The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-09-06

0ediately in front and within q few
yards of the same. The outpost was
Strengthened by a few OF our men, who
snilently bore their taunts and abuse the
ssatire night. This was reported to me by
Gen. Macarthur. whom directed to COM
umunicate with the officer in command of
1he insurgent troops concerned, His pre-
cared letter was shown me and approved,
And the reply received Cloth papers found
a Gen. MacArthur's report) was all that
ssouid be desired. However the agree
~ent was ignored by the insurgents, and
On the evening of Feb. 4 another de-
snonstration was made on one of our
small outposts. which occupied retired
position at least $50 yards within the line
which had been mutually agreed upon-an
s5nsurgent approaching the picket and re-
2using to halt or answer when Challenged.
The result was that our picket dis
sharged his piece, when the insurgent
troops near Santa Mesa opened a spirited
IRE on our troops there stationed. The
Insurgents had thus succeeded in drawing
the fire of a small outpost, which they
Aad evidently labored with all their in
Sennity to accomplish. in order to justify
In some way their premeditated attack
1T Is not believed that the chief insurgent
leaders wished to open hostilities at this
Ume, as they were not completely pre-
pared to assume the initiative They
desired two or three days more to perfect
@heir arrangements, but the zeal of their
army brought on the crisis which anti
Hfpated their premeditated action. They
could not have delayed long, however,
Cor 1t was their object to force an issue
before American troops, then en- route.
could arrive in Manila"
ATTACK PREMEDITATED.
Here we have a clear and concise state
tnnent of the events which lead up to the
attack of Feb. 4. Let it be remembered
that the treaty, of peace was not yet rati-
he'd and that our forces were still tethered
% Manila by the terms Of the protocol
during all this critical period, so that the
insurgents had free hand for all hostile
purposes outside of Mania. That the at
rsac& on our army. on the eve of the rati-
dc21fon Of the treaty and just before the
arrival of reinforcements. was premedi-
Gated and carefully planned is confirmed
8y this fact: At the time the debate was
tEoing on in the senate on the ratification
or the treaty there was stopping at the
Arlington hotel, in Washington, a Fill
ptMD commission, at the head of which
was Angoncillo, one of Aguinaldo's prin-
1sf,al advisors. At midnight on the 4th
Of February, before any one in Washing
ecn CoGld possibly have learned of the
attack made on our forces at Manila,
A9oncnlo, with companion, hurriedly
&eft mis- hotel and started on the first train
direct for Canada. He must have known
aS what was Transporting at Manila that
stxht, and feared to remain and face an
outraged government and nation. On
Sch. L. Gen. Otis sent the following dis
pa4cSn to the war department:
<EReported that insurgent repre-
sentative at Washington tele-,
Eraphed AEuinaldo to drive out
Americans before arrival of rein
forcements. The dispatch received
az HongkOng and mailed to MalOIos,
which decided on attack to be made
about 7th. Eagerness of insurgent
&roops to engage precipitated bat
4Ie.n ,-s
Flow we'll prepared Aguinaldo was for
tnostilities is apparent from the further
4act that within an hour after the firing
began on the outposts he issued lengthy
written declaration Of war from his head
quarters at Malolos, more than twenty
i've miles from Manila.
Thh proclamation was evidently pre-
pared in advance.
What was the condition and number Of
our forces in Manila at this time? Our
whole effective force in the city was only
"A. 600 men, OF these 5000 belonged to the 3
,rovost guard, and were expected to pre-
rerve order and check demoGrsArations
nd uprisings In the city Another 1000
as fe0GTtsd to protect tho iulidings and
Aarrarks occrpsed by our tveops, as the
basurgents had provided the4as. a,-res with
IEsrossne and perfected plans 20 burn
obese buildings. This left but 10000 men
eo repel the attack Of Aguinaldos army,
estimated at from 10000 to 10000, and
protected by earthworks and rifiepits,
which they had been months in preparing.
Ths battle which ensued commenced at
q D. H. on Feb. and lasted until p. m.
ais next day, resulting in the complete
aefeat of the insurgents. During the
nrogress of the battle two or three at
rSempts were made to rally and employ
stha secret Filipino military. organizations
.zwtthia the city, but such attempts were
Drsnspfly suppressed by our forces.
AsultnAido. having been thoroughly de-
Stated in his attack of Feb. 4, with his
0aeaastomed duplicity claimed that the
0kkack was purely accidental. And 1t
alas been claimed that he applied for a
eansation of hostilities through Gen.
Z6sreess
STATEMENT PROVED FALSE.
Gen. Otis puts complete quietus upon
AAfs claim in the following dispatch to
1ha 1djutant general:
Nudge Torres, citizen, resident of Ma
1nEa, who had served as member insur-
1t commission, reported evening Feb.
"a asked IL something could not be done
% stop the fighting, as establishment of
neufrsl zone. 1 replied Aguinaldo had
Sssmmenced the fighting and must apply
aor cessation; had nothing to request of
the fnsurgent government He asked per-
untssion to send Col. Arguellez to Malolos,
and Arguellcz was passed through lines
near Caloocan next morning. He went
direct to Malolos, told Gen. Aguinaldo
and Mabini that Gen. Otis would permit
suspension hostilities upon their request.
They replied declaration of war had
been made, a copy of which they fur
nished him. They said they had no OBJ
:$ection to suspension of hostilities; but
beyond this general remark made no re-
soponse, but directed him to return with
sthat message. Arguellez reported that he
ssouveyed the statement; that they had
0ommenced the war, and that 1t must
- 01, since they had chosen that course
- action, but did not attempt to induce