Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-02-11
AGUINALDo wEAKENs.
After Declaration of War He Sues
For Peace.

For Peace.
Washington, Feb. 9.-There was an
almost complete release yesterday of
the tension under which the rapid oc-
currence of events in the Philippines
has held the officials of the admins
tration stree the first startling news
from Manila Saturday night. This was
brought about through the receipt OF
a bulletin from General Otis summing
up the latest results of the fighting he
has had with the natives. General
! Otis dispatch was as follows:
Situation rapidly improving. Re-
connoissance yesterday to south sew
eral miles to Lagunade bay, to south
east eight miles, driving struggling in
surgent troops in various directions,
encountering no decided opposition
| Army disintegrated and natives re-
| turning to villages displaying white
| flag Near Caloocan enemy made a
stand behind entertainments; charged
! by Kansas troops, led by Colonel Funs-
ton Close encounter, resulting in rout
of the enemy, with heavy loss. Loss to
| Kansansg Lieutenant Afford killed, six
men wounded On the 4th Aguinaldo
! issued proclamation charging Ameri-
cans with initiative, and declared war;
Sunday issued another calling to resist
! foreign INVASION; his influence
throughout this section is destroyed;
now applies for a cessation of hostili
ties and conference; have declined to
answer"
The statement that Aguinaldo's in
| huence has been destroyed and that
the Filipino leader was seeking for a
cessation of hostilities and for con-
ference was most acceptable, and was
| interpreted as an admission that he
had realized his terrible mistake 1t
| Is entirely improbable that he will be
able to restore anything like the
status quo or to obtain anything like
! the same terms as were possible last
week. No one here now knows just
what General Otis intends to impose
/ in the way of terms. He has absolute
power in that respect. SHOULD he ask
| for instructions on any point" said
Secretary Alger, che will be told to
exercise his own discretion"
In this view of the case it will be
seen that no one here can tell at pres
ent how Otis will act toward Aguin-
aldo's application. But the opinion is
expressed by men here who know Cen
/ eral Otis experience with the Indians
! that he will make the laying down of
arms the condition of dealing with the
! insurgents, ana if that condition is
met. of course it will mean speedy
! termination of the rebellion.
Dispatches have been received daily
! from General Otis. In his dispatch of
! Tuesday he places the insurgent loss
| at 1000, and asserts that Spanish SOL
diers aided the insurgents in their ar
tillery fire. Our casualties, he says,
probably aggregate $50, including half
! a hundred dead.
! A forward movement is probable at
Iloilo, where General Miller has been
/ for weeks lying in front of the town
/ in his transports. He has never had
any doubt of his ability to take the
! place whenever he got the word, but
] tueIt udS utth 81 iSStl dllAhS ihhuVhNS
| from Washington, based in part on the
hope that the insurgents could be
] brought to peaceful retirement from
! the town and an apprehension that an
1 effort to force a landing might result
! In serious injury to foreign interests.
Now, however, it is felt that the latter
are perhaps more in jeopardy from a
continuance of the existing state OF
affairs than they would be through a
sapid seizure Of the town.