The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-03

Manila. May 2.-605 p. m.A Major
Manuel Arguelles and Lieutenant Jose
Bernal, of the staff of General Antonio
Luna, returned here to-day to renew and
press the request Of General Luna for Il
cessation of hostilities. The officers
were received in conference by Major
General T.. S. Otis. The proposals
which they had to submit differed but
slightly from those, which they brought
from the Filipino commander in the first
place. They desired a little time in
which to summon Congress. and eX-
pressed themselves as being confident
that the Congress will decree peace. be-
cause the people desire it. They repre-
sent that Aguinaldo is without power to
surrender the arms, and that Congress
must decide that question. Incidentally,
the Filipino envoys asserted that
Aguinaldo had not yet made fair test
of his strength against the American
forces. because only onethird of his
army had been assembled together.
The ENJOYS presented a letter from
Senior Mabini, President and Minister of
Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet of Aguin-
aldo, and who is the backbone of the
Filipino organization. The communica-
ton is personal and unofficial. and sec
onds Major Arguelles arguments.
The ENJOYS will see General Otis again
tomorrow. They will sleep tonight i'll
Manila. They lunched with General
Macarthur at his headquarters on Il
car of the armored train at Calumpit be-
fore coming to Manila.
Whether or not General Luna is sim
cere in his overtures, the negotiations
are giving the insurgents a much needed
opportunity to rehabilitate their demoral-
lied forces. The truth is that dissen-
sions among the leaders Of the rebels
is helping the disorganization of the
Filipino army as much as is the Amcri-
can campaign.
In the course of the conference with
the ENJOYS General Otis agreed with
the statement of Major Arguelles that
the people of the Philippine Islands
wanted peace, and he added that re-
quests for protection are pouring III upon
him from all parts of the country.
Major General Lawton was engaged
in hard fighting early this morning.
Telegraphic communication was cut at
8 o'clock a. m.. and there have been no
reports from General Lawton since that
time.
DIRECT NEWS FROM GILMORE.
Manila. May 2.-2:.5 p. m.-The first
authentic information regarding Lieutcn-
ant ]. G. Gilmore and his party Of ii
men from the United States gunboat
Yorktown. who were captured by the
Filpinos on April 18th, was received to-
day from the hands of Major Argueles,
of the staff Of General Antonio Luna.
1t is in the form of list of the missing
men and is signed by Lieutenant Gil
more The lieutenant reports that he
and his party have been brought across
the mountains from Baler, where they
were captured.
This information was brought in re-
sponse to a note which Major General
Macarthur sent to General Luna by
Major Shiels and Lieutenant Hayne,
and which those officers. bearing flag
of truce, carried across General Luna's
lines on yesterday evening. The note
after asking for information regarding
American prisoners in General Luna's $
hands. concluded with the message that
he. General MacArthur) would be
DIeHSpu 10 Illtet SpcItId1
Major Shiels and Lieutenant Hayne
found span of the railroad bridge Il
mile from st. Tomas. broken.
The officers left 10 days provisions for
the prisoners on Il hand car at the end
of the bridge. placing the car i'll the
keeping of Filipinos, whose conduct
throughout the various negotiations has
been all that could be expected of a civil
lzed nation.
Refugees report that the Filipino army
is deserving San Fernando and massing
mt St Tomas. where General Luna $
headquarters are located, and that
strong entertainments are being con-
structed at the sides of the railway and
on the swamp front, in the best positions
possible.
Men of the United States signal corps
have established telegraphic communica-
ton with Major General I.awton, who
is advancing in Il westerly direction.
General Lawton lost one killed and five
wounded on yesterday, near San Rafael.
where he strongly entrenched himself.
General Lawton to-day is marching on
Balinag where large body of rebels
have been concentrated.
General Hale started at daybreak with
the Iowa and South Dakota regiments,
"A squad of cavalry and two guns of
the Utah battery from Calumpit in Il
northeasterly direction, to cooperate
with the Macabebees, who have asked
the Americans to arm them in order
that they might fight the Tagals. The
Macabebees have already organized a
company of bolo men to guard the town.
They are bringing Tagal prisoners to
General Macarthur.
DEWEY REPORTS FAILURE.
Washington. May 2.-The following
cablegram has been received from Ad-