| 1521. | Magellan and several of his followers killed in action by the
natives of Mactan, near Cebú; Juan Serrano and many other
Spaniards treacherously killed by Hamabar, King of Cebú. |
| 1525. | Salazar fights the Portuguese off Mindanao, and suffers great
losses in ships and men. |
| 1568. | Legaspi’s expedition attacked in Cebú by a Portuguese
fleet, which was repulsed. |
| 1570. | Legaspi founds the city of Cebú, with the assistance of the
Augustinians. |
| 1571. | Legaspi founds the city of Manila, with the assistance of the
Augustinians. |
| 1572. | Juan Salcedo fights the Datto of Zambales, and delivers his
subjects from oppression. |
| 1574. | Siege of Manila by the Chinese pirate Li-ma-hon with 95 small
vessels and 2000 men. The Spaniards and natives repulse the attack. The
pirates retire to Pangasinan, and are attacked and destroyed by Juan
Salcedo. |
| 1577. | War against Mindanao and Joló, parts of which are occupied.
Disputes between the missionaries and the military officers who desire
to enrich themselves by enslaving the natives, which the former stoutly
oppose, desiring to convert them, and grant them exemption from taxes
according to the “Leyes de Indias.” They considered the
cupidity of the soldiers as the chief obstacle to the conversion of the
heathen. The Crown decided in favour of the natives, but they did not
derive all the benefits they were entitled to, as the humane laws were
not respected by the governors. |
| The Franciscans arrived in Manila. |
| 1580. | Expedition sent by Gonzalo Ronquillo to Borneo to assist King
Sirela. |
| 1581. | Expedition sent by the same to Cagayan to expel a Japanese corsair
who had established himself there. The expedition succeeded, but with
heavy loss. |
| Expedition against the Igorrotes to get possession of the
gold-mines, but without success. |
| The Jesuits arrive in Manila. |
| 1582. | Expedition against the Molucas, under Sebastian Ronquillo.
An epidemic destroyed two-thirds of the
expedition, which returned without accomplishing anything. |
| Great disputes between the encomenderos and the friars in
consequence of the ill-treatment of the natives by the former.
Dissensions between the Bishop of Manila and the friars who refused to
submit to his diocesan visit. |
| Manila burnt down. |
| 1584. | Second expedition against the Molucas, with no better luck than the
first. |
| Rebellion of the Pampangos and Manila men, assisted by some
Mahometans from Borneo. Combat between the English pirate, Thomas
Schadesh, and Spanish vessels. |
| Combat between the English adventurer Thomas Cavendish (afterwards
Sir Thomas), and Spanish vessels. |
| 1587. | The Dominicans arrive in Manila. |
| 1589. | Rebellion in Cagayan and other provinces. |
| 1593. | Third expedition against the Molucas under Gomez Perez
Dasmariñias. He had with him in his galley 80 Spaniards and 250
Chinese galley-slaves. In consequence of contrary winds, his vessel put
into a port near Batangas for shelter. In the silence of the night,
when the Spaniards were asleep, the galley-slaves arose and killed them
all except a Franciscan friar and a secretary. Dasmariñias built
the castle of Santiago, and fortified Manila with stone walls, cast a
large number of guns, and established the college of Sta.
Potenciana. |
| 1596. | The galleon which left Manila for Acapulco with rich merchandise,
was obliged to enter a Japanese port by stress of weather, and was
seized by the Japanese authorities. The crew were barbarously put to
death. |
| 1597. | Expedition of Luis Perez Dasmariñias against Cambodia, which
gained no advantage. |
| 1598. | The Audiencia re-established in Manila, and the bishopric raised to
an archbishopric. |
| Expedition against Mindanao and Joló, the people from which
were committing great devastations in Visayas, taking hundreds of
captives. |
| Much fighting, and many killed on both sides, without any definite
result. |
| 1599. | Destructive earthquake in Manila and neighbourhood. |
| 1600. | Great sea combat between four Spanish ships, commanded by Judge
Morga, and two Dutch pirates. One of the Dutchmen was taken, but the
other escaped. |
| Another destructive earthquake on January 7th, and one less
violent, but long, in November. |
| 1603. | Conspiracy of Eng-Cang and the Chinese against the Spaniards. The
Chinese entrench themselves near Manila; Luis Perez Dasmariñias
marches against them with 130 Spaniards. They were all killed and
decapitated by the Chinese, who then besieged Manila, and attempted to
take it by assault. Being repulsed by the Spaniards, all of whom,
including the friars, took up arms, they retired to their
entrenchments. They were ultimately defeated, and 23,000 of them were
massacred. Only 100 were left alive, and these were sent to the galleys
as slaves. |
| 1606. | The Recollets arrive in Manila. |
| Fourth expedition against the Molucas. Pedro de Acuña,
having received a reinforcement of 800 men—Mexicans and
Peruvians—attacked and took Ternate, Tidore, Marotoy and Herrao,
with all their artillery and provisions. He left 700 men in garrison
there, and returned to Manila, dying a few days after his arrival. The
Augustinians furnished a galleon for this expedition. It was commanded
by the Rev. Father Antonio Flores. |
| 1607. | Revolt of the Japanese living in and near Manila, and heavy losses
on both sides. |
| 1609. | Arrival of Juan de Silva with five companies of Mexican and
Peruvian infantry. Attack on Manila by a Dutch squadron of five
vessels. They were beaten off with the loss of three of their
ships. |
| 1610. | Unsuccessful expedition against Java. This was to have been a
combined attack on the Dutch by Portuguese and Spaniards, but the
Spanish squadron did not arrive in time to join their allies, who were
beaten by the Dutch fleet in the Straits of Malacca. |
| Terrific earthquake in Manila and the eastern provinces. |
| 1616. | Violent eruption of the Mayon volcano. |
| 1622. | Revolt of the natives in Bohol, Leyte and Cagayan, which were
easily suppressed. |
| 1624. | The Dutch landed on Corregidor Island, but were beaten off. |
| 1627. August. | Great earthquake. |
| 1628. | Destructive earthquake in Camarines. |
| 1638. | Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera makes an attack on the Moros of
Mindanao, and conquers the Sultanate of Buhayen and island of Basilan.
