The age-herald., 1900-08-27
GENERAL RICATS
 PAPERS PUBLISHED Attack Had Been Planned Upon Manila by FiIipinos. TWO IMPORTANT LETTERS One Regiment Was Ordered to Lose Every Drop of Blood if Neces-
 sary to Garry Out the ;.
 Programme
TWO IMPORTANT LETTERS

Washington, Aug. 26.-The war depart- ment has made public letters found among the papers of General Ricart, recently ar- rested by the police near Manila. Among them Is an unsigned letter in regard to an attack on Manila in January, 1900 It states that the reason for not carrying out the proposed attack was because of the small number of resolute persons stationed at the gates, and because General Otis had gone aboard a ship in Manila bay. Another at- tack was planned but not carried out be- cause the "enemy' made a careful search of the city as a result of disturbances the previous day. The letter advises another at- tack and outlines the following plan: ITO recruit in your command of South Luzon 5000 men of daring and steadiness These will enter the walled city armed with knives. The entrance of this number of men will be effected during a period of about three weeks, it will be very easy to do it. and shall undertake to place them in safe places while the rest are arriving, and as soon as they all get in I shall give the nec- essary instructions to direct and arrange for cooperation in the blow on the said point-the walled city,"
 After making suggestions as to the rais- ing of funds, the letter continues: "At the same time, with all due honor and respect, l inform you, general, that 1t is my strong belief that to receive a favorable termina- ton of this present campaign in which we suffer defeats continually, not that any one is of much importance, but they diminish the desire of us F1lipnos to pursue with the necessary ardor the longed for liberty apd independepce of our dear country; there Is no othef way of att1cking this than by carrying out the blow in the city of Mapila, since that piece of land sur rounded with its high and massive wall once taken, we shall be able to dominate its suburbs and demand what we want of the foreigners that live in them, and of the enemy because the first will have to submit to our authority as soon as we can dominate the place where they are."
 Another Important Leader
 The following apparently addressed to General Ricart, as chief of the operations about Manila, and signed by Mariana
 Trias, Lieutenant General, follws the fore
 going:
 q answer to your communication in
 which you inform me of your desire to
 place yourself at the head Gin command)
 of the forces that are to attack if we op- crate against Manila I must make known
 to you the great satisfaction that such
 desire produces in me, for just that was the only detail wanting to complete the work of our revolution and place in an awkward position the so-much boasted of good policy of the enemy, who as an ulti- mate result would be the one to pay the fiddler; If your intention is carried out in satisfactory manner and then there would be non appropriate wards to extol such de- termination, which though it will not end the war, nevertheless. enough will have been done for the triumph of our cause and on the part of this government you may be assured that no means will be grudged to give you as much help and support you may need to carry to a happy termination the enterprise"
 Another letter, dated June F, 1900, to Ricart, and signed Mariana Borrago, fixes the 18th of June as the date for the at- tack. Julian Montalan on June informs the General of division that the several juntas will be ready when called out" Another document. dated March 4, 1900, directs regiment to shed the last drop of blood if necessary to carry out the pro- gramme, and threatens death under the military code to those who don't assemble at the appointed places.