AMERICA'S NEW POSSESSIONS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10268, 10 February 1899, Page 5

AMERICA'S NEW POSSESSIONS.

THE WAR IX THE PHILIPPINES. THE AMERICAN NAVY. United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. ' MANlLA.'February 8. General Otis intends to strike vigorously to prevent the Filipinos from rallying. It is stated that armed women with hair short cropped were found amongst the slain. The humanity of the Americans in treating the wounded Filipinos in the hospital surpru-d the natives. February 9. Aquinaldo has applied for an armistice. He wishes to hold a conference with General Otis. So far no answer has been sent to his request. WASHINGTON. February 9. The Naval Committee of the House of Representatives recommends the construction of three battleships, three armoured cruisers, and six ordinary cruisers, at a cost of thirty million dollars (£6,000,000). Telegrams in the English papers for the week ending December 30th from Manila reported that the Filipinos has entrusted Mabini, a bitter opponent of Aguinaldo, Avitb the- task of forming a Cabinet; and that Aguinaldo, fearing assassination, had fled. An American expedition under General Miller had left for Iloilo, where the rebels were endeavouring to capture the Spanish refugees, to whom shelter had been given by an American doctor. The battleships Oregon and lowa, en route for Manila, had reached Callao. According to the latest information, a message had been sent from Washington to General Otis to establish, at all hazards, ihe authority of the United States throughout the Philippines. Eoilo was, on December 24th, evacuated by the Spaniards, and on the 26th occupied by the insurgents. The latter will be promptly called upon to transfer it to the United States. If the order is refused, then Aguinaldo, or whoever the leader of the Filipinos may be, will have to reckon with the American commander and his forces. A Reuters telegram in the "Daily News,' dated at Washington December 29th, statas: —Major-General Lawton has received orders to proceed to the Philippines as second in command to General Otis. The appointment is considered of exceptional importance. Tho selection of General Lawton is due largely to the character of his services in the Santiago campaign, and later at Havana. No further orders have been dispatched to General Otis, the State Department holding that he must be allowed full discretion in dealing with the situation, and feeling confident that he has enough troops to carry out any project, even if it should involve the subjugation of the insurgents. He has at his disposal 20,000 soldiers, besides the fleet. It is to be regretted that the American movement .on Iloilo was delayed until the 24th, as the officers in charge had ample authority to move before. •Senor Mabini, the. new President of the Filipino Congress and Minister for Foreign Affairs, is a notary living in Manila. Up to the prepent crisis he has been the adviser of General Aguinaldo. He is an old man, of Indian descent, with no Spanish blood in his veins. He is partially paralysed. Senor A~ntonio Luna, the New War Minister, was employed in the War Department in the last Cabinet. He was educated in Europe, and only lately returned to the Philippines from Paris. He is editor of the insurgent journa 1 "Independeiicia," pubjished in Manila. Senor Araneta, Minister of the Interior, took a lending part in tbe rebellion, and has always been a strong adherent of General Aguinaldo. Senor Felipe Buencamino, who holds the portfolio of. Agri- '_'_ culture and. Commerce, was Minister of Public; Works in the last Cabinet. He is a j prominent Filipino barrister. The new I Cabinet is described as being stronger than the last, being much more united. All the members are pledged to the independence of i the Philippines, and to refusal to hand over the Spanish prisoners.