The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-25
NO END in SIGHT.
The War Will Last for Months and
Probably Years
is THE OPINION In MANILA.
The filipinos Have Replenished Their
Stock OF War Munitions.
THEIR ALLY, THE RAIN, HAS ARRIVED
They No Longer Fear the American Troops
and Boldly Attack Them.
THEY KNOW SENTIMENT Is AGAINST WAR,
Hope One of the Political Parties
VIII Declare Against Imperial
ism and Win i'm 1000.
THEIR ALLY, THE RAIN, HAS ARRIVED
They No Longer Fear the American Troops
and Boldly Attack Them.
THEY KNOW SENTIMENT is AGAINST WAR

Manila, July %, via San Francisco. Au-
gust A.-ln Manila talk of the ending of
the war deals no longer with weeks, but
| with months and even years.
| Among the mass of people here, military
mon and foreign residents, there is but one
opinion. The whole effort of the insur-
gents for three months was to hold off the
Americans until their ally, the rain. came.
In this they have been successful as they
| could have hoped. Unless affairs take some
unforeseen turn the Filipinos will resume
the war this fall with fresh spirit and a
ton. One shipload of arms, It is learned
on good authority, has reached them with
| in this week. For money the leaders of
the instruction have no lack. They con-
troll the resources of large and exceed
ingly rich country, and even though no
crops were harvested for several years,
they could still obtain enough cash and
supplies by impressing TO their use the
treasures of the church and store houses
of farmers and manufacturers and funds of
private individuals, system of levy
which they have long enforced with con-
siderable success.
All the ships coming and going in the
ports recently opened to trade pay heavy
tribute to the insurgents. Much of the
profits of this informal sort of government
are supposed to go into the pockets OF the
leaders. excepting Aguinaldo who is gen.
orally acquitted of enriching himself by
the present war, but when the public
treasury becomes empty the politicians
who are exploiting Aguinaldo may If
they see possibility of success, consider
the war good private investment.
Americans, like Spaniards, aust defer
to nature and rest on their arms most of
the time while the country is a mud wal
low. The generals are telling their fol-
past month is due to discouragemcnts and
decentralization. The Filipino soldiers arc
tolerably well contented. Although the
paymaster seldom appears, they arc liv-
ing as comfortably as they have been ac-
customed 10, being clothed and receiving
rations which an American soldier could
not live on, chiefly rice, with only occa-
oibldill d niue uSu uI meat. j Uey are
fairly well housed, having taken possess
sion of the DWELLINGS and public and
church buildings in the towns whore they
are quartered, and they add to their living
by looting.
Through tho American secret service
commission comes stories that the Philip
pine army Is becoming decimated by de-
sertion TO the number of twenty or thirty
day, and are fast losing heart and ON
the verge Of disruption. Past experience
with the secret service iustifes sus-
picion that many OF its employees. most OF
whom are natives or Splniards, are deeply
Interested in holding their places by seem
ing to earn their pay while the refugees
who come through the lines have been dis
posed to give reports which they think
will please the authorities. Almost since
the beginning of the war they have pic
tured the Philippine army as on its last
legs and its collapse but question OF
days.
Two months ago General Otis caused The
country to be placarded with an offer OF $50
for each insurgent rifle voluntarily sur
rendered, though for some reasons the
newspaper correspondents were forbidden |
to telegraph this fact to the United States, |
which was known TO every one here II
the Filipino soldiers were deserving by
tired of the war and converted
TO American rule, many of them might
be expected TO bring their guns into the
American lines and receive the reward.
The entire harvest from this offer, how
ever, has been less than 100 guns
There was time when Aguinaldo's big
gest army hung in the balance--when lis
destruction appeared inevitable. That was
when Macarthur had captured San Fer
nando and Lawton was marching upon
San Isidro with the Fillpinos scattering
before him. Lawton had made himself |
terror TO the insurgents, because no OBJ
stacles stopped him. II the country was
trackless bis men cut roads and the gen
eral and his staif took on their coats and
helped. When rstions were not forthcom-
ing they breakfasted on another inch OF
their belts and marched ahead. and they
always managed to attack from an unex-
pected quarter, not knowing what road or
which side OF town had been entrenched
ana bouncing in from any direction.
Lawton, the natives feared might sweep |
around upon Tarlac. where they had in
stalled their nomadic camp, and catch |
them between two armies. The archives, |
geals, gilt trlangles and treasure boxes |
were packed ready for shipment On the
railroad on the first word OF Lawton's adj
vance. Lawtou asked TO be allowed to do
II with the men and rations he had: but
orders came to withdraw his troops from |
San Isidro and return to Malolos leaving |
small garrisons al some OF the towns he
had captured. His retirement the Fill |
pinos construed into retreat and from |
that day the sinking hopes OF the insur-
reetion seemed TO rise. Luna ana MAS
carde who had retreated northward from
san Fernando toward Tarlac, brought their |
armies back and proceeded TO construct
a horse shoe line OF entertainments around
San Fernando. where according to reports
they led their followers 10 believe they
had Macarthur besieged.
The assassination OF Luna was expected
to bring the whole Filipino organization
to civil war. but while the usual stories
OF dlssensions are heard 1t only resulted
as far as outward appearances to leave