The Loss of Lieut. Gilmore's Party 593

There is sad news from the Philippines. On April 15 an American officer, Lieutenant J. C. Gilmore, and fourteen men from the U. S. cruiser

The Loss of Lieu- Yorktown were either killed or captenant Gilmore's tured while on an expedition to rescue Party. some Spanish soldiers and priests who were being besieged in a little town called Baler. The Spaniards at that place had refused to lay down their arms when ordered to do so by General Rios, as they did not credit his story that the war with Spain was over. The Filipinos took the opportunity of besieging the little garrison, and things were in a bad way for the Spaniards when the Yorktown was sent to their rescue.

The town of Baler is situated about a mile from the coast on a bend of a river. The cruiser entered the bay, and steamed as far as she could up the river. The lieutenant was dispatched with fourteen men to reconnoiter. What happened is still a mystery. Shots and cheering were heard around the bend, but whether the men were captured by the Filipinos, or rescued by the Spaniards, it is impossible to tell. All that is known is that the boat and its crew never returned, and the Filipinos refuse to give any information concerning them.

General MacArthur reported that he had sent officers to General Antonio Luna, the Filipino commander, under a flag of truce, with money and provisions. The officers asked the names, and for an exchange of the prisoners. The insurgents claim to hold 2 American officers and 16 men. It is thought that among these are Lieut. Gilmore and his party.

The reports from the rest of the islands are more encouraging.

The Volunteers in
Manila.

A good deal of surprise and anger was felt last week in Washington over a dispatch from General Elwell S. Otis, in which he informed the government that the dissatisfaction among the volunteers at Manila was caused by a number of seditious messages which had been sent from this country for distribution among the troops.

The fact that many of the volunteers wanted to return to the United States as soon as peace was declared with Spain caused the Administration at Washington considerable surprise, for it had been supposed that our men at Manila were loyal and faithful to the cause, and would serve with willingness until the Filipinos had been brought to order.

It is now asserted that people in America who are opposed to territorial expansion, and the including of the Philippines in our scheme of government, have sent letters to the soldiers in the Philippines with the intention of making them rebellious and unwilling to serve the flag any longer, and with the ultimate idea in view of forcing the government to give up possession of the Philippines.

One of the members of the society opposed to expansion, when questioned about the matter, stated he could see nothing wrong in it. When told that this might be held to be treason and cause the people concerned in the plot serious trouble, he calmly replied that the person to be accused of treason should

More Fighting in the Philippines 595

be the President, because he was using the army and navy to prosecute a war which was not approved by Congress, which body alone under our Constitution had the right to declare war.

The Secretary of War announced that the matter has been exaggerated a great deal, and that there is little more in the affair than the fact that several cablegrams were sent to the volunteers in the Philippines urging them not to re-enlist. In spite of this denial it is asserted that the government is much distressed over the discovery, and is determined to find out the names of the persons who have been engaged in this unpatriotic affair and bring them to justice.

Our troops are steadily pressing forward beyond Malolos, which was, as you remember, the headquarters of the Filipino government until captured by our troops.

More Fighting in the Philippines.

General Lawton, with a force of fifteen hundred men, has done some brilliant work in hurrying troops from point to point across the country, taking towns and villages, and giving the natives some idea of American power and forces. He also took the opportunity in the course of his march of spreading abroad the recent proclamation to the Filipinos, and in this way did good work for the

cause.

An engagement was reported on April 23, in which our men encountered a large body of Filipinos, who considerably outnumbered them, but who were eventually compelled to retire.

A body of Filipinos has been delegated to confer

with the Peace Commissioners, and good results are hoped from the attempt. A friend of Aguinaldo declares the dictator is disposed to submit to us, and will accept any reasonable terms. General Otis reports that many of Aguinaldo's men are deserting him.

There is considerable distress in Porto Rico, and a famine is feared. The conditions there are somewhat the same as those in Jamaica, Famine Dreaded with the exception that it is coffee

in Porto Rico.

which is at the bottom of the trouble in Porto Rico, while sugar troubles cause the distress in Jamaica.

Owing to the competition of Brazil, coffee can no longer be grown at a profit in Porto Rico, and while many other things could be grown there, the island is so undeveloped that there are no means of bringing the produce of the interior to the seacoasts. According to the reports, the climate of this island is particularly suitable to the growth of oranges, but the means of transportation are so poor that the people cannot sell all they grow, and the oranges are rotting and going to waste. A whole barrel full is sold for fifty

cents.

Colonel Henry is doing all in his power to relieve the distress, but at the same time reports are coming in from various districts that people are dying of

starvation.

There is some uneasiness felt on the part of the Porto Ricans as to the intentions of the Americans. They do not like the fact that a tax has been imposed

South Pole Discoveries

597

on all imports, and, in their impoverished condition, feel it as a heavy weight upon them. have been loyal and friendly to us.

Thus far they

They are, however, anxious to have a civil government established and be rid of military rule.

A delegation of Porto Ricans waited on President McKinley on April 19 and begged him to make various changes and to allow free trade to exist between the island and the United States. The President informed the delegates that while the matter must be settled by the will of Congress, he was personally in favor of granting their request, as from his own observation he felt convinced that the arrangement which they proposed would be the best for the development of the island.

Other members of the Belgica Expedition to the South Pole (mentioned in No. 127) have confirmed the statements made by Dr. Fred. A. Cook. The steamer reached as far south as seventy-one degrees and thirty minutes, and then became frozen in the packice, which held it firmly in its grasp during the winter.

South Pole
Discoveries.

The explorers discovered that Palmer Land, which has hitherto been supposed to be a great continent, is after all but one of a very numerous group of islands.

In the endeavor to steam north the expedition encountered an iceberg so mighty in size that it was impossible to pass it or steam around it, and the course of the vessel had consequently to be changed. This iceberg may be a part of the great ice-wall which other travelers in these seas have mentioned.