Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-03-28
TO-DAY'S TELEGRAPHIC NEWS
The Capture of AguinaIdo.

Manila, Mar. 2S.-GeneTal Fred. |
Funston arrived here this morning on
the United States gunboat Vicksburg,
with the insurgent chieitsiD, Emilio
Aguinsldo, as bis prisoner. Along with
Aguinaldo were the Filipino officers
who had been his trusted companions
in bic flight from the American troops.
Aguinsldo vas taken by General Fun.
ston and force OF picked men near
Casigursn, 10 the northeast of the island
of Luzon. His whereabouts had been
betrayed to the Americans by sn offi-
Ger In whom he placed confidence.
General Funston and his party en-
barked on the Vicksburg and landed
near Bslsr, on the northeast Of Luzon,
several miles from Casiguran. They
we're accompanied by the Filipino Off.
Ger who had betrayed Aguinaldo, and
it was arranged that the native scouts
should pass themselves off as Filipino
troops, who had captured the Ameri-
cans accompanying them, and were
taking them as prisoners 10 Aeunsldo.
When taken before AguiDaldo, Gen.
eral Funston was to give signal, and
Aeuinaldo was to be seized. The plans
were carried out most successfully, but
Aguiualdo was not captured without
resistance on the part of bis followers
in which an ini urgent major wa killed.
Important papers were se'zsd with the
rebel chief. Aguinaldo was taken
ashore this afternoon, and after having
lunch with General Macarthur, he was
committed to the Anda street Jail.
He is in good health and cheerful.
Washington. Mar. 2S.-Admiral
Remey this morning cabled the Buresu
OF Navigation that Aguipaldo with
three staff officers and eighty-three
Macabebes had been captured by Gen.
Fonston and brought to Manila by the
gunboat Vicksburg. There they were
turned over to Gen. Macarthur. A
cablegram from Gen. Macarthur con.
firms the report of the capture OF Aguin.
aldo.
The news of the capture of Aguinaldo
by Gen. Frederick Funston was re.
ceived with much rejoicing in official
circles here. The greatest secrecy had
been maintained over the plan to ef-
feet the capture. Neither Presideot
Mckinley nor the War department had
any knowledge Of it uotll after Gen.
Funston was we'll on the way. Gen.
Macarthur wss evidently afraid to
trust it to the wires. The public YVES
| first let into the secret on the 23rd Of
March by dispatch from Manila. As
it turued out, Aguidaldo had been cap.
tured on that very day. Funston had
been away on bis expedition fifteen
days before word Of its object was al.
lowed to leak out.
Secretary Root was disinclined to
discuss the capture OF Aguipaldo at any
| length. Tue secretary himself has not
at any time, been anxious for the pos
session OF the person OF the bead Of the
instruction and this morning frankly
stated this. He also said that while
his capture was embarrassing In one
sense there would be no difficulty 10
dis posing of him in some manner. The
problem would be the same as in other
| instances wherein the department had
had to deal with iusurgent leader. He
refused to state the exact disposition To-
| tended for the prisoner but his refer
ence to the other insurgent leaders and
his remarks that the case was 10 no
way dissimilar would indicate that
Aguinaldo is likely 10 join the Filipino
colony 10 Guam.
1t Is only recently that there has beeO
any desire to secure Aguinaldo as
prisoner. When Gen. Oils was 10 COM
mand be rather avoided any opportu-
nifty to capture him, fearing that the
insurgent chieftsiD would be white
elephant on his hands because his re.
tention 10 prison 10 Manila would un-
doubtedly lead TO all sorts OF troubles
and bic execution would raise a howl 10
the United States. since the idea had
occurred to Gen. Macarthur, however,
to transport to Guam the troublesome
political prisoners, and because AguiD-
aldo has been recently active in direct
ing operations against the American
troops, various plans for his capture
have been considered. 1t was not un-
Ill the treachery Of his own people
made Ii possible, however, that their
efforts succeeded.
When Admiral Dewey returned from
Manila he said: It'll be 9 good thing
il Aguinaldo is never caught, | hope
he fees from the islands. We can't
hang him very well; we don't want to
imprison him. Either disposition OF his.
case would make a martyr Of him in
the eyts of the Filipiuos." General
Otis expressed substantially the same
sentiment when he first called
on the President after his return
from the islands. 1t may be predicted
that the President will never approve
the ir fliction OF the death penalty 10
Aguinaldo's case. Should be be sen.
fenced to hang by General Macarthur,
President Mckinley would certainly
commute the sentence. General Fun.
ston will be placed 10 line for tho first
vacancy that occurs among the Briga-
der Generals, aud Surgeon Harris, and
Captain Newton. Of the 34ih infantry;
Lieutenant Admire, OF the 22nd infan.
try, and Lieutenant NJ tchell, of the
4Osh in'antry, who &C, accompanied him,
will also be promoted.
The expectation is that AguiDaldo
will be sent 70 Guam and there kept
prisoner under close surveillance.
There is a possibility that he may be
brought to the Uoited States and be
otfned here. Tais. however, ia not
deemed likely. After being kept in
Guam for time-uutil the American
civil government has been firmly es-
tablished 10 the Philippines -Aguinaldo
may be brought to the United States.
Paris, March 28.-Senor Agoncillo.
emissary of the F'Ilipinos in Europe,
SAYS that the capture Of Aguinaldo will
not affect the progress of the war for
independence. Aguinaldo was not the
sole head of the Filipinos cause. He