The sun., 1900-08-22

with a detail of men and attempted to
pass the guard on the San Juan bridge,
our guard being stationed at the west
end of the bridge. The Nebraska sentinel
drove them back without firing, but a
few minutes before 0 o'clock that evening
q large body of insurgent troops made an
advance on the, South Dakota outposts.
which fell back rather than fire. About
the same time the insurgents came in
force to the east end of the San Juan
bridge, in front of the Nebraska regiment.
For several nights prior thereto a lieu
tenant in the insurgent army had been
coming regularly to our outpost No. z, OF
the Nebraska regiment, and attempting |
to force the outpost back and insisting |
on posting his guard within the Nebraska |
lines and at this time and in the dark |
ness he again appeared with a detail of |
about six men and approached Private |
Grayson Of Company ID, First Nebraska
volunteers, the sentinel on duty at out
post No. 2. He, after halting them three
times without effect, fired, killing the
lieutenant, whose men returned the fire
and then retrcated. Immediately rockets
were sent up by the Filipnos, and they
commenced firing all along the line.
'Drhe story of the actual fighting has
often been told by military men who
were engaged in 1t, and We do not deem
| it necessary to give description OF it
here. 1t is known of all men that imme-
diately after the first shot the insurgents
opened fire all along their line and con-
tinued to fire until about midnight; and
about o'clock on the morning of Feb.
5 the insurgents again opened hre all
around the city and kept it up until the
Americans charged them and drove them
with great slaughter out of their trenches.
After the landing of our troops, Agui-
naldo made up his mind that it would be
necessary to fight the Americans, and af-
ter the making of the treaty of peace at
Paris this determination was strengthen
ed. He did not openly declare that he
intended to fight the Americans, but he
excited everybody, and especially the mil
itary men, by claiming independence, and
| it is doubtful whether he had the power
to check or control the army at the time
hostiities broke out. Deplorable as war
is, the one in which we are now engaged
was unavoidable by us. We were attack
ed by a bold, adventurous and enthusias'
tic army. No alternative was left to us
except ignominious retreat. 1t is not tt
+ be conceived Of that any American would
| have sanctioned the surrender of Manila
: to the insurgents. Our obligations tC
\ other nations, and TO the friendly Fill
a pinos, and to ourselves and our flag de
$ manded that force should be met by force
Whatever the future Of the Philippines
may be, there is no course open to u
now except the prosecution of the wa
until the insurgents are reduced to sub
mission The commission is of the opin
l,nt tbnro has hnnn nj tip1n gipPp th
+ destruction Of the Spanish squadron b.
4 Admiral Dewey when it was possible t
q withdraw our forces from the island
s either with honor to ourselves or wit
q safety to the inhabitants"
8 On the very night the actual hghtin
began Aguinaldo issued the following:
Order to the Philippine Army.
is Nine o'clock p. M, this date, receive
1t from Caloocan station a message con
e, municated to me that the America
III forces, without prior notification or an
III Just motive, attacked our camp at Sa
o. Juan del Monte and our forces garrison
ing the blockhouscs around the outskir
ur of Manila, causing losses among our SC
ut diers, who, in view of this uneXpectt
l aggression and of the decided attack
is the aggrcssors. were obliged to defer
OF | themselves uHlll llc hllhS bcSahit t5' hSi
all along the line.
es No one can dcplore more than | til
rupture of hostilites. l have Gle
conscience that | have endeavored
avoid it at all costs using all my effoI
in. to preserve friendship with the army
~ occupation, even at the cost of not
,is few humiliations and many sacrific
,te rights.
os But it is my unavoidable duty to maj
~ tain the integrity of the national hon
and that Of the army so unjustly attat
A. ed by those who, posing as our frien
ass and liberators. attempted to dominate
- in place of the Spaniards, as is shoN
g.. by the grievances enumerated in my me
r. ifest of Jan. s last; such as the continu
"a outrages and violent exactions comm
,s,. ted against the people of Manila, the u
H. less conferences, and all my frustrat
- efforts in favor of peace and concord.
ap Summoned by this unexpected provo
@e.e ~ ton, urged by the duties imposed ur
81 me by honor and patriotism and for
'ns defense of the nation intrusted TO I
calling on God as a witness of my sc
@.e @ faith and the uprightness of my int
-, tions.
pun . order and command:
tne l. Peace and friendly relations betw,
'ulu the Philippine forces and the Ameri,
ucn ,t forces Of occupation are broken, and
latter will be treated MS enemies, W
oke the limits prescribed by the laws of "
Eere 2. American soldiers who may be c
sist. tured by the Philippine forces will
heni @ treated as prisoners Of war.
iur- 3. This proclamation shall be conn
is nicated to the accredited consuls of
ouse nila, and to congress, in order that
AN .5 may accord the suspension of the
'uiu . stitutional guarantees and the result
nau declaration of war.
aras Given at Malolos, Feb. 4. 1899.
raid EMILIO AGUINALDO,
llent General in Chic
M M To Attack the Americans.
: in The following proclamation was iss
# 10 by Aguinaldo's Secretary of the Int
COM on Feb. s, 1900:
NoAt W., ,,,;n dsnosp that 4