The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-09-23
THEIR LATEST PROPOSAL.
Fiiipsnos said 10 he Ready to Lib
crate American Prisoners, ana
Want a Farley with otis.

Washington, Sept 2O.-Secretary
Root on Tuesday received a cablegram
from Gen. Otis that seemed TO Indicate
weakening on the part of the insur-
gents in Luzon. Ii contained proner
TO deliver the American prisoners who
have been for so many months IN the
hands of the insurgents, and also sought
permission to parley with Gen. Otis.
This cablegram was AZ once taken by
Secretary Root over TO the cabinet
meeting. and formed the main topic for
discussion az the beginning OF the ses-
sion. However. upon reading the mes
sage carefully, its apparent importance
seemed to diminish. Secretary Root
himself did not regard the matter as of
importance at this time.
There is possibility also that the in
surgents may have become disheart-
ened at the renewed and intense activ-
ity in the direction of reinforcing Gen.
Otis. and concluded, in view of the
great force gathering To open the cam
paign in the dry season, that further re-
sistance would be useless. II is pointed
out ms noticeable fact that Aguinaldo's
name does not appear in Gen. Otis dis
patch, and though this may not be of
great significance, still among some of
the army officers IL is surmised that
there are serious dssensions among
the insurgents, and that perhaps some
of the discordant elements are acting
on their own responsibility.
The cablegram from Gen. Otis says
that Gen. Macarthur has been APP
,s,,a
asked if he were willing TO enter into
negotiations with Aguinaldo for the re-
lease of the American prisoners held by
the Filipinos.
He also asked whether Gen. MacAr-
thur would permit Filipino army Of
ficer TO pass through the American
lines in order that he might confer with
Gen. Otis.
While no names are mentioned in the
dispatch il is inferred that included in
the list of American prisoners to whom
the negotiations relate is Lieut.. Gill
more and the IS men Of the Yorktown.
who were captured by the insurgents
on the east coast of Luzon, Maj. Rookie
teller. who was captured beyond the
American lines one night shortly after
his arrival in the Philippines, and about
half dozen private soldiers who have
been reported missing.
New York, Sept. 20.-A special to the
Herald from Washington says that ac-
cording to official advices received at
the war department Tuesday Gen. Otis
has been disappointed in carrying out
several military movements contem-
plated at this time by reason of the
continued rains. lie fears now that the
American troops will be able TO do lit
tie, il anything in the way OF aggres-
sive action before November /. The
authorities had hoped 10 get news of
several important engagements, plans
OF which they have known for some
time. In some respects they consider
that the delay will be beneficial. by
November Gen. Otis will have 10000
more men, and will therefore be able
TO put a larger army into the field and
begin a much more aggressive cam
paign than is possible AT present.
Corporal Danphoifer and Private
CONNIE. sentenced to death by court
martial for assaulting Filipino women,
will not receive any mercy at the hands
Of the president. The sentence OF the
court-martial will be carried out as
soon as the proceedings and finding In
the two cases can be reviewed and APP
proved. unless there should be some
thing irregular about the proceedings
The president has fully determined not
TO interfere in any way in the execu-
ton Of the sentence of the court-mar-
tial. He reached this conclusion upon
the receipt Tuesday OF n message from
Gen. Otis confirming the newspaper re-
ports of the crime committed by these
two men and the sentence imposed.