He also defeats the Joloans. |
| 1639. | Insurrection of Chinese in the province of Laguna and in Manila.
Out of 30,000, 7000 ultimately surrendered. All the rest were massacred
by the Tagals. |
| 1640. | The Dutch attacked the Spanish garrisons in Mindanao and
Joló. The governor-general, fearing they might attack Manila,
withdrew the garrisons from the above places to strengthen his own
defences, thus leaving the Moros masters of both islands. |
| 1641. | Eruption of the Taal volcano. Violent earthquake in Ilocos. |
| 1645. | The Dutch attacked Cavite and other ports, but were repulsed. |
| Rebellion of the Moros in Joló, and of the natives of
Cebú and other provinces, who were oppressed by forced labour in
building vessels, and other services. |
| In these years there were great disputes between the Spaniards of
the capital and the friars. |
| Great earthquake in Manila, 30th November, called St.
Andrew’s earthquake. |
| 1646. | Long series of strong earthquakes, which began in March with
violent shocks, and lasted for sixty days. |
| 1648. | Great earthquakes in Manila. |
| 1653. | Great devastations by the Moros of Mindanao, which were severely
punished. |
| Rebellion in Pampanga and Pangasinan against being forced to cut
timber gratuitously for the navy. Suppressed after a serious
resistance. |
| 1658. | Destructive earthquake in Manila and Cavite. |
| 1662. | The Chinese pirate, Cong-seng, demands tribute from the Governor of
the Philippines. A decree is issued ordering all Chinamen to leave the
Philippines. The Chinese entrench themselves in the Parian, and resist.
Thousands were killed, and 2000 who marched into Pampanga were all
massacred by the natives. |
| Great troubles occurred between the governor, Diego de Salcedo, and
the archbishop. |
| 1665. 19th June, | violent and destructive earthquake in Manila. |
| 1669. | During the government of Manuel de Leon, further troubles occurred
between the archbishop and the Audiencia. The archbishop was banished,
and sent by force to Pangasinan. But a new governor, Gabriel de
Cruzalegui, arrived, and restored the archbishop, who excommunicated
the dean and chapter. |
| 1675. | Destructive earthquake in South Luzon and Mindoro. |
| 1683. | Great earthquake in Manila. |
| 1689. | Archbishop Pardo having died, was succeeded by P. Camacho, and now
great disorders arose from his insisting on making the diocesan visit,
which the friars refused to receive, and would only be visited by their
own Provincial. Again Judge Sierra required the Augustinians and
Dominicans to present the titles of the estates they possessed in
virtue of a special commission he had brought from Madrid, which they
refused to obey, and the end of the dispute was that Sierra was sent
back to Mexico, and another commissioner, a friend of the friars, was
appointed, to whom they unofficially exhibited the titles. |
| 1716. | Destructive eruption of the Taal volcano, and violent earthquake in
Manila. |
| 1717. | Fernando Bustillo Bustamente became governor, and re-established
garrisons in Zamboanga and Paragua. He caused various persons who had
embezzled the funds of the colony to restore them, imprisoning a
corrupt judge. He was assassinated by the criminals he had punished,
and nothing came of the inquiry into his death. |
| 1735. | Earthquake in Baler, and tidal wave. |
| At this time, the audacity of the Moro pirates was incredible. They
ravaged the Visayas and southern Luzon, and carried away the
inhabitants by thousands for slaves. The natives began to desert the
coast, and take to the interior. Pedro Manuel de Arandia, obeying
repeated orders, decreed the expulsion of the Chinese. |
| 1744. | Another rising in Bohol, due to the tyranny of a Jesuit priest
named Morales. The chief of this rising was a native named Dagohoy, who
put the Jesuit to death, and maintained the independence of Bohol,
paying no tribute for thirty-five years. When the Jesuits were expelled
from the Philippines, Recollets were sent to Bohol, and the natives
submitted on receiving a free pardon. |
| 1749. | Eruption of the Taal volcano, and earthquake in Manila. The
eruption lasted for twenty days. |
| 1754. | Violent eruption of the Taal volcano, which began on 15th May,
and lasted till the end of November. This was
accompanied by earthquakes, an inundation, terrifying electrical
discharges, and destructive storms. The ashes darkened the country for
miles round, even as far as Manila. When the eruption ceased, the
stench was dreadful, and the sea and lake threw up quantities of dead
fish and alligators. A malignant fever burst out, which carried off
vast numbers of the population round about the volcano. |
| 1762. | A British squadron, with troops from India, arrived in the bay 22nd
September, and landed the forces near the powder-magazine of S. Antonio
Abad. On the 24th, the city was bombarded. The Spaniards sent out 2000
Pampangos to attack the British, but they were repulsed with great
slaughter, and ran away to their own country. |
| The civil population of Manila were decidedly in favour of
resisting to the last drop of the soldiers’ blood; but the
soldiers were not at all anxious for this. Confusion arose in the city,
and whilst recriminations were in progress, the British took the city
by assault, meeting only a half-hearted resistance. |
| The natives immediately began plundering, and were turned out of
the city by General Draper. The Chinese also joined in the robbery, and
a few were hanged in consequence. The city was pillaged. The British
regiments are said to have behaved well, but the sepoys ravished the
women, and killed many natives. |
| Cavite was about to be surrendered, but as soon as the native
troops there knew what was going on, they began at once to plunder the
town and arsenal. |
| 1763. | A British expedition sailing in small craft took possession of
Malolos on January 19th, 1763. The Augustin and Franciscan friars took
arms to defend Bulacan, where two of them were killed in action. |
| It was said that the Chinese were conspiring to exterminate the
Spaniards. Simon de Anda, the chief of the war-party amongst the
Spaniards, issued an order that all the Chinese in the Philippines
should be hanged, and this order was in a great measure carried out.
