The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-09-06
PAPERS FOUND uIEn
lIellT MS ARRESTED.
War DKPARrNEHr MAKEs
PUBLIC soME OF THE
CAPTURED LETTERS.
Among Than an Unsigned One in
Regard to . Proposed Attack
On Manila During Last
January.


found among the papers Of General
Ricart, recently arrested by the police
near Manila Among them is an IN
signed 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 resoiute persons sta
toned at the gates. and because Gen
eral Otis had gone aboard q ship in
Manila bay Another attack was plan
ned but not carried out because the
enemy" made careful search of the
city as result of disturbances the pre-
vious day. The letter advises another
attack 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 q period of about three weeks;
il will be very easy TO do 1t, and | shall
undertake to place them in safe places
while the rest are arriving, and as soon
as they all get in shall give the neces
sary instructions to direct and arrange
for cooperation in the blow on The
said point, the walled city"
After making suggestions as to the
raising of funds the letter continues:
"kt the same time, with all due honor
and respect, inform you, General. that
ii is my strong belief that to re-
eeive a favorable termination OF this
present campaign, in which We suffer
defeat continually, not that any one is
of much importance, but they diminish
the desire OF we Filipinos to pursue
with the necessary ardor the longed
for liberty and independence OF our
dear country: there is no other way cf
attaining this than by carrying out the
blow in the city of Manila, since that
piece of land surrounded by high and
massive walls once taken, We shall be
able to dominate its suburbs, and as the
foreigners live in them We shall be
forced to have direct relations with
them. Yes, General, l agree with per-
sons of greater ability than l that the
burning of a few foreign commercial
establishments will be sufficient to give
a new color to the present critical con-
ditions in the Philippines, but permit
lie, " StatC ny Ss<SS $500
How would the foreigners and the
Americans come to an agreement in re-
gard to the damage ana prejudice such
a confagration would cause the first?
How would we find out their agree
ment? II the property OF the foreign
ers is burned, and nothing more is done,
we shall not obtain their valuable aid;
we shall never get it. but il in adj
dition we succeed in obtaining posses
sion of the said walled city, then with
our heads nobly erect We can demand
what we want of them and the enemy,
because the first will have to submit to
our authority as soon as We can DOM
mate the place where they are.
az state all this, General. for your in-
formation, SO that if you approve it
can proceed to make the necessary
preparations and arrange fairly def
nitely the movements to take place in
the various places. and the proper sig
nails. l hope, General. that you will
approve this plan. which is one OF the
proofs of the ardent patriotism OF this,
your humble subordinate"
The following. apparently addressed
to General Ric0rt. as chief Of the OPP
erations about Manila, and signed by
Mariana Trias, lieutenant general, fol-
lows the above:
I'm answer to communication, In
which you inform me of your desire to
place yourself at the head Tin COM
mand) of the forces that are to attack,
il we operate against Manila. l must
make known to you the great satisfac-
ton that such desire produces in me,
for Just that was the only detail want
ing to complete the work OF our revo-
luton. and place in an awkward po-
sitiOn the so much bOasted good policy
of the enemy, who as an ultimate re-
suit would be the one to pay the fiddler.
II your intention is carried out in a
satisfactory manner then there would
be appropriate words to extol such de-
termination, which, though 1t will not
end the war, nevertheless enough will
have been done for the triumph OF our
cause, and on the part OF this govern
ment you may be assured that no
means will be begrudged to give you
as much help and support as you may
need to carry out happy termination
Of the enterprise:
Another letter, dated June II, 1900,
to Ricart and signed Mariana Barroga,
fixes the 18th Of June as the date for
the attack. Julian Montalen on June
4th informs the general Of division
that several juntas win be ready when
called our"
Another document, dated March 4,
1900. directs q regiment to shed the last
drop of blood If necessary to carry out
the program. and threatens death un-
der the military code to those who do
not assemble at their appointed places.