowered them to offer to surrender to Aguinaldo 1,60o Filipino prisoners who have been placed at the Spanish commanders disposal by Gen. Otis.
 Wants South Dakota Volunteers Released.
 Washington, April Is. Senator Pet tigrew, of South Dakota, has written letter to the president requesting the return of the South Dakota vol unteers now in the Philippines. He says that under the law they are en- titled to come home, and that they should not be retained against their will The senator says he has received requests from ll9 members of the South Dakota regiment asking to be discharged and sent home.
 Before the discovery of One Minute C0nuh ,,ota fly