Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-10-27
Under date OF March 19, 1898, Mr.. Williams

ship, tn. DON Jaun de Austria, sent this week
to the northern part of Luzon to cooperate
with md force of 1900 dispatched to succor
local forces, overwhelmed by rebels. Rebellion
never more threatening to Spain Rebels get
ting arms, money and friends, and they out
number the Spaniards, resident and soldiery,
probably hundred to one.
On March 27, 1898, he wrote:
Cuban conditions exist here possibly in ag-
gravated form. Spanish soldiers are killed and
wounded daily, despite claimed pacifcation,
and the hospitals are kept full. Last Thurs
day, March "a, crown regiment of natives,
the Seventy fourth, stationed at Cavite, was
ordered to advance against native insurgents
nearby. Tie regiment refused to obey orders,
and eight corporals were called out and shot to
death in presence of the regiment, which was
again ordered to advance, and threat made that
refusal would be death to ALL All did refuse
and were sent to barracks to await sentence.
On morning OF the following Friday, March rs,
the entire regiment, with arms and equipment,
marched out of the barracks and deserted in
body to the insurgents, saying they were will
ing to fight the foreign enemies of Spain, but
would not fight their friends.
On Friday morning, March IS, church
holiday, meeting of natives was being held
near my consulate in Manila, the natives being
unarmed. The building was surrounded by
police and military, the meeting broken up,
twelve natives wantonly shot to death, reveral
wounded and siXty-two taken prisoner. Satur-
day morning, March 26, the sixty-two prisoners
were marched in body to the cemetery and
shot to death, although i! was shown that sew
era were chance passers-by employees in
ships adjoining, not being in attendance at the
meeting 1t was cold comfort to the widows
and orphans of innocent men to have Spanish
officers present them the mangled corpses OF
husbands ard fathers Barbarities are reported
as daily prac,iced, such as placing prisoners and
suspects in black-hole dungeons IN the walls of
old Manila, so placed that with rise of tide
prisoners are drowned, several hundred so re-
ported to have perished. Cruelties too hor-
rid for an official report are detailed to me every
day, and it seems that the cry of outraged hui
manity would soon compel Spain to abolish
Midde-Age methods of warfare. Christian
nations are such only in name when such
atrocities as daily blacken the calendar are
known to be perpetrated here, and no effort
made to protect the weak. There is no Christ
ian nation-policy and mock diplomacy govern
all, the vilest cruelties of war are added to the
manging OF old men, women ana children to
make full the measure of inquity. The Amer
lean Indians would not permit one of their
tribes to practice such barbarities. Why should
so.caled Christian nations decline TO call halt
upon Spanish outragest
Under date of May IL, 1898, Mr.. Williams
writes:
In the struggle between Spain aud the insar-
gents, the deaths have been many and greater
than among the natives. First, because the
Spaniards have been much better armed.
Second, because the Spaniards killed many
-combatauts, old men, women and children,
while the NATIVES REFRAINED FROM SUCH
BARBAR1TIEs. An nsu1gent leader, Major
Gonzales, reported to me last week the
Olympia that they had $1,000 under arms,
good and bad, surrounding Man la, endeavor-
ing to cooperate with us. In the main they
are very poorly armed, but have about $500
rifles taken from the Spaniards. They have
captured the entire railroad line and the
river Pasig, thus cutting off supply lines, while
we by cutting off supply by bay and sea, can
soon starve Manila into surrender.
These natives ale eager to be organized and
led by United States officers and the members
OF their cabinet visited me and gave assurance
that all would swear allegiance to and cheer
fully follow our flag. They are BRAVE, SUR
M1ssIvE and cheaply provided for.
On May "a, Mr.. Williams writes:
Sir;-I have the honor to report successful
efforts on the part of these islands in prepar
alton for more successful war against Spain.
Officers have visited me during the darkness
of the night to inform the fleet and me OF their
operations, and to report increase of strength.
At conference with General Aguinaldo, the
head of the movement, l was told that they
had now about 4, 500 Mauser rifles taken from
the Spaniards, and had also abundant ammuni
ton. The same sources informed me that
about 900 insurgents stand ready to aid the
United States forces, and General Aguinaldo's