The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-23

The three survivors of this formidable
Patrol of four men retired rejoning their
own forces-carrying with them the body
of their dead comrade-and the deadly
shot which had been fired upon them was
returned from the Filipino outpost. We
prefer, however, to give the story in the
exact language of General Macarthur in
his report to General Otis; Here 1t is:
At about $50 p. m. Febrtafy .. an insnrgent
patrol consisting Of four armed soldiers, entered
our territory at Block House No. and advanced
to the little village Of Santo, which was oceu'
pied by the pipeline outpost of the NEBRASKA
Regiment The American sentinel challenged
twice and then, as the fnsurgent patrol CON
tnued TO advance, he fred whereupon the patrol
retired to Block House No. Z, whence fire was
Immediately op ned by the entire insliGent out
post at that point.
This brought on a general engagement
and the war was begun.
Facts From Official Reports.
These facts are from the official re-
ports of Generals Otis and Macarthur.
They show clearly enough that our com
manders were expected 10 seize upon the
earliest pretext for making war upon the
Philippine Islanders. The undisputed facts
shown in the official reports are:
Il That hostilities did not begin until
the 4th of February.
''2 That, therefore up to that time there
could not have been any hostile military
line, the crossing of which by either party,
even with arms. justified the other party
in treating it as an authorized act Of war.
80, That there was a line of demarcation
between the two parties agreed on by the
respective commanders, not as dead-line
the crossing of which should be death, but
a line established as a mutual military
police regulation for the preservation OF
the peace.
"A That when the, American troops
went Into the Filipino camp they were not
killed, but placed under arrest for breach
OF a decree, and released after explana-
lions.
IS. That when four Filipiros crossed
into the American camp and ,disregarded
the challenge of the sentinel, fire was
opened upon them and one of them was
killed"
Fiiipinos Want Peace.
Mr.. De Rackin says :hat several proc
lamations have been issued by the re gOlu-
tionary government since hostilities be-
gan, protesting that the responsibility for
the war rests with the Americans. Their
general tenor shows an abiding faith in the
justice of the people of the United States,
but say that it is necessary TO keep alive
our resistance to tyranny and oppression
or lose the respect of those who sympa-
thiZe with us in America, and who Will
not consider US worthy 10 be free If we
are afraid to fight. and even die, for our
liberty.
"On August 20, 1859. Senior Felipe Buen-
canine. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Philippine Republic addressed a communi-
cation to the United States Congress, in
which he said:
II is sometimes said that we are TO blame for
the outbreak Of hustiities during the night of
ished fact. In the first place, because We the
Filipinos, were expecting at that very time olfi-
ciai recognition of our Independence from the
Government Of Washington. expectation which
was justified by the annexed letter OF General
Otis dated 18th of January, 1899; also on ae-