The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-27
WILL CENTER At MANILA
ATTACK OF THE FILIPINOS, WHO
HOPE TO CONTROL THE
ISLANDS
POLICE RECOVER LETTERS
Which Reveals the Plan of the Reb-
els to Make the Final Fight
in Manila and Its
EnVirOns.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26.-The war de-
partment has made public letters found
among the papers Of Gen. Ricart, recently
arrested by the police near Manila
Among them is an unsigned letter in
relation to an attack on Manila in Jan
uary last. 1t states that the reason for
not carrying out the proposed attack was
because Of the small number of reso-
lutte persons stationed at the gates, and
| because Gen. Otis had gone aboard a ship
in Manila bay. Another attack was
planned, but not carried out, because the
enemy made a careful search of the city
as a result of disturbances the previous
day The letter advises another attack
and outlines the following plan "To re-
cruit in your command of South Luzon
1900 men Of such daring and steadiness
These will enter the walled city armed
with knives. The entrance of this num-
Der Of men will be effected during a pc
riod of about three weeks. It will be
very easy to do it, and 1 shall undertake
to place them in safe places while the
rest are arriving, and as. soon as they
all get in 1 shall give the necessary in
structions to direct and arrange for CO.
operation in the blow on said point the
walled city"
After making suggestions as to the
raising of funds, the letter continues:
AT the same time, with all due honor
and respect, 1 inform you, general, that
it Is my strong belief that to receive a
favorable termination of this present
campaign there is no other way of at
tanning this than by carrying out the
In, fIa aif of
piece of land, surrounded with its high
and massive wall 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
1.-The burning of few commercial es-
adjustments will be sufficient to give
new color to the present critical condi-
tons in the Philippines, but permit me,
general, to state my case briefly. How
would the foreigners and the Americans
come to an arrangement In relation to
the damage and prejudice such a conf1a-
grafton would cause?
IL state all this, general, for your opin-
ion, so that if you approve it 1 can pro-
ceed to make the necessary preparations
and arrange fairly definitely the move
ments to take place in the various places
and the proper signals. l hope, general,
that you will approve this plan, which
Is one Of the proofs of the ardent patriot
ism Of this, your humble subordinate"
The following apparently addressed to
Gen. Artemio Ricart, as chief of the op-
erations about Manila, and signed by Ma
riana iris lieutenant general, follows the
above: Ss-
I'm answer to your communica ton, in
which you inform me Of your desire to
place yourself at the head dn command
Of the forces that are to attack, if we
operate against Manila, I must make
known to you the great satisfaction that
such a desire produces in me- for lust
that was the only detail wanting to com
plete the work of our revolution and
place in an awkward position the so
much boasted-of good policy of the en-
eny, who, as an ultimate result, would
be the one to pay the fiddler if your in
tention is carried out in a satisfactory
manner, and then there would be no
appropriate words to extol such determi-
nation, which, though it will not end the
war, nevertheless 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 begrudged
to give you as much help and support as
you may need to carry to a happy ter
minatlon the prize
Another letter dated June II, 1900, to
Ricart, and signed Mariana Barroga, fixes
June 2S as the date for the attack Ju-
lian Montalan, June 4, informs the gen
eral of division that the several juntas
will be ready when called out
Another document, dated March 4, 1900,
directs a regiment to shed the last drop
of blood if necessary to carry out the
programme, and threatens death under
the military code to those who do not
assemble at the appointed places.