This was the fourth time the Spaniards and natives exterminated the
Chinese in the Philippines. |
| Peace having been made in Europe, the British evacuated Manila in
March, 1774. |
| In order to satisfy their vanity, and account for the easy victory
of the British, the Spaniards made various accusations of treachery
against a brave Frenchman named Falles, and a Mexican, Santiago de
Orendain. Both those men gallantly led columns of Pampangos against the
British lines in the sortie before mentioned. Although the Pampangos,
full of presumption, boldly advanced against the British and sepoys,
they were no match for disciplined troops led by British officers, and
were hurled back at the point of the bayonet. The inevitable defeat and
rout was made a pretext for the infamous charges against their leaders.
It may be asked, Was there no Spaniard brave enough to lead the
sorties, that a Frenchman and a Mexican were
obliged to take command? |
| The Spaniards in this campaign showed themselves more at home in
making proclamations, accusations, and intriguing against each other,
than in fighting. However, the friars are exempt from this reproach,
for Augustinians, Dominicans and Franciscans, fought and died, and
shamed the soldiers. |
| No less than ten Augustinians fell on the field of battle, nineteen
were made prisoners, and twelve were banished. The British are said by
the Augustinians to have sacked and destroyed fifteen of their conventos, or priests’ houses, six houses of their
haciendas, and to have sold everything belonging to them in Manila. The
Augustinians gave their church bells to be cast into cannon for the
defence of the islands. |
| Spaniards and natives, however, showed great unanimity and
enthusiasm in massacring or hanging the unwarlike Chinamen, and in
pillaging their goods. Nearly all the Chinese in the islands, except
those in the parts held by the British, were killed. |
| During the Anglo-Spanish war there were revolts of the natives in
Pangasinan and in Ilocos, then a very large province (it is now divided
into four), but both these risings were suppressed. The same happened
with a revolt in Cagayan. Disturbances also occurred in many other
provinces. |
| Simon de Anda became Governor-General, and carried out the
expulsion of the Jesuits from the Philippines. Great troubles again
occurred between the Archbishop and the friars over the diocesan
visit. |
| 1766. 20th July, | violent eruption of the Mayon volcano. |
| 23rd October, | terrible typhoon in Albay, causing enormous destruction of life and
property. |
| 1777. | José Basco y Vargas, a naval officer, came out as
Governor-General, and found the country overrun with banditti. He made
a war of extermination against them, and then initiated a vigorous
campaign against the Moros. He repaired the forts, built numbers of war
vessels, and cut up the pirates in many encounters. Basco governed for
nearly eleven years. |
| 1784. | During the government of Felix Marquina, a naval officer, the
Compañia de Filipinas was founded to commence a trade between
Spain and the Philippines. Marquina was succeeded by Rafael
Maria de Aguilar, an army officer, who
organized the land and naval forces, and made fierce war on the Moros.
He governed the islands for fourteen years. |
| 1787. | Violent and destructive earthquake in Panay. |
| 1796. | Disastrous earthquake in Manila. |
| 1800. | Destructive eruption of the Mayon volcano. |
| 1807. | Rebellion in Ilocos. |
| When the parish priest of Betal, an Augustinian, was preaching to
his flock, exhorting them to obedience to their sovereign, a woman
stood up in the church and spoke against him, saying that they should
not believe him, that his remarks were all humbug, that with
the pretence of God, the Gospel, and the King, the priest merely
deceived them, so that the Spaniards might skin them and suck their
blood, for the priests were Spaniards like the rest. However, the
townsmen declared for the King, and took the field under the leadership
of the priest. |
| 1809. | The first English commercial house established in Manila. |
| 1811. | Rebellion in Ilocos to change the religion, nominating a new god
called Lungao. The leaders of this rebellion entered into negotiations
with the Igorrotes and other wild tribes to exterminate the Spaniards,
but the conspiracy was discovered and frustrated. |
| 1814. | Rebellion in Ilocos and other provinces. |
| Prisoners released in some towns in Ilocos. This rebellion was in
consequence of General Gandarás proclaiming the equality of
races, which the Indians interpreted by refusing to pay taxes. |
| 1st February, | violent earthquake in south Luzon and destructive eruption of the
Mayon volcano. Astonishing electrical discharges. |
| A discharge of ashes caused five hours’ absolute darkness,
through which fell showers of red hot stones which completely burnt the
towns of Camalig, Cagsana, and Budiao with half of the towns of Albay
and Guinchatau, and part of Bulusan. |
| The darkness caused by the black ashes reached over the whole of
Luzon, and even to the coast of China. So loud was the thunder that it
was heard in distant parts of the Archipelago. |
| Great epidemic of cholera in Manila. |
| 1820. | Massacre of French, English, and Americans in Manila by the natives
who plundered their dwellings, after which they proceeded with the
fifth massacre of the Chinese. They asserted that the Europeans had
poisoned the wells and produced the cholera. The massacre was due to
the villainous behaviour of a Philippine Spaniard named Varela, who was
Alcalde of Tondo, equivalent to Governor of Manila, and to the criminal
weakness and cowardice of Folgueras the acting governor-general, who
abstained from interference until the foreigners had been killed, and
only sent out troops when forced by the remonstrances of the friars and
other Spaniards. |
| The archbishop and the friars behaved nobly, for they marched out
in procession to the streets of Binondo, and did their best to stop the
massacre, whilst Folgueras, only attentive to his own safety, remained
with the fortifications. |
| 1822. | Juan Antonio Martinez took over the government in October.
