Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-02-20
CAPTURE OF HOILO.

The United States forces, under
Brig. Gen. Miller, captured IIoilo, cap
| ital of the Island of Panay, and seat
of the so-called government of the
| Visayan federation, on Feb. IL, after a
| bombardment. The rebels set the
town on fire before evacuating it; but
the Americans troops extinguished
the flames. There were no casualties
on the American side.
Gen. Miller on receipt of his instruc-
tions from Manila, sent the native
commissioners ashore from the u. S.
transport ST. Paul with a communica-
tion for the rebel government of Ilo-
lilo calling upon him to surrender
within time stated and warming him
not to make demonstration in the
interval. The rebels Immediately
moved their guns and prepared to de-
fend their position. Thereupon the
Petrol fired two warning guns, the
rebels Immediately opening fire upon
her.
The Petrol and the Baltimore then
bombarded the town, which the rebels
having set on fire, Immediately evac-
uated. American troops were promptly
landed and extinguished the fires in
all eases of foreign property, but not
before considerable damage had been
done.
It is believed that the enemy's loss
during the bombardment was heavy
but no American casualties are report
ed. In spite of the complacency of the
war department over the Philippine
situation it is we'll known that the de-
partment is anxious to get all the re-
endorsements scheduled for Manila
started as soon as possible.
The confirmation of the press re-
ports detailing the capture Iloilo were
received at the war department with
considerable satisfaction. While no
apprehension had been felt as to Gen.
Miller's ability to capture the capital
of the Visayan federation, or for that
matter, anything else that was want
ed in the archipelago, the reports of
strong entertainments that the ma
tives had been constructing around
the town led the department to fear
that the landing would be a bloodier
affair than either of the battles of Ma
Mia. Tt was with great satisfaction
therefore that Admiral Dewey's des-
patch was received saying that we
had lost no men at all and the casual
ties among the natives were much
smaller than at first reported.
The fact that foreign interests in
Iloilo are being satisfactorily guarded
is another source of qualification to
the administration. This forestalls
criticism or danger of interference
from any foreign power which has all
along been complication that had to
be considered as a possibility but
which it was intended to avoid at all
cost.
What the future will be it is scarce
1y safe to say. The President from
the inception of the Spanish war has
been earnestly in favor of the most
humane policy and it is not intended
to follow the severe check to the Fill
ipinos with war OF subjugation If
the insurgents will allow this govern
ment to avoid it. They have had a
stern lesson at Manila and at Iloilo
and if they are content to profit by it
and come peaceably into camp, they
may do so without fear of further
chastisemept. Still, it is recognized
that Admiral Dewey and Gen. Otis
have'a much better grasp of the local
situation than is possible here and the |
administration does not propose to |
tie tn cir hands with unnecessary in |
structions.