The Portland daily press., 1900-09-06
How Insurgsnt Chief Proposed To
Take Manila.
Ordered Prisoners To Be
--- Treated Well.
And That Property OF Foreign.
ers Be Protected.

Washington, September 5.-The war de-
p artment today made public the follow
ing letter of Instructions for the capture
Of Manila, purporting be signed by
Aguinaldo, with the explanation that
it was In the records captured by the
American forces. The letter is dated
MaIolos, 9th of January, 1899, and is
headed:
instructions to the brave soldiers OF
Sandatanan OF Manila"
1t opens with an exhortation to all
FiIipinos to secure converts among their
fellow coUntrymen, who are American
sympathizers. Being assured OF the
sincerity of the convert he was to be In
structed to preserve the character of an
American sympathizer in order that he
might furnish news OF importance to
the Filipinos. The letter details the
method of attack and surprise of the
American forces advising caution and
a semblance Of friendship until entrance
to the city has been effected by the
slaughter of sentinels. The attack, the
letter goes on to say, should be led by
men dressed as women. The officers are
advised to place stones, timbers, red hot
iron, boiling water, oil and molasses and
rags soaked in coal oil, along the walls,
to throw at the American troops passing
below. The synpathizers inside the
city are urged to be ready to assist whom
ever there Is evidence of movement In
the suburbs.
with such a general movement, SO
firm and decided against the Amerl-
cans, )" the letter goes on, "the combat
is sure to be a short one and charge
and order that the persons and goods of
all foreigners shall be respected and
that the American prisoners shall be
treated well.
There shall be IN houses vessels tllsd
with boiling water, talIow, moIasses and
other liquids, which shall be thrown as
front of their houses, OF they can make
use Of syrlnges or tubes OF bamboo. In
these houses shalf'be the Scandinavian.
who shall hurl the liquids that shall be
passed to them by the women and chill
dren
In places Of bolos or daggers, II they
do not possess the same, the Sandantanan
can provide themselves with lanoes
and arrows with very long sharp heads,
and these should be shot with great
force in order that they may penetrate
we'll into the bodies of the enemy. And
those should be so made that in with
drawal from the body the head viii re
main in the flesh.
At last, If, as expect, the result
shall favor US in the taking of Manila
and the conquering OF the enemy, the
chiefs are charged with seeing that the
officers and soldiers respect the
consulates, the banks and CONNER
cial houses and even the Spanish banks
and commercial houses. taking
care that they be not reduced
by the hope OF plumber. AS if God sees
this he viii reward us and the foreign
nations VIII note the order and joy of
our conduct, L charge that in the mo-
ment of combat the officers and soldiers
and whatever patriots take part in the
struggle win not forget our noble, sacred
and holy idea, liberty and independence.
Neither Will you forget the promises
made by me to the civilized nations,
whom ! have assured that we FiIipinOs
are not saVages, nor thieves nor assasst ms
nor are we cruel but on the cOntrar y
that we are men of culture and patr lot
ism, honorable and very umane.
''Above all, I expect that you VIII re-
spect the persons and goods of private
persons of all nationaIiEies, including the
Chinese; that you viii treat we'll the
prisoners and grant life to those of he
enemy who surrender. And that you
will be on the sharp look out for those
traitors and enemies VINO by robbery
Will seek to mar our victory.
(Signed) Emilio Aguinaldo."