Folgueras having reported unfavourably of the officers of the
Philippine army, Martinez brought with him a number of officers of the
Peninsular army to replace those who were inefficient. |
| This caused a mutiny of the Spanish officers of the native army,
and they murdered Folgueras in his bed. He thus expiated his cowardice
in 1820. The mutiny was, however, suppressed, and Novales and
twenty sergeants were shot. Novales’ followers had proclaimed him
Emperor of the Philippines. The constitution was abolished by Martinez,
without causing any rising. |
| 1824. | Destructive earthquake in Manila. |
| Alonzo Morgado appointed by Martinez to be captain of the Marina
Sutil, commenced an unrelenting persecution of the piratical Moros,
causing them enormous losses. |
| 1828. | Another military insurrection, headed by two brothers, officers in
the Philippine army. |
| From this date Peninsular troops were permanently maintained in
Manila, which had never been done before. |
| 1829. | Father Bernardo Lago, an indefatigable missionary of the
Augustinian Order, with his assistants baptised in the provinces of
Abra and Benguet more than 5300 heathen Tinguianes and Igorrotes, and
settled them in towns. |
| 1834. | Foreign vessels allowed to enter Manila by paying double dues. |
| 1836–7. | Great disturbances amongst the natives in consequence of the
ex-claustration of the friars in Spain. The natives divided into two
parties. One wished to turn out the friars and all Spaniards, the
others to turn out all Spaniards except the friars, who were to remain
and take charge of the government. |
| The disturbances were ultimately smoothed over. |
| 1841. | Marcelino de Oráa being Governor-General, a sanguinary
insurrection burst out in Tayabas, under the leadership of a native,
Apolinario de la Cruz. He murdered the Alcalde of the province, and
persuaded his fanatical adherents that he would make the earth open and
swallow up the Spanish forces when they attacked. |
| His following was composed of 3000 men, women, and children. They
were attacked by four hundred soldiers and as many cuadrilleros and
coast-guards, and suffered a crushing defeat, and a third of them were
slain. |
| Apolinario de la Cruz was apprehended, and immediately put to
death. |
| Apolinario called himself the “King of the Tagals,” and
told his followers that a Tagal virgin would come down from Heaven to
wed him, that with a handful of rice he could maintain all who followed
him, and that the Spanish bullets could not hurt them, and many other
absurd things. His followers declared that he had signified his
intention, in case of being victorious, to tie all the friars and other
Spaniards to trees, and to have them shot by the women with
arrows. |
| There lay in garrison at Manila at this time a regiment composed of
Tagals of Tayabas, and they also mutinied, and were shot down by the
other troops. |
| 1844. | Royal order prohibiting the admission of foreigners to the interior
of the country. |
| Narciso de Claveria became Governor-General, and organised a police
force called the Public Safety for Manila, and similar corps for the
provinces. Up to this time the Alcaldes Mayores of provinces had been
allowed to trade, and, in fact, were almost the only traders in their
provinces, buying up the whole crop. This forced trade is
quite a Malay custom, and is practised in Borneo and the Malay States
under the name of Serra-dagang. |
| The Alcaldes Mayores used to pay the crown one third, or half, or
all their salary for this privilege, and took in return all they could
squeeze out of their provinces without causing an insurrection, or
without causing the friars to complain of them to the Government, for
the parish priests were ever the protectors of the natives against the
civil authority. This privilege of trading was now abolished as being
unworthy of the position of governor of a province. |
| 1851. | Expedition by the Governor-General Antonio de Urbiztondo against
Joló. The force consisted of four regiments, with artillery, and
a battalion of the inhabitants of Cebú, under the command of a
Recollet friar, Father Ibañez. These latter behaved in the
bravest manner, in fact they had to; for their wives, at the instance
of the priest, had sworn never to receive them again if they turned
their backs on the enemy. |
| The undaunted Father Ibañez led them to the assault, and
lost his life in the moment of victory. Eight cottas (forts), with
their artillery and ammunition, were captured by this expedition, and a
great number of Moros were killed. |
| After this the Joló pirates abated their insolent attacks.
Claveria made an expedition against the piratical Moros and seized
their island of Balanguingin, killing 400 Moros, and taking 300
prisoners, also rescuing 200 captives. He also captured 120 guns and
lantacas, and 150 piratical vessels. This exemplary chastisement
tranquillised the Moros for some time. |
| 1853. 13th June. | Loud subterranean noises in Albay and eruption of the Mayon
volcano. Fall of ashes and red-hot stones which rolled down the
mountain and killed thirty-three people. |
| 1854. | Insurrection in Nueva Ecija under Cuesta, a Spanish mestizo
educated in Spain, where Queen Isabela had taken notice of him. |
| He arrived in Manila with the appointment of Commandant of
Carabineros in Nueva Ecija, and immediately began to plot. The
Augustine friars harangued his followers and persuaded them to
disperse, and Cuesta was captured and executed, with several other
conspirators; others were banished to distant islands. |
| In this year Manuel Crespo became Governor-General, and a military
officer, named Zapatero, endeavoured to strangle him in his own
office. |
| 1855. | Strong shocks of earthquake in all Luzon. Eruption of the Mayon
volcano. |
| 1856. | In the latter part of this year a submarine volcanic explosion took
place at the Didica shoal, eight miles north-east of the island of
Camiguin in the Babuyanes, to the north of Luzon. It remains an active
volcano, and has raised a cone nearly to the height of the volcano of
Camiguin, which is 2414 feet high. |
| 1857. | The old decrees against foreigners renewed. |
| Fernando de Norzagaray became governor-general, and found the
country over-run by bandits, against whom he employed severe measures.
He greatly improved Manila. |
| The French in Cochin-China, finding more resistance than they
expected, appealed to Norzagaray for help. He lent them money, ships,
and about a thousand native troops, who behaved with great bravery
during the campaign. |
| 1860. | Ramon Maria Solano succeeded to the Government. |
| In this year two steam sloops and nine steam gunboats were added to
the naval forces, and now the Moros could only put to sea running great
risks of destruction. |
| These nine gunboats were the greatest blessings the Philippines had
received for many years. |
| 1861. | José de Lemery y Ibarrola, Governor-General.
Mendez-Nuñez, with the steam sloops and gunboats, inflicted
terrible chastisement on the piratical Moros. |
| 1862. | Rafael de Echague y Bermingham became Governor-General. |
| Second visitation of cholera in the islands, but not so severe as
in 1820. |
| 1863. | Terrible earthquake in Manila and the surrounding country, causing
thousands of victims, destroying the cathedral, the palace of the
governor-general, the custom houses, the principal churches (except St.
