Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-27
.RICARTE'S LETTERS.
An Attack Upon Manila PIann-
ed for January, 1900.
Gen. Ricarte Desired to Be Placed at
Head of Attack.
Plan thought 10 Be Only Means Of Encour-
aging Fiipinos.

Washington, Aug. 2G.-The war de-
partmrnt has made public letters found
among the papers Of General Ricarte,
recently arrested by the police near
Manila. in January, 1900 1t states that
the reason for not carrying out the pro-
posed attack was because of the small
number of resolute persons stationed
at the gates. and because Gen. Otis had
gone aboard a ship in Manila Bay. An
other attack was planned but not car
rled out because the enemy made a
careful search Of the city as a result
Of disturbances the previous day. The
letter advises another attack ana out
lines the following plan:
Ito recruit in your command of
south LuZon 5000 men Of sure rading
and steadiness. These will eHter the
walled city armed with knives. The
entrance Of this number Of men win
be effected during a period of about
three weeks. it Will be very easy to do
il and shall undertake to place them
in secret places while the rest are ar
irving and as soon as they all get in
] shall give the necessary Instructions
" direct ana arrange for cooperation
ia the blow on the said point Of the
walled city"
After making suggestions as to the
raising # funds the letter continues:
.At the same time. with all due
honor ana respect, | inform You gen
eral, that it is my strong belief that
- receive a favorable termination of
this present campaign. i'll which we
suffer defeats continually. not that any
one is Of much Importance, but they
diminish the desire of the t'ilipinos to
pursue with the necessary ardor TIN.
longed for liberty ana Independence Of
our dear country: there is no other
way of attaining this than by carry
ing out the blow in the city of Manila.
since that piece Of land surrounded
with fts high and massive wall once
taken we shall be able to dominate its
suburbs, and as the foreigners live in
them we shall be forced to have Iii
rect relations with them. Yes, gener-
al, j agree with persons Of greater
ability than | that the burning of u
few foreign commercial establishments
VIII be sufficient to give a new color to
the present critical conditions in the
philippines. but permit me- general. 10
state my case briefly. How would the
foreigners ana the Americans come to
an arrangements in regard to the dam
age ana prejudice such a confiagration
would cause the first? How would We
ma out their agreement? If the prop
erty Of the foreigners II burned and
nothing more is done we shall not OBJ
tain their valuable aid. We shall never
get il. but if in addition we succeed in
obtaining Of possession of the said
walled city, then without heads nobly
erect we can demand what We want Of
them and of the enemy because the
first will have to submit to our author
ity as soon as we can dominate the
place where they are.
Il state all this, general. for your
opinion so that if you approve ii / can
proceed to make the necessary prepa-
rations and arrange fairly definitely
the movements to take place in the
various places and the proper signals
hope. general. that you will approve
his plan, which is one Of the proofs
Continued on page 81