The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-08-17

our guard being stationed at the ives
end of the bridge. The Nebraska sentine
drove them back without firing, but |
few minutes before 0 o'clock that evening
large body of insurgent troops made al
advance ON the South Dakota outposts
d which fell back rather than fire. Abou
the same time the insurgents came IL
force to the east end of the San Juar
bridge, In front of the Nebraska regiment
For several nights prior thereto lieu
tenant in the insurgent army had beer
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 detail OF
about six men and approached Private
Grayson of Company d, First Nebraska
volunteers, the sentinel on duty at out
post No. .. He, after hating them three
times without effect, fired, killing the
| lieutenant, whose men returned the fire
and then retreated Immediately rockets
were sent up by the Filipinos, and they
commenced firing all along the line.
"The 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 q description of 1t
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 4 o'clock on the morning of Feb
the insurgents again opened fire all
around the city and kept 1t 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
hostilities broke out. Deplorablc as war
is, the one in which we are now engaged
was unavoidable by us. We were attack
ed by bold. adventurous and enthusias-
tic army. No alternative was left to us,
except ignominious retreat. 1t is not to
be conceived OF that any American would
have sanctioned the surrender of Manila
to the insurgents. Our obligations to
other nations, and to the friendly Fill
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 lis
now except the prosecution Of the war
,,nt tbo ;,cn rnJuaoA to cub h.
mission. The 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 iuhabitants.'
On the very night the actual fighting |
began Aguinaldo issued the following:
Order to the Philippine Army.
Nine o'clock p. M. this date, received |
from Caoocan station @ message COM
municntcd to me that the American |
forces. without prior notification or any |
just motive, attacked our camp at San |
Juan del Monte and our forces garrison |
ing the blockhouses around the outskirts |
of Manila, causing losses among our SOL |
ders, who, in view Of this unexpected |
aggression and Of the decided attack of |
the aggressors, were obliged to defend |
themselves until the firing became general |
all along the line.
No one can deplore more than / this |
rupture of hostilities. l have q clear
conscience that l have endeavored to
avoid it at all costs, using all my efforts
frinpH chi,, with tho ne
even at the cost of not q
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 liberators, attempted to dominate us |
in place of the Spaniards, as is shown !
by the grievances enumerated in my man
ifest of Jan. s last; such as the continued |
outrages and violent cxactions commit |
ted against the people of Manila, the use
less conferences, and all my frustrated |
efforts in favor of peace and concord
Summoned by this unexpected provoca-
ton, urged by the duties imposed upon
me by honor and patriotism and for the
utltust VI lHe udllOD lllTuSleu u HE,
calling on God as a witness Of my good
faith and the uprightness of my inten-
tons.
] order and command:
1. 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
2. American soldiers who may be cap
tured by the Philippine forces will be
treated as prisoners of war.
3. This proclamation shall be commu-
nicated to the accredited consuls of Ma
Mia, and to congress, in order that it
may accord the suspension of the con-
stitutional guarantees and the resulting
declaration of war.
Given at Malolos. Feb. 4, 1890.
EMILIO AGUINALDO,
General in Chief.
To Attack the Americans.