Augustine), the public and private buildings, in fact, reducing the
city to a ruin. |
| At this time the steam gunboats continually hostilised the Moros of
Joló, and caused them great losses. |
| 1865. | Juan de Lara y Irigoyen became Governor-General, and took measures
to subdue the bandits, who were committing great depredations and
murders. Hostilities continued in Joló, as the Moros had
recommenced their piratical cruises. |
| 1866. | Frequent earthquakes in Manila and Benguet. |
| At this time the Treasury was in the greatest difficulty, and could
not meet the current payments. A large quantity of tobacco was sold to
meet the difficulty. |
| 1867. | José de la Gandara y Navarro became Governor-General. To him
is due the credit of creating that excellent institution the Guardia
Civil, which has extirpated the banditti who infested the islands for
so many years. |
| An expedition was sent against the Igorrotes, but without effecting
anything of consequence. |
| 1868. June 4th. | Intense earthquake in the island of Leyte. |
| 1869. | Carlos Maria de la Torre became Governor-General, and was not
ashamed to publish a proclamation offering the bandits a free pardon if
they presented themselves within three months. Hundreds and thousands
of men now joined the bandits for three months murder and pillage, with
a free pardon at the end of it. This idiotic and cowardly proclamation
was most prejudicial to the interests of the country. Finally a special
corps, called La Torre’s Guides, was organised to pursue the
bandits. |
| 1871. | Rafael Izquierdo y Guttierez became Governor-General, and raised
the excellent corps called La Veterana to act as the police of the
capital. |
| December 8th, | eruption of the Mayon volcano, and discharge of ashes and lava. Two
persons smothered, and one burnt. |
| 16th February. | Commencement of the series of earthquakes which preceded the
frightful volcanic eruption in the island of Camiguin on 30th April.
Full details of this terrible event are preserved. A volcanic outburst
took place on the above date at 344 metres from the town of Cabarman,
and near the sea. Great volumes of inflammable gases were ejected from
deep cracks in the neighbouring hills, which presently took fire, and
soared in flames of incredible height, setting fire to the forests. The
wretched inhabitants who had remained in their houses found themselves
surrounded by smoke, steam, water, ashes, and red hot stones, whilst
their island seemed on fire, and they had sent away all their seaworthy
craft with the women and children. |
| At first the volcanic vent was only two metres high, but it
continually increased. |
| After the eruption, the earthquakes decreased, and on 7th May
entirely ceased. |
| The volcano gradually raised itself by the material thrown out to a
height of 418 metres. |
| 1872. | Military revolt in Cavite, in which the native clergy were mixed
up. A secret society had been working at this plot for several years,
and was very widely extended. It inundated the towns of the Archipelago
with calumnious and libellous leaflets in the native languages. The
conspiracy coincided with the return of the Jesuits in accordance with
a Royal Order, and their substitution for the Recollets missionaries in
many parishes in Mindanao. In turn, the Recollets, removed from
Mindanao, were given benefices in Luzon which, for one hundred years,
had been in the hands of the native clergy, who were, in consequence,
very dissatisfied, and great hatred was aroused against the Recollets.
The mutiny was suppressed by the Spaniards and the Visayas troops, who
bayoneted the Tagals without mercy, even when they had laid down their
arms. |
| Besides many who were shot for complicity in this revolt, three
native priests—D. Mariano Gomez, D. Jacinto Zamora, and D.
José Burgos—were garrotted in Bagumbayan on the 28th
February. Much discussion arose about the guilt or innocence of these
men, and it is a matter on which friars and native clergy are never
likely to agree. |
| Later on, a rising took place in Zamboanga penal establishment, but
this was put down by the warlike inhabitants of that town, who are
always ready to take up arms in their own defence, and are very loyal
to Spain. |
| Loud subterranean noises in Albay. Eruption of the Mayon volcano,
which lasted for four days. |
| 1873. | Juan de Alaminos y Vivar became governor-general. |
| The ports of Legaspi, Tacloban and Leyte, were opened to foreign
commerce. |
| November 14, 1873, | violent earthquake in Manila. Eruption of the Mayon volcano, from
15th June to 23rd July. |
| 1874. | Manuel Blanco Valderrama, being acting governor-general, fighting
took place in Balábac, where the Spanish garrison was surprised
by the Moros. José Malcampo y Monge, a rear-admiral, took over
the government of the islands, and, during his administration, the news
of the proclamation of Alfonso XII, as King of Spain was received, and
gave great satisfaction in Manila, which had never taken to the
Republican Government in Spain. |
| Malcampo led a strong expedition, consisting of 9000 men, against
the Moros, and took Joló by assault, after bombarding the Cottas
by the ships’ guns. At the end of his time, the regiment of
Peninsular Artillery had become demoralised, and its discipline very
lax. Finally, the soldiers refused to obey their officers, and broke
out of barracks. |
| Two of them were shot dead by the officer of the guard at the
barrack-gate, Captain Brull, but the affair was hushed up, and no one
was punished. Discipline was quite lost. |
| 1877. | Great devastation by locusts in province of Batangas. Domingo
Moriones y Murillo arrived, and took over the government on 28th
February. His first act was to shoot a number of the Spanish mutineers,
put others in prison, and send back fifty to Spain in the same vessel
with Malcampo. This incident is related in greater detail in Chapter
III. The Treasury was in the greatest poverty, and the poor natives of
Cagayan obliged to cultivate tobacco and deliver it to the government
officials, had not been paid for it for two or three years, and were
actually starving. Moriones did what he could for them, and strongly
insisted on the abolition of the “estanco.” |
| To this worthy governor, Manila and the Philippines owe much. He
insisted on the legacy of Carriedo being employed for the object it was
left for, instead of remaining in the hands of corrupt officials. |
| He also made good regulations against rogues and vagabonds. |
| 1879. Nov. 8th. | Violent typhoon passed over Manila, doing much damage. |
| July 1st. | Commencement of earthquakes in Surigao (Mindanao), which lasted
over two months. |
| 1880. | Fernando Primo de Rivera became Governor-General, 15th April. |
| On July 14th, | a violent earthquake took place, doing enormous damage in the city
of Manila and the central provinces of Luzon. The seismic disturbance
lasted till the 25th July. The inhabitants of Manila were
panic-stricken, and took refuge in the native nipa houses. |
| General Primo de Rivera made an expedition against the Igorrotes,
and the vile treatment the soldiers meted out to the Igorrote women has
delayed for years the conversion of those tribes. |
| 1881. | Eruption of the Mayon volcano, which began on July 6th, and lasted
till the middle of 1882. |
| At times there were loud subterranean noises, after which the flow
of lava usually increased. |
| 1882. | Dreadful epidemic of cholera which, in less than three months,
carried off 30,000 victims in the city and
province of Manila. In the height of the epidemic the deaths reached a
thousand a day. The victims were mostly natives, but many Spaniards
died of the disease. Only one Englishman died, and this was from his
own imprudence. A typhoon passed over Manila on October 20th, and
caused great damage on shore and afloat. Twelve large ships and a
steamer were driven on shore, or very seriously damaged. |
| On November 5th, | another typhoon, not quite so violent as the first, took place.
