CHAPTER XXIX

The Aguinaldo War of Skirmishes.

The Filipino Swarms, After Being Repulsed with Slaughter, Continue Their Scattering Efforts to Be Assassins—­They Plan a General Massacre and the Burning of Manila—­Defeated in Barbarous Schemes, They Tell False Tales and Have Two Objects, One to Deceive the People of the Philippines, the Other to Influence Intervention—­The Peril of Fire—­Six Thousand Regulars Sent to General Otis—­Americans Capture Iloilo and Many Natives Want Peace—­The People of the Isla of Negros Ask That They May Go with Us—­Dewey Wants Battleships and Gunboats, Gets Them, and Is Made an Admiral—­Arrival of Peace Commissioners, with Their School Books, Just Ahead of the Regulars with Magazine Rifles—­The Germans at Manila Salute Admiral Dewey at Last.

The activity of the Aguinaldo insurgents was persisted in, while their commissioners were on the way to us, and ours to them.  While Congress was in a reactionary state owing to political games, and many members tearful on the side of the barbarians, there was a desperate conspiracy to massacre the white people of Manila and destroy the city by fire; and fighting was going on along our extended lines, the Filipinos shooting at Americans from the jungles.  On February 15th the California Volunteers abandoned Guadalupe church and retired to San Pedro Macati, and the Filipinos held ambuscades near the Pasig River.  It was reported that on the night of the 14th the retirement of General King’s advance posts upon San Pedro Macati had evidently been construed by the rebels as a sign of weakness, as they pressed forward along both sides of the river, persistently harassing the occupants of the town.

The rebels poured volley after volley into San Pedro Macati from the brush on the adjacent ridge, but without effect.  General King’s headquarters, in the center of the town, was the target for scores of bullets.  The rebels were using smokeless powder and it was extremely difficult to locate individual marksmen.

The heat was intense and increasing perceptibly.  It was impossible to provide shade for the troops in parts of the line.

On the 21st the following remarkable dispatch was received from General Otis: 

“Manila, Feb. 21.—­Adjutant-General, Washington:  Following issued by an important officer of insurgent government at Malolos February 15, 1899, for execution during that evening and night in this city: 

“’You will so dispose that at 8 o’clock at night the individuals of the territorial militia at your order will be found united in all of the streets of San Pedro, armed with their bolos and revolvers or guns and ammunition, if convenient.

“’Philippine families only will be respected.  They should not be molested, but all other individuals, of whatever race they may be, will be exterminated without any compassion after the extermination of the army of occupation.