The times., 1899-09-20

The principal subject of discussion at
yesterdays Cabinet meeting was the pur-
port Of the request Of Aguinaldo that Gen
erai Otis receive one CT the rebel generals
in the American lines for consultation.
This information was brought 10 the atten-
tion Of the Cabinet by Secretary Root who
read the following cable message from
General Otis:
MANILA, Sept 10, lsoa.
Adiutant General. Washington:
Macarthur reports from Angeles visit Of two
snsurgeut cffioers with request for permission 10
send into lines American prisoners and 70
send Manila prominent iHsurgent general Of
fcer fer conference. The requested interview was
granted and insuIgent officers AZ Angeles return
north tisis morning with information. OIls
The despatch was the result of the en-
trance into the American lines on Monday
OF two insurgent majors, who carried g
flag OF truce They visited General MscAr-
thur and offered TO release sixteen Ameri-
can prisoners, including Lieutenant Gill
more and his men, from the gunbOat
Yorktown, who were captured some
months ago. In return they merely asked
permission 20 send these prisoners through
the lines accompanied by Filipinos. who
desire to confer with General Oils. The
request was granted. and the insurgent
officers returned TO their lines, after pom
ising that the prisoners would be released
in a few days.
The Cabinet. it is said, did not agree
upon an opinion as TO the intention OF
Aguinaido in making ogertures.
While everybody in the official circles
is hoping that the insurgent general, who
will visit General Otis, viii bring a def
nite proposition for the surrender Of the
TagaLo army, very few of those in high
authority put much faith in such an opin-
ion At this time, when no fighting is
going on, there is no occasion, it is con-
tended. for Aguinaldo 10 offer TO surrender.
On the other hand, the more trusting men,
hers Of the Administration refer to ru-
mors that have been current in military
circles recently, which are said TO have
originated in the Philippines, that the in
surgelt army is in very bad shape. It's
supplies from outside have been almost, if
not entirely. cut of and the waging Of
kostilities has prevented full crops from
being grown in the country where the -Jagal
army is located In these circumstances
and with the additional knowledge that
must be possessed by Aguinaldo. that Gen
eral Otis is being re-enforced heavily, the
optimists hold that there is good ground
for assuming that the meagre information
contained in General Otis despatch indi-
Gates that Aguinaldo is willing to make
American authority.
One thing that mystifed the officials
earlier In the day was the action CT General
Otis in granting permission to Filipino
envoy to visit Manila without knowing the
object of the envoy's mission. Some time
age ne announced that he would not receive
any more Tagal commissioners unless they
came direct from Aguinaldo prepared 10
make terms fer the surrender OF their
foroes IN this instance, however, the
Filipinos played q clever trick on General
OTIS. OF which, according 10 the view here,
he was more than willing TO be made the
victim. Knowing that General Otis would
decline TO receive his commissioner unless
he was prepared to make terms for sur
rendering the insErgeBt army. Aguinaldo,
the officials say, conceived the idea Of max
ing his cffer 10 surrender American prison.
efs coincident with his request for psrmis-
sion 10 send an envoy TO confer with Cen
eraI OTIS If General Otis had adhered 10
his declaration by declining to see the en-
Voy unless he we're prepared to oIer terms
OF surrender, the Insurgents would have
retained the American prisoners.
The arrangement 10 receive the Filipino
commissioners at Manila was therefore a
trade OF.
Otis VIII get back the Americans who
have been held by the Filipinos. and
Aguingldo's envoy viii get an audience with
Otis There are about twenty. possibly
twenty-five Americans held within the
Filipino lines The most prominent Of these
are Lieut. James C. Gilmore. OF the Navy
and Major Charles II Rockefeller. Sixth
Infantry Z. s. A. il IS not known whether
Major Rockefeller is alive. but an Amer
ican prisoner answering his description has
been seen in the Filipino lines since Major
Rockefciler's disappearance. Fourteen en-
listed men OF the Yorktown were captured
with Gilmore al Bsier, but only nine OF
these were accounted for in the reports
brough; into the American lines. The third
officer and a few Of the crew Of the army
hospital ship Relief were captured near
Manila Some Of the enlisted men OF yolun-
teer regiments. about six in all, are pris-
oners also. Although General Otis does
B0t say so. il is accepted here that the
prisoners 10 be surrendered include the Gil
more party, for whose release the most ear
nest efforts have been made