The Portland daily press., 1899-09-20
| WEAKENING.
The Insurgents Said To
Show Signs Of 1t.
Significant Proposition
Has Been Made.
IA Conference Requested With
CNrsl Cti.
May Be Only Move To
Gain Time.
Aguinaldo's Name Does Not
Appear In Dispatches.

Washington, September I9.-Secretary
Root today received cablegram from
General Otis that seemed to indicate a
weakening on tile part of the insurgents
In Luzon. Ii contains proffsr to deliver
the American prisoners who have been for
so many months in the hands Of the in
surgents and also sought permission to
parley with General Otis. This cable-
gram was at once taken by Secretary
Root TO the cabinet meeting and formed
the main topic for discussion Mt the be-
ginning OF the session. However, upon
reading the message carefully. Its appar-
emit Importance seemed to diminish. Sec-
retary Root himself did not regard the
matter as Of Importance at this time. He
recalled frequent efforts on the part Of
the insurgents in the past to gain time
at critical moments by opsning negotia-
tions, ostensibly with ths object OF max
ing peace and he was not sure but this
last offer was something OF the same kind
However. the secretary was Of the opin-
ion that 1t would fail to afford the insnr-
gents any advantage. General Otis
| would receive any messenger and listen
TO him and make answer to his proposals
but this would not restrain the milltary
operations in the slightest degree and
the American arms would lose no ground,
no matter how the negotiations turned
out. There is possibility also that the
insurgents may have become disheartened
at the renewed and intense activity In
the direstion of reinforcing General Otis
and concluded in view of the great force
gathering to open the campaign in the
dry season that further resistance would
be useless.
1t is pointed out as a noticeable fact
that Aguinaldo's name does not appear
in General Otis's desratsh and though
this may not be of great significance, still
among some OF the army officers it is
surmised that there are serious dissen-
sions among the insurgents and that
perhaps some OF the discordant elements
are acting on their own responsibility.
The capture Of Lieut.. Gilmore ana his
party was one Of the most stirring Incl
dents of the insurrectiUn. 1t occurred
while the cruiser Yorktown was making
u survey of the western coast OF Luzou,
with view to locating some of the de-
taohed Spanish garrisons which had been
long out off from the populous centres.
1t was known that a Spanish garrison
mad been surrounded at Baler on the
eastern coast and Lieut.. Gilpiors, with
boats party from the Yorktown was sent
ashore to reconnoitre He divided his
command, one party remaining near the
shore, while another pushed inland. This
was the last heard Of the lieutenant and
the fifteen men who accompanied him.
The other members OF the party waited
fer long time, cut got no trace OF their
companions and finally were Obliged to
return to the ship without them. At
first 1t was feared that they had los
their lives. but latsr definite Information
was received that the following were
alive at San Isidro, an insurgent strong
hold: Lieut.. Gilmore, Chief Quarter
master William Walton, Seilmakers Mate
Paul Vandoit, Coxswain John Ellsworth,
Apprentice Third Glass Albert Peterson
and Landsmen Silyio Brisolese, Lyman
Paul Edwards, and Fred Anderson.
Captain Charles NJ. Rockefeller of the
10Th infantry is also supposed to be a
prisoner with the Insurgents. He disap-
peared last April and no trace Of i'm
has been discovered.