The record-union., 1899-06-16
Repor.sa by Gsasfal Otis to be Greate''
Than First Announced.
OF the Enemy's Force of Four Thou
sand Men, More Than One
Third Were Lost in Killed,
Wounded and Captured, the
Remainder Being Badly Scat
tered and Retreating to Their
Arsenal at linus.

WASHINGTON, June 15.-General
Otis cabled to-day the following:
Manila, June 15.-Adjutant General.
Washington: The success of Lawton'S $
troops in Cavite province was greater
than reported yesterday The enemy
numbering over 1900, lost in killed and
wounded and captured more than one
third. The remainder, much scattered,
have retreated south to linus, their ar
senal. OF their five pieces of artillery,
three were captured. The navy aided
greatly on the shore of the hay, land
ing forces occasionally. The inhabi-
tants in that country rejoice at their
deliverance, and welcome with en-
thusiastic demonstrations the arrival Of
our troops. OTIS
A FRIENDLY FILIPINO ASSASSIN
ATED.
The War Department bulletins the
following:
Manila, June 15-Adjutant General,
Washington: A prominent Filipino
friendly to Americans was assassinated
at Cebu. The inhabitants of that local
ity have urgently requested American
protection in stronger force. Have
sent a battalion of the Tennessee and
two guns from Iloilo, which insures
peace. Hughes, is now in charge of af-
fairs in that section OTIS"
REPORT OF LUNA'S DEATH DIS
CREDITED.
MANILA, June 10, $50 p m.-Cap-
tain Cable of General Wheaton's staff.
with three companies of the Twenty
Do.<r
rection of linus. The rebels, who were
apparently expecting an attack, retired,
leaving behind them twenty Spanish
prisoners, who Joined the Americans.
The rebels have probably gone to the
mountains along the lake.
According to native stories, the rebels
carried 1tO dead and 800 wounded
through Bacoor after the recent battle.
The natives are now flooding into Ba-
coor. and 1t - probable thai theTss ars
many soldiers in plain clothing among
them.
The whole section is practically with
out food, and Major General Otis has
ordered the distribution of rice and
beef to the inhabitants.
Many people still refuse to credit the
stories of the assassination of General
Luna by the guard at Aguinaldo's g
headquarters. Though the reports to
the effect are most circumstantial and
from good source, the rumors of assas-
sination and disasters from the rebel
camp are so frequently printed in the
local papers that they have come to be
regarded with indifference. The latest
is that the Governor of Cebu has been
Of
frienshrip to Americans. A promi-
nent commercial man with exceptional
means of learning of the F'iliplnos
movements, claims to know that Cen
eral Luna is still alive. adding that II
he is dead. and if his death occurred
a month ago, peope would have ex-
pected a collapse of the revolution to
follow
The failure of the Filipinos to follow
up the peace negotiations strengthens
the impression that their overtures
We're merely to gain time and in order
to lure the Americans to show their
hands.
The sIndependencia,' revolutionary
organ, of May Goth, a copy of which
has just been obtained, prints an inter-
view with General Luna showing the
arguments he used to keep up the spir-
its of his followers. He represents the
Filipino cause as prospering, because
the Americans have gained only hum
dredth part of Luzon by hard fighting"
and says the women and children till
ing the fields within the American lines
give the proceeds of their work in sup
port of the Filipino army. He is said
to have further remarked: More
Americans will be killed by ambus-
cades. surprises and disease than in
battles. l detest war. but we cannot
accept peace at any price but independ-
ence. The Americans suffered for their
own independence, and in their own
hearts, they appreciate why we resist
them"
WASHINGTON, June 15.-Pursuing
policy determined upon some months
ago, General Otis is organizing three
regiments in the Philippines. composed
of officers and men of the State volun-
teers who desire to remain in the SER
vice The army bill authorized this
kind of enlistment in the Philippines.
If the full complement cannot be made
up from these discharged volunteers in
the Philippines, the regiments will be
organized and differed in skeleton form
until recruits can be sent from the
United States to fill them.
General Otis and the volunteer officers
in the Philippines have been consulting
to see how many men will enlist. The
number has not been very large as
there seems to be a desire on the part
of tbZyvolunteers to return to the
United States with their Organizations.
These three proposed regiments, with
three regiments of regulars to sail from
san Francisco on the 22d and 9th and
those under orders for Manila, will give
General Otis 33, 900 fighting men
II is stated positively at the War De-
partment that the report that it was
intended to reduce the cavalry troops
and artillery batteries in this country
to ninety-five men each, in order to in
crease the companies In the Philippines
to $50 men each, is absolutely without
foundation.
The approved plan for the reinforce
ment of the army operating in the Phil
ippsnes IL briefly stated by a high off,