Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-12
MALVAR PLEASED
Filipino General Surprised With
American Treatment.
ASKED FOR CONFERENCE WITH BELL
Believes the American Protectorate is
the Best Form of Government for
Filipinos-Tells of Difference Be.
tween Spaniards and Americans.

DIR. Harry ]. Watson, formerly of
Ottumwa, now surgeon in the Unit
ed States army in the Philippines,
sends the Courier a copy of a Manila
newspaper containing the story of the
surrender of General Malvar.
In these days when there is SO much
tiles of the American soldiers in the
warfare in the Philippines, it is we'll
to learn something of how the Fill
pinos especially the better educated
ones regard the war in that country
and their idea of the Americans hui
manity. General Miguel Malvar, one
of the leading insurgent officers whose
surrender was received during last
April has expressed some views that
may serve to enlighten many people of
the United States with regard to the
alleged cruelties of the Americans
warfare. General Malvar was one of
the leading men throughout the
months OF the insurrection and was
among the most bitter of the insur-
gents. He admits that the treatment
that is being accorded to Filipino peo-
pie is surprise to him and so greatly
different than he had heard reported.
Malvar's surrender.
The story of Malvar's surrender is
told in brief, together with some of
his ideas with regard to the Ameri-
cans, as follows:
On April ~, after being driven from
pillar to post by the troops in General
Bells brigade, and being in hourly
danger of capture, Miguel Malvar, the
self-styled president of the Filipino
republic, who assumed that title when
Aguinaldo was safely stored in Manila,
sent letter to Luna, his former adj
! iutant. who surrendered to General
Bell at San Juan de Boo Boo in Janu-
airy, in which he said that he had
about made up his mind to surrender,
4 and asked for conference with the
Americans. He sent this letter to
Lipa by native soldier. The soldier
! was cautious and had probably been
told by his chief to be very careful and
see that the message found it's way in
/ to Luna's hands, so when he arrived
4 in Lipa he did not see Luna for the
reason that that individual was out in
the field trying to bring in some guns
4 for General Bell. The messenger was
strange face in the town, or in the
! language of the minstrel song tThere
was new coon in town." and the pres
idente was not long in spotting him.
i He discovered that the man was from
| Malvar, and had letter to Luna. The
matter was reported to the command
ing officer at Lipa, and the messenger
was sent to where Luna was working
Luna telegra phed to General Bell at
Batangas, and the message was re-
peated to Lucena, where he then was,
and was received by him on Monday,
April IA. General Bell replied, stat
ing that he would see Malvar at Lipa
4 where he expected to arrive during
the evening of April 49,. At about noon
on this same day, Luna, accompanied
by Francisco Onate, a former staff of
ficer of Malvar's, succeeding in find
ing him, and he Immediately went to
the camp of Lieutenant A. l. Harrison,
ITwenty-first infantry. to wait until
transportation could be obtained from
Lipa to take him and family and ser.
wants there. Word was sent into Lipa
and the presidente of the town sent
to bring them to town, where they ar
rived after 10 p. m.
The truth of the matter was Gen
eral Bell had a strong Gordon drawn
!. around Malyar, knew exactly where
he was, and likewise knew that he
could not possibly escape his troops
and consequently did not care much
whether Malvar came in or not.
On the morning of April 16, Genera
Bell arrived. He was accompanied by
his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant DAME
Van Voorhis, Third Cavalry.
After the salutations had been ex
changed, General Bell, addressing
Malvar, said that he thought it best tt
be frank, and at once informed hin
that he had no authority to dispose
of general officers That when h,
took command Of the brigade his or
ders required him to accept nothin,
but unconditional surrender.
Inasmuch, however as he had enter
ed Lipa under safe conduct to hav,
the interview, General Bell informed
J him that if he did not intend to maxi
an unconditional surrender, he was a
! liberty to return to the field, and b.
restored to exactly the same statu
as he occupied prior to his request TO
i a suspension of operations.
i After few parliamentary ques
lions Malvar asked General Bell if h
could give him any idea of what diSpC
, sition would be made of him. Genera
Bell told him that he could give hir
t no information on the subject; tina
Aguinaldo and Lullban were still hel
as prisoners of war, and he Ger
!, BelD did not know what disposition
, the government intended to make q
{ Malvar. Malvar then asked wher
{ Lukban was, and disappointment wa
e plainly apparent on his face when h
: was informed that Lukban was a
| Malagui prison. He asked where No
i Iiel was, and received another disaI
, pointment when informed that Norie
was in the carcel publica in Batar
, gas. General Bell also informed Ma
j var that he had room for him i
Batangas, and that the family coul
visit him whenever they desired to d
lso. Malvar then stated that he woul
surrender himself without conditions
! and that he would write letters to a
t the leaders still out advising them
! come in and surrender. General Be
replied that he did not object to Ma
I var writing the letters, but at that h