Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1899 — FILIPINOS TO VISIT OTIS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FILIPINOS TO VISIT OTIS.

AaßMcawAald by the Native* May Be Given I heir Liberty. Agninaldi » made overtures of peace Tuesday by* sending two insurgent majors through the American lines under a flag

of truce. They were taken to Gen. MacArthur, ostensibly to arrange for the release of sixteen American prisoners of war, among them Lieut. Gilmore and his men sfrom the gunboat Yorktown. Army officers are confident, however, that ,

this was merely a pretext for reopening negotiations sor 5 surrender. They made no request for an exchange of prisoners, and left Gen. MacArthur after a brief conference, promising to return with the released prisoners in a few days. They asked, however, in return for the release of the prisoners that envoys be permitted to accompany them through the lines to confer with Gen. Otis. In asking permission to send American prisoners into our lines, a correspondent says, Aguinaldo shows that he no longer has the idea of holding these men as hostages to protect himself. He is probably beginning to understand that his threats against the American prisoners are useless, and if carried into execution would close the door even to the general amnesty whieh had been promised by Gen. Otis. He is, therefore, taking a very proper step to enable his representative to ask for a conference with the American general in command. The Secretary of War, however, does not hope for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Philippines, and will

give no orders which will ehange the general plan of campaign. Secretary Root presented this proposition to I the cabinet, and it! was discussed very briefly. The general opinion was that the commanders in the Philippines could handle

the situation, and that there was no occasion for any action by the authorities in Washington. The conditions have not changed. The Government cannot recognize any so-call-ed rebel government. Gen. Otis is the representative of the United States in the Philippines, and he has an army there to put down the rebellion. His orders are to suppress this rebellion, and his terms to the rebels are unconditional surrender. The President and Secretary of War have approved Gen. Otis’ action. They will not modify any demand he has made. There will be no conditions. The rebels must surrender and accept the authority of this Government. They can secure recognition for no alleged government of their own. Admiral Watson reports the rout of a fore? of rebels intrenched on Lingayen gulf, island of Luzon, by the gunboat Paragua, commanded by Ensign Davidson. The Paragua is one of the small gunboats purchased from Spain by Gen. Otis and turned over to the navy. The scene of the battle was on the north coast of Luzon, off the port which forms the northern terminus of the railroad.

LIEUT. GILMORE.

GEN. MACARTHUR.