Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-08-16

VIII Il detail Of men and attempted TO
| pass the guard Oh The san Juan bridge.
/ oii guard belly stationed at the west
end Of the bridge. Thu. Nebraska sentinel
| drove thcm back without firing. but
few minutes before . clock that evening
a large body Of lusursrnt troops made An
advance ON the South Dakota outpoSts,
| which tcl! back rather than fire. About
/ tle same time the insurgents came in
| force to the east end of the San Juan
bridge, in front of the Nebraska regiment.
i or several nights prior thereto lieu
tenant in the insurgcnt army had been
! coming regularly to our outpost No. >, 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 detail of
about six men and approached Private
Grayson Of Company ID, First Nebraska
volunteers, the sentinel on duty at out
post NO. y. He, after hating them three
times without effect, fired, killing the
lieutenant. whose men returned tine fire
and then retreated. Immediately rockets
We're sent up by the Filipinos, and they
commenced firing all along the line
| n" story of the actual fighting has
often been told by military mon who
| We're engaged in il, and We do not deem
1t Necessary TO give a description of it
mere. 1t is known of ali men that imme-
| dlately after the first shot the insurgents
opened tire all along their line and con-
unucd to fire until about midnight; and
ABOUT 4 % clock on the morning of Feb.
the insurgents again opened fire 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-
1laldo made up his mind that it would be
necessary TO fight the Americans. and at
ter the making of the treaty Of peace at
Paris this determination was STRENGTHENS
cd. be did not openly declare that he
intended to fight the Americans, but he
eXclted everybody, and especially the mil
itary men, by claiming independence, and
1t Is doubtful whether he had the power
TO check or control the army at the time
hostllltles broke out. Deplorablc as war
is, the one in which we are now engaged
was unavoidable by us. We We're attack
Cd by bold. adventurous and enthusiast
TIC army. NO alternative was left to us.
except lgnomlnlOus retreat. 1t is not to
De conceived OF that any American would
nave sanctioned the surrender of Manila
to the insurgents. Our obligations to
other nations, and to the friendly Fill
plnoS, and to ourselves and our flag de-
manded that force should be mot by force,
w hatever the future of the Philippines
may De- there is no course open to us
now except the prosecution Of the war
until the insurgents are reduced to sub
mission. 1he commission is of the opin-
ION that there has been no time since the
destruction of the Spanish squadron by
Admiral Dewey when it was possible to
Withdraw our forces from the islands
either with honor to ourselves or with
safety to the inha bitants."
On the very night the actual fighting
began Asulnaldo issued the following:
Order to the Philippine Army.
Nine O'Clock p. NJ, this date, l received
from Caloocan station message COM
munlcated to me that the American
forces. without prior notification or any
Just motive, attacked our camp at San
''""n del Monte and our forces garrison
ing the blockhouses around the outskirts
OF Manila, causing losses among our SOL
diers, who, in view of this UNEXPECTED
aggression and Of the decided attack of
themselves until the firing became general
all along the line
No one can dcplore more than this
rupture of hostlities. l have a clear
conscience that l have endeavorel 70
avoid 1t at all costs. using all my efforts
to preserve friendship with the army of
occupation. even at the cost of not
few humiliations and many sacrificed
rights
But it is my unavoidable duty to main
tain the integrity of the national honor
and that of the army so unjustly attack
ed by those who, posing as our friends
and libcrators, attempted to dominate us
in place of the Spaniards, as is shown
by the grievances enumerated in nv man
ifcst of Jan. S last; such as the continued
outrages and violent exactions commit
ted against the people of Manila, the use
less conferences, and all my frustrated
efforts i'll favor Of peace and concord
Summoned by this unexpected proyoca-
ton. urged by the duties imposed unon
me by honor and patriotism and for the
defense Of the nation ntrusted to me.
calling on God as witness Of my good
faith and the uprightness of NV nten-
tons.
l order and command:
l. Peace and friendly relations between
the Philippine forces and the American
forces OF occupation are broken, and the
latter will be treated as enemies, with
the limits prescribed by the laws Of war.
,. American soldiers who may be can
tured by the Philippine forces will be
treated as prisoners Of war.
). This proclamation shall be commu-
nicated to the accredited consu!s of Ma
Mia. and to congress. in order that il
may accord the suspension of the con-
stitutional guarantees and the rcsultin,
declaration of war
Given at Malolos. Feb t. 1890
EMILIO AGUINALDO.
General in Chief,
To Attack the Americans
The following proclamation was issued
t,1- NJ. 1.,'..