The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-09


MaeArthur's force, consisting. of 1000
men, advanced five miles beyond San
Fernando today and encountered and
defeated a Filipino force of 5000 men.
The enemy retreated, leaving many dead
and wounded. The American loss in
killed and wounded was twenty.
AGUINALDO'S APPEAL.
Manila, Aug. S.-4:5O p. Imaginable
has appealed to the powers for recogni-
tion Of Filipino Independence, in a
document dated from Tarac, July 9th,
and signed by Buencamino 1t has been
received by all the foreign consuls in
Manila, with the request that they for
ward it to their respective governments.
The Filipinos use their old argument
that they had conquered the sovereignty
of these islands from Spain before the
signing of the treaty of Paris and there
fore, Spain was in no position to cede
them to the United States They argue
that the possession of seven thousand
Spanish prisoners, captured with their
arms fighting against the Filipinos, rs
eloquent proof of the nullity of Spanish
sovereignty. as when they surrendered
The document then says:
"Replying to the Spanish commissions
request TO release the prisoners because
Spain no longer has political interests
in the islands, we asked for a treaty Of
peace and friendship between Spain and
the Filipinos, whereby the prisoners
would be released. But, the commissions
ers refused. because it would mean
recognition of our independence This
is equivalent to saying that the prison
ers must stay in our hands indefinitely
because their possession is our most
efficacious method to adjust our account
with Spain and obtain from her recog-
milton of our independence.
The Filipinos claim that they con-
qnered all the country except Manila,
and that they co-operated in securing the
latter's capitulation by surrounding it
at cost of thousands of lives. They
also claim they conquered the country
unassisted. except for sixty guns that
Admiral Dewey gave Aguinaldo, and
that Admiral Dewey ard the British
and Belgian consuls recognized the
Filipinos sovereignty by asking for
passes to visit the country.
They respect the claim that they have
letters from American consuls and gem
erals recognizing their sovereignty and
promising that the Americans would
recognize their independence, (which
was at the disposition of the powers
The Filipinos attempt to make capital
Of the statement that Admiral Dewey
had such confidence that Aguinaldo
would observe and fulfill the rules Of
war that he gave him a hundred Spanish
prisoners which the American navy had
captured.
Finally the Filipinos appeal to the
powers to influence Washington to a
termination of ''the unjust war which is
devastating the country
WASHINGTON IGNORANT.
Washington August S.-The State
Department is entirely without informa-
ton rs to any. address by Agninaldo
To foreign powers for the recognition Of
the Eilipinos, either as beligerents or as
constituting an independent government.
The appeal is looked upon, however, as
creating no particular change, rs it
has been the desire Of 4Aguinaldo and his
associates from the first 10 secure such
recognition. The appeal pms this de-
sire into rather formal shape, and it
may bring to an issue t he attitude Of out
side governments. There is no appre-
hension, however, that any foreign gov
ernment will heed the address. The
international usage as 10 recognition
was quite fully developed during the
Cuban rebellion.
COURSE OF THE CONSULS.
Washington. Aug. S-The course
which the foreign consuls at Manila will
pursue in connection with Agninaldo's
communication is a matter Of some con
lecture among officials here At the
State Department there is no disposition
TO limit she consuls in forwarding the
appeal 10 their respective governments.
As rule it is quite unusual for con-
suls holding eXequatuTs from a friendly
government, and having official relations
win 1T, to carry on communications with
an lnsurrectionary leader. But it IS ap-
preciated that i'll this case the consuls are
the innocent victims Of AguinalGo's let
ter writing. As military authority is
supreme in the Philippines, any questions
arising as TO the course OF the consuIs
would probably be referred to General
Otis, but there is no intimation here that
he has been advised Gf the address. or
that he will have any objections to its
transmission by the consuls. Ut Is rather