Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-01
VARIOUS WAR MATTtRS.
Volunteers Length Of service-A Japanese
Paper on Filipino Uprising.

Washington, March Silt was ated at
the war department, today. that the pro-
vision Of the army law allowing the re-
tcution in service for MONIES of the
volunteers in the Philippines had Decn
construed to mean that the officers as
we'll as the men and the volunteer organ
izations would be retained just ms they
now exist. Gen. Otis was given large
plcnary powers in the matter, but was
instructed by cable to send an SICK anu
wounded homo, as well as such NoIun-
teers who had exceptional reasons why
they should return, such as the support
OF families and the loss Of property by
reason of their absence. Gen. GUS VIII
decide such questions on their merits.
The volunteers in the Philippines Will
not be mustered ont until they can be
spared. ana the presence there Of these
organizations. tho war department be-
lcNcs. makes Il unnecessary to organize
the provisional army Of $500 allowed un-
der the army law.
4 copy of tho japanese Times Of Feb.
II. published at Toxic, has been received
here. 1t contains an. interview with an
American named Croker who may be
Prof. Croker of Columbia College, who
was an eye witness of the first two Gays
lighting about Manila, which began tcb.
s.. He indicates that the ttlipinos in the
city undoubtedly contemplated rising en-
masse. but failed to carry out the plan
of cooperation with those in arms out,
side the city. He says II the rebels had
destroyed the water supply OF the city X
would have entailed great hardships upon
the Americans, and attributes their fail
ure 10 do SO TO their regard for the we'll
being of the Fiipinos in that city.
1During the fighting, ASuinaldo. says
Mr.. crockcr. who is supposed 10 De ~
MaloIos. communicated with Dewey. lis
sent him message in which nc SAD
For Gods sake, stop the firing, and dis
claimed all responsibility in connection
with the starting of the trouble. Dewey
however, refused compliance, and | think
Aguinaldo is now accepting the situation
There was some talk of ASuinaldo re-
whole affair, but | do not think he VII
do SO. The opinion is that 1T was not
Agunallo who prccipitatCd this lining
bot his followers whom he could not con
trol
s4Thc press reports made no mention a
the time of Aguinaldo's appeal to DeWc>
to stop the firing. Mr.. Croker left Ma
Mia while the fighting was still in prog
ress and his estimates of the casualties
arc very Wild. He says there were iron
1900 to l0,00o Filipinos killed and wounded
and tells of the terrific destruction
wrought by the shells from our warships
The shells from the Monadnock, he says
killcd 20. 50 and sometimes 50 natives a
time.
"A copy Of the japanese Times of til
18th contains a copy of a dispatch re
eelvcd by the Filipino Junta at Hon
Of the Americans upon the Filipino quar-
ter of Manila" 1t describes the indiS
crininatc slaughter of 1900 men and We
mon. old and young. without distinction
aud says in view of the extreme violcnc
of the Americans the Filipinos are re
inunication the Times regards as a fai
sample of the sort Of reports with whic
the Junta is. attempting TO feed the ou
sidc world.