Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-06
INSTRUCTIONS TO FILIPlNOS
THE CONTEMPLATED CAPTURE OF
MANILA FROM AMERICANS.
Aguinaldo Urges His Countrymen to
Act Trearherously and to he
tray Their Enemies.

| The War Department has made public the
| following letter of instructions purporting
| to be signed by Aguinaldo with the expla-
nation that II was In the records captured
| by the American forces:
MALOLOS January o. 1899.
Instructions to the brave soldiers of San
datahan Of Manila:
Article 1. All Filipnos should observe our
felfow-countrymen in order to see whether
they are American sympathizers. They
shall take care to work with them in order
| to inspire them with confidence of the
strength OF the holy cause OF their country.
Whenever they are assured of the loyalty
OF the convert they shall instruct them to
continue In the character of an American
sympathizer In order that they may receive
good pay, but without prejudicing the cause
| OF our country. In this way they can serve
themselves and at the same time serve the
public by communicating to the committee
OF cniers and omciais OF our army what
ever news of Importance they may have.
Article 2. All of the chiefs and Filipino
brothers should be ready and courageous
for the combat and should take advantage
or the opportunity to study we'll the situa-
ton or the American outposts and head
quarters. observing especially secret places
where they can approach and surprise the
enemy.
Article g. The chief of those who 60 to
attack the barracks should send in first
four men with a good present for the
American commander. Immediately after
VIII follow four others who will make
pretense of looking in the corners of houses
In order to aid the other groups at the first
signal. This wherever 1t Is possible at the
moment of attack
Article 4. They should not, prior to the
| attack, look at the Americans in a threat
ening manner. To the contrary, the attack
| on the barracks by the Sandatahan should
be complete surprise, and with decision
on MI IN cd
vance in order to kill the sentinel. In or
der to deceive the sentinel the one should
dress as a woman and must take great
care that the sentinel Is not able to dis
charge his piece. thus calling the atten-
ton Of those In the barracks. This will
enable his companions, who are approach
Ing, to assist In the general attack.
Article 8. At the moment of the attack
the Sandatahan should not attempt to Sc.
cure rifles from the dead enemies, but shall
pursue slashing right and left with bolos
until the Americans surrender, and after
there remains enemy who can injure
| them they may take the rifles in one hand
and the ammunition in the other
On the House Tops.
Article 6. The officers shall take care
that on the top of the houses along the
streets, where the American forces shall
pass. there will be placed four to six men,
who will be prepared with stones, timbers,
red-hot iron, heavy furniture, well
boiling water Oil and molasses rags soaked
In coal OIL ready to be lighted and thrown
down, and many other hard and heavy OBJ
jects that they can throw down, on the
passing American troops. At the same
time. In the lower parts of the houses. will
be concealed the Sandatahan, who will at
tack Immediately. Great care should be
taken not to throw glass In the street.
the greater part of our soldiers go bare
footed. On these houses there will, II pos
s.be, be arranged, in addition to the OBJ
1ects to be thrown down, a number of the
Sandatahan. in order to cover a retreat or
to follow up a rout of the enemy's column,
SO that we may be sure of the destruction
Of all the opening forces.
Article All Filipinos, real defenders of
their country, should live on the alert to
assist simultaneously the inside attack at
the very moment that they note the first
movement in whatever barrio or suburb.
having assurances that all the troops that
| surround Manila will proceed without de-
lay to force the enemy's line and unite
themselves with their brothers In the city.
With such general movement, so firm and
decided against the Americans, the combat
is sure to be a short one, and | charge
and order that the persons and goods of all
foreigners shall be respected and that the
American prisoners shall be treated well.
The Attack.
Article s-All of our chiefs in the SUBJ
urbs should prepare groups of the Sandata-
han, who will attack with ferocity and de-
tempting to surround each group of Amer
leans or to break through their lines. This
must be done If the nature of the ground
occupied by the Americans will permit, and
IL the Sandatahan have the proper amount
of courage and resolution, and the more
courage and intelligence that they show in
the moment of the attack the more sure
will be the result and the fewer will be
their own losses.
Article Gin addition to the instructions
to-, a .t.,yI A. L..
houses vessels filled with boiling water
tallow, molasses and other liquids, which
shall be thrown as bomos on the Ameri-
cans who pass in front of their houses.
they can make use Of syringes or tubes Of
bamboo. In these houses shall be the San
datahan who shall hurl the liquids that
shall be passed to them by the women and
children
Article 1O-In place of bolos or daggers, IL
they do not possess the same, the Sandata-
han can provide themselves with lances and
arrows with long sharp heads, and these
should be shot with great force I'm order
that they may penetrate well into the
bodies Of the enemy. And those should be
SO made that, in withdrawal from the body,
the head will remain In the flesh.
Article IL. 1t can be taken for granted
that IL the above instructions are OBJ
served, the enemy will not be able to use
firearms because of the confusion In his
For this reason have always thought the
rifle useless in this kind of combat, for ex-
perience has taught me. my dear brothers,
that when the Sandatahan made their at
tack with courage and decision taking ad-
vantage of the confusion In the ranks Of
the enemy. the victory is sure, and in that
case the triumph Is ours.
Order Against Looting.
Article II. At last, If, as 1 expect, the
result shall favor US In the taking of Ma
Mia, and the conquering of the enemy, the
chiefs charged with seeing that the
officers and soldiers respect the consulates,
the banks and commercial houses, and even
the Spanish banks and commercial houses,
taking care that they be not seduced by
the hope of plumber AS, II God sees this he
will reward us, and the foreign nations
will note the order and Justice of our COM
bat. / charge that In the moment of COM
bat the officers. soldiers and whatever pa
triots take part in the struggle will not
forget our noble, sacred and holy idea lib
erty and independence. Neither will you
forget your sacred oaths and immaculate
banner; nor will you forget the promises
made by me to the civilized nations, whom
I have assured that we Filipinos are not
savages nor thies. nor assassns, nor are
we cruel. but. on the contrary, that we
are men Of culture and patriotism, honor
able and very humane.
hayo all ovpocf hot yo,, mill rarnao+