THE PHILIPPINES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8418, 18 January 1899, Page 3

THE PHILIPPINES.

(Electric Telegraph— Copyright-United Press Association.) (Received Jan, 18, 9.15 a.m.) WASHISOTON,'Jan. 17. A Commission appointed by President McKinley will act as advisory board regarding the resources and commercial possibilities of the Philippines. NEWS BY THE "FRISCO MAIL. Auckland, to-day. News by the San Francisco mail states that the attitude of the natives in the Philippines is such as to keep the Americans on the alert. The insurgents now control lla 110. A despatch from General Otis, dated t)ecember 27th, says that he sent Colonel Potter on a fast vessel to 110 110 to communicate with the Spanish General, Rios, The latter evacuated on December 24th. Potter was 39 hours late. Potter found Aquinaldo's flag flying. The Spanish forces have evacuated all stations in the southern islands except Zamboaztt and Mindinao, by ordars, they gay. from Madrid. The evacuation by Spaniards has complicated the problem of the United States as to the Philippines. It is likely there may be important happenings there in the the near future.

The Spaniards have chosen a strong place for the concentration of their own troops, as Zamboaoza, which is strongly fortified, has considerable natural strength from a defensive standpoint It is not doubted they will be able to defend themselves for an indefinite period against the insurgents if not cut off from obtaining supplies by sea. The town itself has a population of twenty-one thousand. At Havana, by order of the Spanish Governor, the American and Cuban flags were, allowed to be run up on the morning of December 27th. Immediately the city was bright with bunting, which the inhabitants had hidden away for the occasion. There were some disturbances, as the American, Cuban, and Spanish soldiers were not able to affiliate and celebrate tho occasion together. General Lee has returned to Cuban soil, and the event aroused much enthusiasm.

There is no prospect of a serious difficulty in the management of affairs in Cuba or Puerto Rico, but the Philippine complication is alarming, and even the Americans themselves are not as yet of one mind. Aquinaldo has considerable strength and determination, and according to the military authorities in the position to know, he has right aud reason on his side.

The arrangement to pay Spain twenty million dollars for relinquishing her claims in the islands has fingered the natives, and is the secret of their dissatisfaction -with the Americau position in regard to themselves.