The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-22
BELATED ADv1CEs FROM MANILA.
Rebels Were FOrtifying Guimaras
Island Early This Month.

Island Early This Month.
MANILA, JAN Is, via Hong-Kong, Jan.
21-Private advices received here from
Iloilo differ materially from former reports.
They say the rebels have completed their
fortifcations there and that they are now
fortifying Guimaras island. The American
forces are still on board the transports,
which are anchored close to Guimaras ISL
and. The rebel authorities at Iloilo have
granted permission to land unarmed parties
not exceeding five in number if accompanied
bv a native officer The offer was declined.
The rebels subsequently permitted the Off
GERS to land furnishing them with an escort.
President Lopez, of the Visayan Fedora
ton. has replied to President McKinley's
proclamation of the 9Th He claims that
the revolutionary government antedates the
Paris treaty by over two years. He also
saws he has never been officially notified of
the existence of the treaty, and that, there
fore he declines to recognize American au-
thority and refuses to allow Americans to
disembark in force without express orders
from the government at Malolos. General
Miller, the commander of the American ex-
pedition, replied that the Americans cannot
recognize President Lopezs authority be-
cause the Filipino republic is not recognized
by the powers. He also expressed regret
at the determination of the Filipinos to re-
sist just claims
The United States gunboat Petrol and the
Spanish gunboat FL Cano are near Iloilo.
The natives at the fort mistook the United
States cruiser Baltimore's meal pennant for
a challenge and have hoisted red rag on
the fort. thrice daily lowering it simultan-
eously with the Baltimores pennant.
The United States transport Indiana has
gone to Iloilo with disaptches to General
Miller from General Otis and coal supplies
for the expedition The British second-class
cruiser Bonaventure and the German sec
ond-class cruiser Irene have returned here.
Both this Iloilo banks have sent their
treasure here
The American and Filipino commissioners
are reported to have conferred at the Fill
piEo Club with unsatisfactory results. The
natives allege that they must have official
recognition before discussing the question
of the protectorate. Another conference is
believed to have been arranged for to-mor-
row night, but the officials here decline to
confirm or deny this statement.
Coasting steamers which have arrived here
report that the natives are fortifying Fal-
bayog and the island of Samar, refusing to
allow Americans to land there. The garri-
son consists of a thousand men armed with
spears anu DOlOS IHey nave only SIX FlHeS.
Owing to persistent rumors of a contem-
plated attack on Manila on Saturday and
Sunday, the American troops were confined
to their quarters, all the guards were dou-
bled, and, as a measure of precauton, for
egn flags were displayed on the business
and private houses everywhere as on the
day of the entry of the Americans into this
city. The Escolla, the usually busy thor
oughfare, was deserted on Saturday night
A score Of groundless alarmist rumors are
still abroad, but confidence is being restored