Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1899 — REBELS WANT PEACE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

REBELS WANT PEACE.

f. • —, ■ ASK TERMS. —*——' — s ' i..-. ? ■ , r ;v--’ American Commander Tells Them that Only Complete Surrender Will Be Considered Steady Advance of Troops Discourages Agninaldo. The first overture for peace in the Philippines was made Friday by representatives of Agninaldo. Col. Manuel Aguelles and Lieut Bernal, in behalf of Agofaiaido, proposed a cessation of hostilities until the Filipino congress could be assembled to decide whether the people wanted peace. Gen. Otis, in reply, declared he had no authority to recognise the existence of the so-called Filipino congress. The Filipino officers said it was impossible for Agninaldo to negotiate for peaee without the sanction of his congress. To this Gen. Otis replied if Agninaldo coiHd make war without his congress he could stop it without reference to that body. The Filipino officers then withdrew pending another conference. Instructions were cabled to Otis approving his refusal to recognize the Filipino government as such. The news caused rejoicings in every quarter, and particularly at the War Department, where there has been much real uneasiness over the desperate resistance exhibited by Agninaldo, and the evident

facility with which he had fortified him* keif in every new position. As soon as the dispatch from Otis was translated it was forwarded to 1 the President at Philadelphia and he immediately sent a congratulatory message by cable to Manila. The action of Gen. Otis in refusing to recognize the so-called Filipino congress is approved by the officials, who say his instructions specifically cover this point, aB a recognition of the insurgent government would be a confession of belligerency, which would be taken advantage of at once by other nations, who would then give their official recognition. The action of Gen. Otis, however, .does not at all mean that the insurgents are to be treated harshly. On the contrary, advices were received from the Philippine commission which show a desire to exhibit the greatest leniency. Gen. Otis will treat as a military commander with the chief of an armed insurrection. The Filipinos have already been told that a military form of government is the only one possible under the constitution of the United States until Congress acts, but assurances will be given that coupled with this military regime will,, be established local governments in every town and province, as is now the case in Cuba and Porto Rico. Btory of the Revolt. The revolt against the Americans began on Saturday night, Feb. 4. For several months the Filipinos, through the efforts of ambitions leaders, had been at daggers’ points with the Americans and Gen. Otis had posted his forces in such poSitions as would best keep the Filipinos in check. Open hostilities broke out at 8:30 o’clock that Saturday night. The fighting was precipitated by the Filipinos, a number of whom tried to force their way through the lines of the Nebraska volunteers. Several of them were shot and killed, and when those who escaped returned to their lines the Filipinos began firing upon the outposts all around the city. The Americans successfully repelled the attack, and in the next few days drove the insurgents from five' to fifteen miles from the city. Enormous losses were inflicted upon the insurgents. For nearly a month the opposing armies had a number of skirmishes, the- Americans contenting themselves with holding their positions while awaiting re-enforcements. On the arrival of fresh troops Gen. Otis began an aggressive campaign. His first move was to send Gen, Wheaton with a flying column whose object was to cut the Filipino army in two. This was successfully Accomplished, Wheaton and his men gallantly fighting their way across the island to the shores of Laguna de Bay. The next move was to send a division under command of Gen. MacArthur against the main rebel force at Polo. After several days' hard fighting with severe losses on both sides, the rebels were routed, but a maneuver to catch them in reverse failed because of exceedingly bad roads. Gen. MacArthur then pufsued the rebels to the northward, driving them from town to town until Malolos, the Filipino capital, was reached. Here the Americans expected the insurgents would fight the decisive battle of the war. When preparations were complete for the attack, the Americans advanced on the city, but the enemy evacuated the place after a brief resistknee and retired to Calompit. After a rest of over a week, during which time Gen. Lawton started out from Manila with a flying column through the interior to join forces with Gen. MacArthnr, the Americans advanced on Calumpit, where the Filipinos had strongly in-, trenched themselves in natural strategic positions. It took three days* fighting for the Americans to dislodge them. This last defeat evidently took the heart out of the Filipinos, and the negotiations for peace resulted. Lieut. Stokely Morgan of Admiral pia, one of the ■rnila bay, has tiful sword by

GENERAL. OTIS.