The record-union., 1899-05-07
Washington Officials Sangulne OF
Its Early Collapse.
The FiIipiros Now Simply Holding Out TO
Secure Better Terms.
General Lawton's Column Advances
70 a Position Two and a Half
Miles North of Balinag, Meet
ing With But Slight Opposition
-MacArthur's Division Resting
at San Fernando.

at San Fernando.
WASHINGTON, May 6.-The officials
of the state and War Departments are
looking for a speedy collapse of the
insurrection in the Philippines. NOT
only is this expectation based on pri-
vate advices that have come from the
Philippine Commission as to the ne
gotiations that have been going on be-
tween that body and the insurgent rep
resentatives, but also upon the sue
cessful development of MacArthurs
and Lawton's campaigns.
So far as the commissions reports
are concerned, they indicate that the
insurgents have at last recognized the
inevitable breakdown of their struggle
and are simply striving, by protractlng
their resistance, to secure the most I'D
eral terms possible in the erection OF
government in the Philippines. They
have not in any diplomatic sense ac-
knowledged the sovereignty OF the
United States, but have recognized the
physical domination of our military
forces. and while they have talked more
or less of independence even at the
last moment without doubt they VIII
accept readily any proposition looking
to a protectorate. The Presidents in
structions. however, are clear on this
point. and the commission understands
that it is to take no action in way
of making promises that will deprive
Congress of a free hand in disposing
of the future of the Philippines.
1t is believed that an animating pur-
pose in the Filipino presentation is to
make sure that whatever form of gov
eminent is adopted will afford lucra-
tive and influential places for the many
ambitious Philippine leaders. The Ad-
ministration sees nothing in this as
piration irreconcilable with a firm gov
eminent over the islands by the Unit
ed States, the opportunity for the Fill
ipinos being found in a liberal provis-
ion for municipal and even provincial
native government in the island. Unit
ed States officials properly distributed
throughout the islands in supervisory
capacities. charged tc interfere as little
as possible with local affairs, so long
as they are conducted without abuses.
and a few garrisons of troops at
strategic points, supported by naval
contingent it is thought by officials
here, may prove to be all that is nee
essary for the effective maintenance
of the United States sovereignty over
the islands, while meeting the native
aspirations for home rule. The Phil
ippine Commission has been instructed
on these points.
Aside from the encoura cement con-
veyed because of the progress of the
peace negotiations, the officials find a
bright promise in the rapid develop
ment of the military campaign. The
press reports this morning announcing
that LawtOn is meeting slight resist
ance in his movement northward; that
the insurgents are fleeing before him.
and, more important still. that they are
casting away their arms, are facts
tending to indicate the approach of the
end. The throwing away of the arms
is claimed by the naval officers to be
the result of the navy's effort to cut
off the supply of incoming ammunition
to the insurgents. Without ammuni-
ton there would be no inducement to
carry along their weapons. The army
officers here say it is either lack Of
ammunition or a breaking down of
their courage that has led the F'ilipinos
to abandon their rifles
Moving northward from Balinag,
where he is reported this morning.
Lawton is apparently converging with
his forces upon Mount Arayat. about
sixteen miles distant, the point at the
bend of the Rio Grande River, where
Otis predicted the insurgents would
make their last stand With Macarthur
moving northward from San Fernando,
the two columns should meet before
a CT inc -+r ~ -
about four days. if they meet with no
more than the ordinary opposition, so
that even if diplomacy fails there is
hope of the collapse of the rebellion
from purely military reasons within a
week or ten days.
THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN.
MANILA, May 64:15 p. m.-Major-
General Lawton's column advanced to
a position two and a half miles north
of Balinag to-day. Before making a
forward movement, General Lawton
sent back to Manila two wounded men
of the Minnesota Regiment and one of
the Oregonians, who Were hurt in yes
terday's lighting, besides twenty sick
men. They were sent by way of Malo-
los.
General Lawton's advance met with
but slight opposition. Outside of Maui
sin 2.0U0 rebels who occupied an en-
trenched position were routed in short
order
Many corpses of rebels have been re-
covered from the river at San Tomas.
Scores of rifles and other arms have
been recovered from the river, into
which they were thrown by the retreat
ing rebels
Major General MacArthur's division
is resting at San Fernando, making in
the meantime extensive reconnois-
sanceS.
AMERICAN CASUALTIES.
WASHINGTON, May General Otis
reports the following casualties:
KILLED.
Twentieth Kansas-May 4th. Com
pany G, Lieutenant William A. McTag-
CART: Fl. Private Merton Wilcox
First Nebraska-Company G., Privates
James Spiory; l., VIM. Belden
First Montana-Company K, Private
Thomas Scalion.
WOUNDED.
Twentieth Kansas-Colonel Frederick
Funston, hand, moderate; Company C.