After this, the cholera almost entirely stopped. On December 31st,
another typhoon occurred. |
| 1883. | Joaquin Jovellar y Soler, captain-general in the army, and the
pacificator of Cuba, assumed the government 7th April, and was received
with great show of satisfaction by the Spaniards. |
| The old tribute of the natives was replaced by the tax on
the Cédulas-personales. |
| During his time there were threats of insurrection, and additional
Peninsular troops were sent out. He resigned from ill-health 1st April,
1885. |
| October 28th. | Typhoon passed over Manila. |
| 1885. | Emilio Terrero y Perinat assumed the government of the islands on
April 4th. |
| He conducted successful expeditions against the Moros of Mindanao
and Joló. |
| In the month of May, during the great heat, the River Pasig was
covered with green scum from the lake. The water was charged with gas,
the fish and cray-fish died, and the stench was overpowering, even at a
couple of miles distance from the river. |
| A huge waterspout was formed in the bay, and passed inland. |
| November. | Death of King Alfonso XII., and mourning ceremonies in all the
islands. |
| October 2nd. | Eruption of the Taal volcano. |
| 1886. 5th March. | Separation of the executive and judicial powers. Appointment of
eighteen civil governors instead of alcaldes—mayores of
provinces. Very great inconvenience occurred through the delay in
sending out the Judges of First Instance, and the duties were, in some
cases, temporarily performed by ignorant persons devoid of any legal
training. |
| 11 P.M., 2nd April, | an enormous flaming meteor traversed the sky, travelling from E. to
W., and when about the zenith it split into two with a loud explosion,
the pieces diverging at an angle of perhaps 45°; they fell,
apparently, at a great distance, producing a violent concussion like a
sharp shock of earthquake. |
| 24th April. | Attack by bandits on the village of Montalban. Two of them were
killed by the Guardia Civil. |
| 8th July. | Eruption of the Mayon volcano in Albay. It continued to discharge
ashes and lava, bursting out into greater violence at times till the
middle of March, 1887. |
| March 19th. | Don German Gamazo, Minister for the Colonies, lays before
the Queen-Regent, for her approbation, the project of the General
Exhibition of the Philippines, to be held in Madrid in 1887. In it he
says:— |
| “By this we shall bring about that the great sums of money
which are sent from the metropolis to purchase in foreign countries
cotton, sugar, cacao, tobacco, and other products, will go to our
possessions in Oceania, where foreign merchants buy them up, with
evident damage to the material interests of the
country.” |
| When it is considered that the freight from Manila to Barcelona in
the subsidised Spanish Royal Mail steamers was considerably
higher than that charged in the same steamers to Liverpool,
that enormous duties were charged in Spain on sugar and hemp, which
enter British ports duty free, and that British capital was advanced to
the cultivators to raise these very crops, the idiotic absurdity and
contemptible hypocrisy of such a statement may be faintly realised by
the reader. |
| In May the mud of the Pasig became permeated with bubbles of gas,
and floated to the surface. On May 23rd, the writer witnessed several
violent explosions of fetid gas smelling like sulphuretted hydrogen
from the mud of the Pasig at Santa Ana. |
| June 7th. | Triple murder committed at Cañacao by a Tagal from
jealousy. |
| 20th May. | Three days’ holiday and public rejoicings ordered in honour
of the birth of the King of Spain (Alfonso XIII.). |
| 1887. January 3rd. | Troops embarked in Manila for the expedition against the Moros of
Mindanao under General Terrero. |
| March 5th. | The United States warship Brooklyn arrived in Manila. |
| July 14th. | The Penal Code put in force in the Philippines. |
| December 3rd. | The Civil Code put in force in the Philippines. |
| 1888. March 1st. | A petition is presented to the Acting Civil Governor of Manila by
the Gobernadorcillo and Principales of Santa Cruz, praying for the
expulsion of the religious orders and of the Archbishop, the
secularization of all benefices, and the confiscation of the estates of
the Augustinians and Dominicans. See [Chapter
VI]. |
| December 15th. | Violent eruption of Mayon volcano with subterranean noises, storms,
thunder and lightning. Don Valeriano Weyler, Marques de Tenerife,
became governor-general. |
| 1890. | Agrarian disturbances occurred at Calamba and Santa Rosa between
the tenants on the Dominicans’ estates and the lay brother in
charge. During this year there was a great increase of secret
societies. A woman admitted as a mason. A woman’s lodge
established. See [Chapter IX]. |
| February 21st. | Violent eruption of the Mayon. |
| February 24th. | Several explosions occurred at the summit, discharging showers of
white-hot bombs. About 100 metres of the top toppled over. Many of the
inhabitants of the neighbouring towns fled to a distance. |
| 1891. | Don Emilio Despujols, Conde de Caspe, became governor-general.
See [Chapter III]. |
| 1893. | Doroteo Cortes banished to the Province of La Union, other
malcontents banished to different localities. |
| October 3rd. | Eruption of the Mayon and explosion of volcanic bombs. Loud
subterranean noises and deafening thunder. |
| A vast column of smoke ascended to the sky, from which proceeded
violet-coloured lightning. |
| The eruption lasted till the end of October. |
| 1894. May. | The Datto Julcainim, with seventy armed Moros from Sulu, landed in
Basilan Island to recover tribute from the natives, but was sent back
by a Spanish gunboat. |
| 1896. August 30th. | Tagal insurrection broke out near Manila and in Cavite Province.
