Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-02
KINGS MEN FIGHT
AMERICANS AGAIN SCATTER
PESTIFEROUS FILIPINOS.
DEWEY CALLS FOR OREGON
pinos Got Behind the American
Lines Where They Intrenched
Themselves, but Were Finally
Routed.

Manila, Feb. 25.-Saturday, 1918 a.
m.-Despite the threats of the Fill
pinos to burn the business portion of
this city the Inhabitants were not dis
turbed last night. There was not
single incident worth recording from
the time when the streets were cleared
until the day dawned this morning.
Everything was equally quiet along the
line outside, except for occasional
volleys from punches of the enemy at
various points. The enemy was most
active along Gen. Kings and Gen.
Overnshines line from the beach to
the Pasig, but few volleys of musket-
ry, supplemented by shells from the
Buffalo, effectually quieted them.
A Venomous TRADE.
Hong Kong, Feb. 25.-The Filipino
junta in Hong Kong publishes ven
omous anti-American TRADE in part to
the following effect: Chaos and
pandemonium reign at Manila; trade
is paralyzed, and provisions are at
famine prices. The American officers
are afraid to exercise their authority
over recalcitrant soldiers. When the
fighting is going on the soldiers and
police defy their superiOrs and go to
the front to see the fun In order to
hush the scandal of a wanton night bonn
bardment of the house of foreign
consul (name not giyen), the Ameri-
can authorities promptly paid for the
damage, hoping to avoid publicity. The
escape of the consul's family was
miraculous" The manifesto alleges
that Gen. Otis is incapable of filling
his position" and then proceeds in a
rapid denunciation Of the American
soldiers, declaring that their conduct
is bringing disgrace upon the white
race" The junta says that the prem
Uses of a Hong Kong merchant at
Iloilo have been looted by the Amer
leans and that the merchant lodged
heavy claims for his losses. The
TRADE concludes with the state
ment that: ''The report of the hoist
ing of the American flag by the natives
of Negros are practical buncombe."
Wants the Oregon.
Washington, Feb. 25.-The follow
ing dispatch was received yesterday
at the navy department:
Manila, Feb. 24-For political rea-
sons the Oregon should be sent here
at once. The Yorktown has arrived.
The Charlestown and Petrol are cruis-
ing around the Philippine islands. At
fairs are more quiet. Dewey
The Oregon arrived at Hilo Feb.
and at Honolulu Feb. 5. The Iris and
Scandal arrived Feb. II.
Gen. Otis cabled the war department
as follows:
Manila, Feb. 24.-The Scandal ar
rived last night. On the nights of
Feb. q and % and yesterday morning
the insurgent troops gained access to
the outskirts of the city behind our
lines. Many were in hiding and about
1000 entrenched themselves. They
were completely routed yesterday with
a loss of killed and wounded of about
500 and 200 prisoners. Our loss was
very slight and the city is quiet, con-
crossing. Otis"
The navy department expects the
Oregon to arrive at Manila about
March 10. AS the transports are ahead
of schedule time, it thinks Gen. Otis
will, within a week, have reinforce
ments of $500 men.
The cablegram from Admiral Dewey
asking for the Oregon was received
with surprise by the officials here. No
one knew, or at least would admit, that
he knew the nature Of the political
reasons which The admiral says de-
mand the immediate presence of the
peerless battleship. The message was
taken to the cabinet and fully dis
cussed there. The admiral, it is said,
possibly feels that the moral effect Of
the presence of the big ship upon the
insurgents themselves, and particularly
upon that large element among the
Filipinos that is believed to be re-
strained with difficulty from joining
fortunes with Aguinaldo. with whom
their sympathies lie, would be good.
But there is an underlying doubt
whether or not the admiral may not
be keenly sighting gathering cloud in
the east, and is looking to the proven
ton of any possible intervention or in
reference by European powers in the
struggle now in progress in the neigh
borhood of Manila. 1t is believed that
in the big fires much property Of for
eign residents and business concerns
was destroyed That these fires were
caused by the insurgents cannot be de-
MED, and it may be that some Of the
foreign naval commanders in the east
are disposed to seize upon the pretext
that their interests demand protection.
They might make landing or do
something else obnoxious to the United
States and likely to encourage the in
surgents. With such a naval force as
would be afforded by the reinforcement
of Dewey's fleet by the Oregon, there
could not be any sound reason, nor
even a plausible reason, for any such
action on the part of third parties.
.