The National tribune., 1899-08-03
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
IN THE PHILIPPINES.


San Pedro, Macati, Pasig and Marong.
under Brig .-GFl. Hail. on July 20 captured
Calamba, an important trading town on the
south shore Of Lasuna de bay. Ihere
were two hours of sharp fighting, during
| which four Arfericah soldiers were killed,
and II wounded. The Filipinos left three
dead. Halls forces. consisted of 400 Wash
ington volunteers. $50 of the 2lst u. $, 80
OF the 4th L. 5! Cav, and two guns OF the
1st u. S. Art, These and two gunboats
assembled before Calamba Wednesday
afternoon. The troops crossed the river
intarvel ing. and the insurgents fled through
the town, shooting from bushes and houses
| rs they made for the hills. Next day the
Eiipinos having received reInforcernents.
descended from the hills. but were easily
driven back. Gen. Hall will leave garri-
son at Calamba, which is 80 miles from
Manila.
Lieut.. Eberly, Flag Lieutenant of the
Oregon, arrived in Washington last week,
and in an interview stated that the social
and sanitary conditions at Manila are
much improved. The city has been cleaned
up on the American plan, Chinese and
| friendly Fiiipinos performing the heavy
work. There is ahouse to house Inspection
| for sanitary purposes The soldiers in and
around Manila are housed in comfortable
| quarters. The temper of the native popula-
| ton has changed considerably In favor OF
American occupation. and the people are
| beginning to accept the sanitary changes
and realize that they are for their good.
In Cebu the bandits have been defeated
again. by troops of the 23d u. >. They
! have been robbing and impressing people
| of the coast towns.
| Commodore WatSon's moSkito fleet in the
| Philippines is said TO be doing excellent
| work in enforcing the StricteSt blockade,
even between the islands, to prevent the
insurgents receiving ammunition ana 1000
supplies. They are all small gunboatS,
especially adapted to quick manuvering IN
| the island waters. There are 13 OF them.
RECIPROCITY WITH FRANCE.
The long-pending treaty for reciprocity
| between the United States and France was
signed on July 81 by Ambassador CambCn
| o. behalf of the French Government and
Commissioner Kasson, for the United
States Government The treaty will result
| in placing the products of the United States
| on the same basis in France as those of
| Great Britain and Germany; these countries
have the minimum French rate. France
secures important concessions on over 100
| of the chief products sent to this country.
The Dingley law allows not to exceed ~ per
cent. reduction as the basis of reciprocity,
| but the full 20 per cent. is not allowed ON all
| the articles covered by the treaty. Ihe
| French treaty is the last OF the articles OF
| this kind, six treaties having been made,
all, save that with France, relating to
| British West India Islands. 1t Is said that
| there is some opposition in France to the
! new treaty, that the French are not aware
| of the value of the concessions obtained.
| The officials here declare THAT France drove
| a hard bargain, and have secured more
| advantages than they had reason to expect.
THE FUTURE OF CUBA.
Recent conferences at the White House
| between President MCKINLEY and number
| Of representative CuAans were had relative
| 10 Sef-gOvernment for the CubanS. The
| future of Cuba was gone over quite fully.
| although ratheE abStFactly, and when the
| 5ubanS asked t5e President II he would not
| make distinct announcement as 10 poiicy
| he replied that acts are better than promises
| and that it would be better to formulate
| policy and then PROCEED 10 carry II out, let
| ling results speak for themselves. 1t ap-
| oeared to be the general view that the first
| step should lie cpnfiaed 10 giving the Cubans
| a vote on the choice 9f their city and town
| officers, until. if the experiment proved salts
factory, an election could be had for Fed
aral form Of Go8ernment for the island al
| large. d, ...5s
| Veterans Of tie Cuban war for independ-
ence held meeting ip Havana recently, at
| which the Organization declared Itself 10 be
| the only legal representative OF the Cuban
| revolution. A resolution was adopted de
| mandiilg that the knitted States make
| formal declaration Of its intentions and
supposed rights based upon the resolution
| adopted by Congress in April, 1898. A
|
mortal TO the authorities at Washington.
The men composing this committee are
antagonistic 10 everything done by the
| Americans in Cuba. and never fail to utter
or print inflammatory remarks whenever
the opportunity offers, regarding CubanS
holding Office under the United States,
alleging that these office-holderS do not
| represent the Cuban veterans. The action
of the meeting referred TO is regarded as
affording confirmation OF the belief that
manifestoes recently issued had the support
Of number of former Cuban officers.
| ALASKAN BOUNDARY.
The acuteness Of the Alaskan boundary
dispute situation has been much relieved as
| a result of conference last week between
Secretary Hay and the British Charge d
Affaires, Mr. Tower, SO much so that those
who have taken most active part have gone
away for their vacation. There was nc
meeting of the joint high commission on
Aug 2. but it is felt that the negotiations
| nave reached a stage whence they may
easily proceed by correspondence. The
purpose now is to agree on some mode OF
settling the boundary question and thus
clear the way for q meeting Of the Commis-
sion late in the Fall. Such strong Ian
guage as used by Sir Wilfred Laurier and
Sir Charles Tupper is confined thus far to
parliamentary debate and has not found
expression in the official negotiations
which of late have been proceeding with
every outward indication OF good VIII.
AsSASS NATION OF PRESIDENT HEU-
| REAUX.
Ulises Heureaux, President Of the Dom
inican Republic. was asSaSSinated on the
afternoon of July %, at Moca, Santo Do
mingo. The name of the murderer is
r Ramon Caceros, who is said to have had
= several accomplices,, the assassination
being part of plot to overthrow the
present Government. Nica-Presiden1
Figuereo Immediately assumed the Presi
Dental functions, on being informed OF
the death Of President HeureauX.