See [Chapter X]. |
| 1897. June 25th. | Violent and disastrous eruptions of the Mayon. Complete destruction
of the villages San Antonio, San Isidro, Santo Niño, San Roque,
Santa Misericordia, and great damage to other places by the
incandescent lava. A dreadful tempest destroyed houses and plantations
in places where the lava did not reach. About 300 people were either
killed outright or died of their wounds. Fifty wounded persons
recovered. |
| 1898. March 24th. | Revolt of the famous Visayas or 74th Regiment at Cavite. |
| March 25th. | Massacre of the Calle Camba. |
| April 24th. | Meeting at Singapore between Aguinaldo and the United States’
Consul, Mr. Spencer Pratt. |
| April 26th. | Aguinaldo proceeds to Hong Kong. |
| May 1st. | Naval battle of Cavite. Destruction of the Spanish squadron and
capture of Cavite Arsenal by the Americans. |
| May 19th. | Aguinaldo and seventeen followers land at Cavite from the United
States’ vessel Hugh McCullough, and are furnished with
arms by Admiral Dewey. |
| May 24th. | Aguinaldo proclaims a Dictatorial Government. |
| June 23rd. | He issues a manifesto claiming for the Philippines a place, if a
modest one, amongst the nations. |
| August 6th. | He sends a message to foreign powers claiming recognition. |
| August 13th. | The American troops enter Manila, the Spaniards making only a show
of resistance. |
| August 14th. | The capitulation signed. General Merritt issues his proclamation
establishing a military government. |
| August 15th. | General McArthur appointed military commandant of the Walled City
and Provost-Marshal-General of the city and suburbs. |
| September 29th. | General Aguinaldo makes a speech at Malolos to the Philippine
Congress, the keynote of which was independence: “The Philippines
for the Filipinos.” |
| October 2nd. | The Peace Commission holds its preliminary meeting in Paris. |
| November 13th. | The insurgents invest Ilo-ilo. Fighting proceeding in other parts of Visayas between
Spaniards and natives. |
| December 10th. | The Peace Commission signs the Treaty. Don Felipe Agoncillo,
representative of the Philippine Government, hands in a formal protest,
of which no notice is taken. |
| December 24th. | The Spaniards evacuate Ilo-ilo. |
| December 26th. | The insurgents occupy the city. The Spaniards evacuate all the
southern island stations except Zamboanga. The Philippine Congress at
Malolos adjourns. |
| December 29th. | New Philippine cabinet formed; all the members pledged to
independence. |
| President of Congress and Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Señor Mabini; Secretary for War, Señor Luna; Interior,
Señor Araneta; Agriculture and Commerce, Señor
Buencamino; Public Works, Señor Canon. |
| 1899. January 5th. | The Washington officials announce that they “expect a
peaceful adjustment.” [Blessed are they who expect nothing.] |
| President McKinley instructs General Otis to extend military
government with all dispatch to the whole ceded territory. |
| January 8th. | Protest of Aguinaldo against the Americans. |
| January 12th. | General Otis telegraphs to the War Department that conditions are
apparently improving. |
| Other dispatches represent the situation as daily growing more
acute. |
| January 16th. | A telegram was received at Washington from General Otis, of so
reassuring a character regarding the position at Manila and Ilo-ilo,
that the government officials accept without question the correctness
of his statement, that the critical stage of the trouble there is now
past and that he controls the situation. |
| A commission nominated by President McKinley, consisting of Dr.
Schurman, President of Cornell University; Professor Worcester of
Michigan University, and Mr. Denby. |
| January 21st. | The Philippine constitution is proclaimed at Malolos. |
| February 4th. | Fighting between Filipinos and Americans began at Santa Mesa 8.45
P.M., and continued through the night. |
| February 5th. | Fighting continued all day and ended in the repulse of the
Filipinos with heavy loss. |
| General Otis wires: “The situation is most satisfactory, and
apprehension need not be felt.” |
| February 6th. | The U.S. Senate ratifies the Peace Treaty with Spain by 57 to
27. |
| Senator Gorman in the course of the debate expressed his belief
that the battle at Manila was only the beginning. If the treaty was
ratified war would follow, lasting for years, and costing many lives,
and millions upon millions of money. |
| [Senator Gorman makes a better prophet than General Merritt or Mr.
Foreman.] |
| February 8th. | General Otis wires: “The situation is rapidly improving. The insurgent army is
disintegrating, Aguinaldo’s influence has been
destroyed.” |
| February 10th. | The Americans attack and capture Calocan. President McKinley signs
the Treaty. |
| February 11th. | Ilo-ilo captured by General Miller without loss, but a considerable
part of the town was burned. |
| February 18th. | The American flag hoisted at Bacolod in Negros Island, opposite
Ilo-ilo. |
| February 22nd. | Tagals attempt to burn Manila, setting fire simultaneously to the
Santa Cruz, San Nicolas, and Tondo. Sharp fighting at Tondo. Many
natives were burned while penned in by the cordon of guards. |
| February 23rd. | The Americans burned all that remained of Tondo. General Otis
issued an order requiring the inhabitants to remain in their homes
after 7 P.M. |
| March 13. | Oscar F. Williams does not expect to live to see the end of the
war. This is the man who on July 2nd, 1898, “hoped for an influx
that year of 10,000 ambitious Americans,” who he said could all
live well and become enriched. See [Chapter
XVIII]. |
| Since the American occupation three hundred drinking saloons have
been opened in Manila. |
| March 19th. | Urgent instructions sent from Washington to Generals Otis and
Lawton to hasten the end. |
| March 24th. | Engagement at Marilao—the Filipinos are defeated. |
| New York Times says the situation is both surprising and
painful to the American people. |
| March 31st. | The Americans occupy Malolos which the Filipinos had set on fire,
after some skirmishing. |
| April 1st. | Troops resting at Malolos. |
| The ironclad Monadnock was fired on by Filipinos artillery
at Parañaque (three miles from Manila), and replied silencing
the guns on shore. |
| April 20th. | A column of General Lawton’s force, 140 strong, surrounded
and captured by the Filipinos near Binangonan. |
| April 23rd. | Fighting at Quingua. Col. Stotsenburg killed. This was a severe
engagement. |
| April 26th. | Americans capture Calumpit. Washington “profoundly
