Evening star., 1899-04-19

bulfds hope on return of our volunteers to
Unfted States. Its army much demoralized
and loss by desertions and death large
VIII probably prosecute guerrilla warfare,
+ looting and burning country which 1t oc-
cupied. Health and spirits of troops good
Volunteers return will commence about
May 5. VIII render willing service until
return transports available. Embarkation
will continue through June and July. Re-
ports from Visayan Island continue very
ports from Visayan Islands continue very
custom receipts increasing --.~
(Signed) OTIS.
CAPTURE OF GILMORE.
Taken While Examining the Mouth of
q River.
The Navy Department having requested
a correction of the portions of Admiral
Dewey's dispatch of yesterday which were
not decipherable was today able to furnish
the full text of the dispatch which is as
follows:
MANILA. April 49,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington:
The Yorktown visited Baler, Luzon, east
coast of Luzon, p. L., April II for the pur
pose of rescuing and bringing away Spanish
forces consisting of 50 soldiers, three Off
GERS and two priests which were surround
ed by 400 insurgents. Some of the insur-
gents armed with Mauser rifles, as reported
by natives Lieut. ]. c. Gilmore, while
making an examination of the mouth of
the river in an armed boat was ambushed,
fired upon and captured Fate unknown, as
insurgents refused to communicate after
ward. The following are missing: The Off
Ger previously referred to. Chief Quarter
master ". Walton, CoXswain J. Ellsworth,
Gunners Mate H.-J. Hygard. Sailmakers
Mate Vendgit, Seamen W. H. Rynders and
w "A n
Venville, j. Peterson, Ordinary Seamen F.
Brisolese and o. b. Mcdonald, Landsnen
L. T. Edwards, p. Andersen, ]. Dillon and
c. A. Morissey. 70 ~ IA DEWEY.
No New Light on the Affair.
To the disappointment of the Navy De-
partment the omissions in the original dis
patch from Admiral Dewey relative to the
Yorktowns men, when supplied by the
cable company, did not throw any ad-
ditional light omahe unfortunate affair." 1t
is surmised at the department that the
Yorktown was prevented by shallow water
from approaching Baler and that is why so
small party was sent in advance in the
ships boat undeE Lieutenant Gilmore. The
officials are confident that such of the men
first an1buscade will be web treated by the
insurgents, and they dismiss as untenable
all of the fears htnted that torture may be
administered to Them One reason for this
the two soldiers who wandered out of GEN
eral Otis lines before the actual outbreak
of hostilities Between the United States
forces and the Insurgents have not suffer-
ed SO far is known.
Some. time ago the War Department made
inquiry as to the number of American pris-
oners held by the Fiiipinos. In reply Cen
eral OTIS referred to these soldiers. and
said that they were being fairly treated by
the insurgents, he supplying funds to de-
fray the cost of their food.
Likely to BE HumuneIy Treated.
This is taken as an indication that after
all the Filpinos, while relentless and
vengeful in the heat of combat, are not
disposed to altogether ignore the ameni-
ties of civilization in the treatment of cap
tives. The reports made to the Navy De-
partment by Paymaster Wilcox one of
Dewey's officers, who made a trip across
the Island OF Euzon from Manila to the
north coast described the condition of the
Spanish officials who were prisoners of the
insurgents as very comfortable. In many
cases, ne said, the officials were only nomi-
nally in confinement, being allowed the
liberty of the towns. The treatment meted
out to the friars was not SO lenient but
General Otis dispatches show that when
he Investigated the complaints made by
the Spanish government that these people
were being inhumaniy treated the contrary
was found to be the case. Altogether the
officials are hopeful that Gilmore and his
men VINO survived the ambuscade will some
day regain their liberty.
Reports Were Misleading.
1t is said at the Navy Department, in ex-
PLANTATION of what might at first seem to
have been a rather reckless undertaking on
the part of the Yorktown toward relieving
the Spanish garrison at Baler: that there
was good reason to believe from the re-
ports that had been received through Se-!
cret sources, and which seemed to be par
TALLY confirmed by the voyages around the
coast of Luzon, made by some of the Amer
ican cruisers, that there was little or no
insurrection in the northern and eastern
portions of the island. Indeed, it was sup
posed that the native tribes in those sec
tions were disaffected toward Aguinaldo to
degree that warranted the expectation
that they would support rather than oppose
the United States forces Even now from
a close scanning of Admiral Dewey's cable
gram, it appears that there is at least
division of sentiment among the natives
for it appears that the Yorktown has been
receiving information from one element
which must of course, have been well-dis-
posed toward US. -0~
Why Baler Was Not SheIIed.
1t is supposed at the department that the
ambuscade occurred a week ago-to adopt
strong punitive measures toward the local.
ity where the AFFAIR occurred, is due to the
fact that the guilty. pafties, composing but
a fraction of the Inhabitants, retreated to
the interior withi4h prisoners. No use
full purpose would tiieh have been served
by shelling the tetwn df Baier and punish-
ing innocent, or, at least neutral, natives.
The departmenpthas sent no instructions
to Admiral Deweyiastbo the course he shall
pursue, believing thatfhe is fully competent
to deal with theisitlHfion and resting Sc.
cure in the assurancsr that he will spare no
efforts to rescusoGilphore and his men If
they are alive. Y SsRq
To Effect speedy as-eue If Possible.
The capture of the sHfprktown's men was
discussed with mRsh feeling in naval and
with added keeppess,e as the navy has
prided itself thus far on immunity from re-
verses. The adpiralY dispatch was the
first knowledge the department had that
the Yorktown had gone on this spscfaI
mission to relieve the Spanish garrison at
Baler. That the capture should have been
affected while the American forces wera on
q mission of mercy toward. the Spaniartls.
rather than in. the prosecution Of q cam.