The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-07-19
Municipal Cover nmcnt Established in
Seven Towns.
System Will be Extend
ed to Others.
If Successful Means Beginning
OF End.

Washington, July IS. The following
statement was given out this afternoon
at the State Departments:
The State Department yesterday re-
csiyed ffom the Philippine commission
IN important despatch conveying these
facts:
.'By ths corporation of the military
and the commission, municipal govern
ments have been established 10 seven
important towns in the provinces of Ma
nila and Cavite. These are working ad.
mirab ly and one good effect of them Is
that considerable numbers of the insur-
gents are constantly deserting aud COM
ing In, soma Of them with arms. The
system will soon be extended to other
towns which are asking for 1t. Contin-
ued success In this direction will IN can
the beginning of the end. The commits :
sionsrs state that ths general situation
is as described in the message Of Gener-
al Otis of thu goth of June, except that
a number Of p3rta in the southern part of
Luzon, in Leyte and other islands TO the
south have since been opened 70 trade.
Dispatches from DR.. :. Schurman on his
retni n from his trip through the southern
part of the archipelago we're OF the same
purport. A disposition to accept Ameri-
can sovereignty and to welcome our
troops was everywhere manifested,
"Ihe report of General Otis OF the goth
of June, referred to by Commissioner
DENLY In the above despatch stated tnat
as consequence of the rainy season, lit.
tie island campaigning was possible In
Luzon. We occupy, said SeneraI GUS.
a large portion Of the Tagalog country
The lines stretch from LINUS on the south
to San Fernandino on the north nearly
sixty miles and eastward into the Laguna
province. 1he insurgenb armies nave
suffered great losses and are scattered.
The only large force which holds together
is about 1900 In Talrac province and
Northern Pa,npanpa There are scattered
In other portions CT Luzon and in Casite
and Batanga provinces they could posi-
bly, assemble as many as two thousand.
They are demoraiized from recent de-
feat. The most Of the people are terror
lied by the insurgent soldiers, but desire
peace and American protection. They no
longer fies from our TROOPS unless forced
by insurgents but gladly welcome them.
There has been no recent burning OF
towns. The population In our lines has
become dense, taking up land cultivation
extensively. They are kept 1T of Manila
as much az pOesiDie, Us tuc oits popuid-
tion as becoming TOO great to be cared fer.
Tho only hope of the insurgent leaders
is in aid from the United States. This is
the influence which enables them to hold
out. Much contention prevails among
them and no civil government remains.
The trade with ports not In our posses
sion. the former source of insurgent rev.
enues, Is now Interrupted. General Otis
doubts the wisdom Of this policy as peo-
pie in those ports ara without supplies or
food and the merchants are suffering
losses. He meditated at that time the
restoration of trade. privileges although
the insurgents might reap some benefit
from IL, o plan which has since been
practically carried into effect
The courts are in successful operation
under thu direction of the Eilipinos.
fairs in ths other islands are oompara-
lively quiet. awaiting results in LuzoD.
All were anxious for trade and repeated
calls for American troops were received.
General Otis Is giving his attention to
the Jolo arohi ipslagofand the Palawan
islands. General Otis speaks of the gen.
eral desire of the volunteers to re-enlist.
He has provided for the enlistment of
the two regiments which have besn au-
thoIized and has asked permission to.
organize third regiment.