The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-25

AGUINALDO Is SUPREME
sTRAINING EVERY NERVE TO
PREPARE FOR WAR.
FAITH IN THE AMERICANS IS DYING
About Thirty thousand Filipinos Under Arms
and Nearly Fifty Maxim Guns at Molo-
los. Their Deadly Climate
Gives them Hope,

Hong Kong, Jan. 24.-The members
of the Filipino Junta here have issued
the following settlement:
'Ehe purchase by the American au-
thorities at Hong Kong of number Of
steam launches for river work in the
Philippine Islands is high handed, un-
necessary and vexatious.
"Domiciliary visits throughout Manila
are exasperating the Filipinos. Their
suspicious are aroused by such actions.
The dispatch of reinforccments is in
compatible with peace and the appoint
ment of a commission is only preteXt
TO gain time. The American Secret Po-
lice is acting extensively toward the
Filipinos at Hong Kong. who are Brit
ish subjects
"The Filipino Congress at Malolos has
unanimously vetoed annexation"
CLIMATE DEADLY AS BULLETS.
Madrid, Jan. 24A dispatch from
Hong Kong to the Reforma of this city
says letter received from the Philip
pine Islands under date of January 20,
announces that the rupture between the
Filipinos and the Americans is an ac-
complished fact, and that the lives of
the Spaniards in the archipelago are
endangered.
The Minister of War, General Correa,
received a cable dispatch to-day from
General Rios the Spanish commander
in the Philippines, announcing that the
sick and manned civil and military
prisoners were released by the Eilipinos
to-day. The General added that he
hopes the remainder OF the prisoners will
he liberated shortly.
The impartial to-day says:
''4All the intelligence from the Philip
pine Islands shows that the Americans
recognize their inability to overcome the
insurgents in the island of Luzon and
the yisayas. The Filipinos under
stand that the Americans wish to tyr
annie over them and exploit them as
the Spaniards never did. The Americans
intended to exercise their power merely
at the important ports, but they are al
ready convinced that such a domination
would not be efficacious. They would be
constantly fighting the insurgents and
the latter would soon put an end to the
Americans, as the Filipinos have on
their side not only bullets, but the eli
mate, and the enormous expenditure the
situation will entail ON the Americans.
This explains Washington's desire to
first get the Treaty of Paris voted and
then open negotiations with the rebel
chiefs in order to see if Aguinaldo and
his colleagues will consent at least to
accept an American protectorate with
self-goyernment."
g FILIPINOS DTSIIIUSONED."
Manila, Jan. 20.-yia. Hong Kong.
Jan. 24.-The Independencia today issues
supplement containing dispatch, pur-
porting to come from MalolOs the seat
of the rebel Government. 1t comments
upon the appointment of the commission
and says:
'"INhe Fiipinos naturally suspect this
is new attempt to humbug. Both
Dewey and Spencer Pratt, promised us
independence if the Filipino Republic
was stable. The Filipinos are disillu-
stoned. They believe the commission
is a ruse to gain time till they have ac-
cumulated formidable forces, when
America abusing her strength, will be-
gin q war to ratify her sovereignty"
The Indepencia then alleges that all the
commissioners are partisans of colonial
expansion and incidently asserts that
the archbishops also favor annexation
with the sole objects Of gaining the
sympathes Of the winning side
The Filipinos of Caloocan and Gega-
langina mistaking salutes exchanged be-
tween British and German warships. on
January 10th, moved thre thousand men
to the front in order of battle, covering
the adjacent country, but they did not
attack the American lines.
Reports from the interior indicate that
Aguinaldo's authority is now generally
recognized. Every available male is be.
ing recruited and arms depots are being
established at San Bernardino, Union.
Trinidad and other large towns. The
surrounding country is being levied on
for supplies and the Filipino troops are
living on the fat OF the land. while
the native villagers are compelled 10
subSist ON rice
There is some friction between the
Filipino civil and military authorities.
but they are united on the question of
independence.
1t is estimated that there are fully
10000 Filipinos under arms and il is
said there are nearly fifty Maxim guns
at Malolos, some Of them having been
recently acquired.