The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-05-11
WHERE is AGU|NALD0
Continued from Page II

els and 10 dispose of or ship back to
Spain this material of war The greater
part of this commission has just sailed !
for Madrid
This commission was officially styled
The Commission for the Selection ana
Transportation of Material of War.
and at its head was General Nicolas ia
rs milo. 1t was composed of thirty-five
officers from Colonies down and those
who were appointed thereon considered
themselves most fortunate, because, in
consideration of service in the tropics
they drew a considerable increase over
what their pay in Spain would have
been: their work light, averaging
two hours a day, and the fact that they
constituted SPANS last official represent
atiyeS in Manila gave them certain
prestige Their duties being to receive
and provide for the Spanish prisoners in
rebel hands as fast as the Spaniards got
away and drifted into Manila and to dis
pose of SPANS property remaining in the
Philippines, they consequently had little
to do The work in regard to the prison
could have been done by six officers
well by thirty-five, and the duties
in connection with the property were
made the principal reason to account for
the stay or this numerous commission in
Manila.
The Spanish Government in August
last offered for sale great quantity of
old metal. being practically the war
material which it was the duty OF this
commission TO dispose of. The greater
part of this metal was bought by the
representatives of an American firm and
the payment therefor was made direct
to the Spanish Minister of War in Mad
rid. AS fast as the material was paid
for the Minister of War notified the com
mission that such and such material
could be delivered to the Manila repre-
sentative of the American buyers, where
upon the commission here would inform
this gentleman, who may be called Mr.
Forman, that he was al liberty 20 remove
the property Mr., Forman procured
charters on vessels to the United States
and slowly this old metal was started
on its voyage to the Atlantic coast.
The last payment of $4,000 peSetaS for
copper was made to the Spanish Govern
ment in Madrid about the middle of De
cenber, 1899, and Mr.. Forman, in Manila.
set about providing transportation for
this last lot of metal. He went frequent
sion over in the Walled City, asking them
if Madrid had sent them instructions to
deliver the copper.
Now, as this copper was the last OF the
war material, its delivery would bring
an end to the commissions excuse for
remaining in the Philippines, and the
whole commission agreed that they did
not then want to return home, and
their hope of remaining was dependent
upon the non-delivery of the copper to
Mr. Forman, il was tacitly understood
that Mr.. Forman should not get the
property one minute before ii was nee
essary. AS matter of fact, Mr.. For
man did not want the copper at that
time, not having as yet arranged for its
transportation to the United States. But
h. went every day to see the commission
and they always cheerfuily told him:
y
no instructions" Mr.. Forman doubted
the truth of these statements.
Mr.. Forman. on February Sth, had ii
nally arranged for the TRANSPORTATION of
this copper and all delay after that date
was a loss of time and money to his
| firm. His persistent demands upoa the
commission for the delivery of his goods
always brought the same answer, No
instructions from Madrid and after a
week more of this Mr.. Forman, Febru-
airy 10th, cabled the Spanish Minister of
War that he could not obtain the deliv-
cry of his goods, paid for in December,
/ as the Manila commission declared they
! had received no instructions from their
| home government to hand over the goods.
/ He said this delay was causing him de-
! lay and damage, and he asked the Secre-
! tary to instruct the commission to fulfill
/ their Governments contract. Three days
| after sending the cable to Madrid Mr..
Forman happened to be at the Spanish
arsenal in Manila, when two officers
| came in talking between themselves
| about going home and specializing as to
where they could best sell their house
Were members of the commission and
Mr.. Forman, judging from their CONVEX
something had happened. He drove over
to the commissions office and was then
handed a paper ordering the immediate
heard from Madrid" explained Colonel
| D. "A cablegram has come calling
| the greater part of this commission back
| TO Spain, telling us to close up our bust
ness here as soon as possible and TO let
you have your copper at once"
Subsequently Mr.. Forman saw the ca
reference to himself or his copper 1t
simply told the commission to finish up
their business and return ''cuanto antes,
/ which is u very brusque way of giving an
| order.
+. There are yet some 25J5 Spanish pris-
/ oners in the hands of the rebels and a
/ &C mmission of six members, with Gener-
al Jaramillo at its head, remains in Ma
mia to care for them as they come in.
! W hen Spanish soldiers arrive in Ma Mia
! their government gives them each two
! suits OF underclothes, two uniforms.
! nat, pair of shoes and a cape. They
are sent to the barracks at Malate there
! TO await u steamer sailing for Spain
! They are also given one months paw
s27, and for privates S21. These amounts
are in Mexican currency and their gold
| equivalents are determined 10y halVing
them. The Spanish government also sup
plies these soldiers with food and medical
a,Ienuance WINE they are waiting 10 en-
/ bark, and the American Government paws
| their passage back to Spain. Before they
go on the ship they are given a further
| supply of clothing, and upon landing in
! Spain they are handed seven months
| pay.
OF the 6.7Gl Spaniards among the FIJI
! plno prisoners in April of 1899 l95 OBJ
| tanned their liberty between the months
of April and October inclusive 40 got
away in November, and when the Amer
lean troops made their advance into the
northern provinces of Luzon in December
| OF last year the movement brought about
! the release of 1929 Spaniards in that
! month alone. During January and Febru-
airy OF 1900 300 of these prisoners escap-
| ed and got into Manila and the Spanish
| commission has been informed of the.
| death of 4S5, while still prisoners, of the
| original 6,116 captives. There yet remain
! prisoners, 40 officers and 2.510 men, The
former include one lieutenant colonel
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