Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1899 — NOW A WAR TO DEATH [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

NOW A WAR TO DEATH

FAILURE OF ALL NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE, The Filipino Proposition for * Three Months’ Armistice Abruptly Rejected by Otis—Rebels Were Workin* for Time—Fighting Renewed witbVigor. The negotiations for peace in the Philippines failed. The Filipino envoys in conference with Gen. Otis made practically

the same old proposition. They also asked for a three months’ armistice, , covering the entire I archipelago. Gen. I Otis abruptly refused ' the request and the conference terminated. The feeling in Manila that peace would come as a result of

gen. Lawton.

the Filipino overtures was rapidly dispelled. The Filipinos are strengthening their lines wherever possible. This and the persistency with which Aguinaldo and Luna have sent in the same proposition for an armistice leads to the belief that the Filipino leaders have been simply working for time in which to collect their forces and to permit their soldiers to recover from the state of demoralization in which the repeated victories of the Americans had thrown them. The offensive operations begun by Gens. and Hale shows that Gen. Otis shares this belief. The news from Manila regarding the failure of peace negotiations came as a surprise to the War Department. The campaign will be pursued with the utmost vigor, and it is not likely that the rainy season will offer any perceptible check to the aggressive movements of the Americans, if aggressive action shall again become necessary. Although the„ Secretary of War and Adjutant General had hoped for a speedy, peaceable solution their eyes have from the beginning of the negotiations been on the other prospect as well, as evidenced by the disposition to hurry more troops to the Philippines as re-enforcements for

Otis. The tatter, it was firmly believed, would not allow himself to be led into any trap, and the n»e to gain time, if such was the case, seems to have failed. _ Rout the Rebels. Advices have been received from Manila that Gen. Wheaton captured Santo Tomas after a severe fight with the insurgents. The insurgents were routed. The town was nearly destroyed by fire. Lawton’s brigade has advanced toward Maasand, crossed the river and charged the enemy in strong intrenchments, driving him northward and inflicting considerable loss. Both Wheaton and Hale of MacArthur's division found the enemy in force, strongly intrenched and commanded by Commander-in-Chief Luna, about four miles south of San Fernando. Hale on the right, dislodged the enemy; and W’heaton. on the left, leading in person, made a brilliant charge, scattering Luna’a forces and inflicting great punishment. Several officers and enlisted men were seriously wounded.

M' ARTHUR’S HEADQUARTERS, CALOOCAN