Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1899 — OFFERS TO TURN TRAITOR. [ARTICLE]

OFFERS TO TURN TRAITOR.

A Filipino General la Willing to Betray Hie Country. Messages purporting to come from Gen. Pilar offering to surrender his army and to deliver Aguinaldo into the hands of the Americans have been received by Gen. Otis. For $250,000 he offers to surrender his men after a sham battle; demands $50,000 to refrain from attacking Manila, and offers to procure the overthrow of the insurrection and the capture of Aguinaldo and other leaders for $500,000. Pilar is believed to be in the vicinity of San Mateo valley with about 2,000 men. Reports from the enemy’s lines are to the effect that Pilar contemplates a dash through the American lines intq Manila for the purpose of kidnaping Gen. Otis. The pursuit of Aguinaldo is on in earnest. Gen. Lawton began his northern movement from Arayat Tuesday night at midnight, when a battalion of toe Twen-ty-second infantry under Maj. Ballance, assisted by Maccabebe scouts, advanced and crossed toe Pampanga river, marching in toe direction of San Isidro. Aguinaldo is reported to be at Tariac with a strong force, of which he is said to be in personal command. The Americans are handicapped by inadequate transportation facilities. Supplies were to have been brought up the’ Rio Grande to San Isiflro as a base, but the river is fast dwindling to a shallow stream. Horses and mules will have to be employed, and these are scarce. Lawton commands an effective force of 2,000 men, consisting of the Twenty-fourth infantry, two battalions of the Twenty-sec-ond, 600 of the Fourth cavalry, mounted and dismounted, one company of the Thirty-seventh infantry, and 200 Maccabebe scouts.