relieved.” |
| April 27th. | Fighting near Apalit. |
| April 30th. | General Otis believes that the Filipinos are tired of the war. |
| May 1st. | Anniversary of the Battle of Cavite. |
| May 2nd. | Conference between Filipino envoys and General Otis with the
American Civil Commissioners. |
| General Lawton captures Baliuag. |
| May 12th. | The Nebraska Regiment petitions General McArthur to relieve them
from duty, being exhausted by the campaign. Since February 4th, the
regiment has lost 225 killed and wounded, and 59 since the fight at
Malolos. |
| May 18th. | Filipino peace delegates enter General Lawton’s lines at San
Isidro. |
| May 20th. | Admiral Dewey leaves Manila in the Olympia. |
| May 22nd. | The U.S. Civil Commission received Aguinaldo’s Peace
Commissioners, and explained to them President McKinley’s scheme
of Government. |
| May 29th. | Aguinaldo reported dead. |
| May 30th. | The authorities at Washington admit that more troops are needed for
Manila. |
| June 1st. | Mr. Spencer Pratt obtains an interim injunction in the Supreme
Court, Singapore, against the sale of Mr. Foreman’s book,
“The Philippine Islands.” |
| June 5th. | Skirmishing in the Laguna district. An attempt by the Americans to
surround Pio del Pilar fails. |
| June 13th. | A Filipino battery at Las Piñas, between Manila and Cavite,
consisting of an old smooth bore gun and two one-pounders open fire on
the American lines. A battery of the 1st Artillery, the ironclad
Monadnock, and the gunboat Helena directed their fire
upon this antiquated battery, and kept it up all the morning. |
| A correspondent remarks, “This was the first real
artillery duel of the war.” |
| This developed into one of the hardest fights in the war, the
Filipinos made a determined stand at the Zapote bridge. |
| Reports arrive that General Antonio Luna had been killed by some of
General Aguinaldo’s guards. |
| June 16th. | The Filipinos attack the Americans at San Fernando and are repulsed
with heavy loss. |
| Mr. Whitelaw Reid, addressing the Miami University of Ohio,
denounces the President’s policy, or want of policy, in the
Philippines. |
| June 19th. | American troops under General Wheaton march through Cavite
Province. |
| June 21st. | General Miles describes the situation at Manila as “very
serious.” |
| June 26th. | Twelve per cent. of the American forces sick. Little can now be
attempted as the rainy season is now on. |
| June 27th. | General Otis reports that the Filipinos have no civil
government. |
| June 28th. | It is stated that General Otis will have 40,000 men available for
active operations after the rainy season. |
| July 12th. | General Otis asks for 2500 horses for the organisation of a brigade
of cavalry after the rainy season. |
| The entire staff of correspondents of the American newspapers
protest against the methods of General Otis in exercising too strict a
censorship over telegrams and letters. They say, “We believe
that, owing to the official despatches sent from Manilla and published
in Washington, the people of the United States have received a false
impression of the situation in the Philippines, and that these
despatches present an ultra-optimistic view which is not shared by
general officers in the field.” |
| July 20th. | The rainfall at Manila since 1st June has been 41 inches and the
country is flooded. |
| July 23rd. | Mr. Elihu Root nominated to succeed Mr. Alger as Secretary for War.
|
| July 27th. | General Hall’s division captures Calamba on the lake. |
| August 1st. | Mr. Root sworn in as Secretary for War. He contemplates increasing
General Otis’ available force to 40,000 men. |
| August 15th. | General McArthur’s force captures Angeles. |
| August 17th. | Orders issued at Washington to form ten additional regiments to
serve in the Philippines. General Otis to have 62,000 men under his
command. |
| August 23rd. | General Otis applies the Chinese Exclusion law to the
Philippines. |
| August 24th. | The Moros sign an agreement acknowledging the sovereignty of the
United States over the entire Philippine Islands. |
| The Moros of Western Mindanao are asking for permission to drive
out the insurgents. |
| August 28th. | President McKinley makes a speech to the 10th Pennsylvanian
Regiment lately arrived from Manila. See [Chapter
XII]. |
| September 1st. | Fighting in Negros, American successes. |
| September 14th. | U.S. cruiser Charleston engages a gun mounted by the
Filipinos at Olongapó, Subic Bay, and fired sixty-nine shells
from her 8-inch guns without silencing the gun, notwithstanding that
the Filipinos used black powder. |
| September 18th. | Some of the U.S. Civil Commission had already started to return;
remainder leave. |
| September 23rd. | A U.S. squadron, consisting of the Monterey,
Charleston, Concord and Zafiro, bombarded the
one-gun battery of the Filipinos at Olongapó for six hours, and
then landed 250 men who captured and destroyed the gun which was
16-centimetre calibre. |
| General Otis, in an interview, is reported to have stated that
“Things are going very satisfactorily.” |
| September 28th. | General McArthur captures Porac. |
| September 30th. | General Aguinaldo releases fourteen American prisoners. They looked
well and hearty, and it was evident that they had been well
treated. |
| October 8th. | General Schwan advanced against Noveleta and encountered a heavy
resistance, but ultimately took the town and next day occupied
Rosario. |
| October 18th. | War now said to be beginning in its most serious phase. The
American troops, men and officers, said to be thoroughly discouraged by
the futility of the operations ordered by General Otis. They feel that
their lives are being sacrificed without anything being
accomplished. |
| October 28th. | 17,000 sick and tired soldiers have been sent home and
replaced by 27,000 fresh men. 34,000 are on the way or under orders.
Total will be 65,000 men and forty ships of war. |
| October 31st. | General Otis reports to the War Department that the continuance of
the rainy season still harasses the prosecution of the campaign. |
| Count Almenas, speaking in the Spanish Senate, said that through
the ignorance of the Peace Commission the Batanes Islands, Cagayan Sulu, and Sibutu were not
included in the scope of the treaty. |
| November 7th. | General Wheaton, with an American force lands at San Fabian
[Pangasinan] and marches towards Dagupan, driving the Filipinos before
him. |
| November 13th. | Tarlac captured by the Americans under Colonel Bell. Telegrams from
Manila state, “A careful review of the situation made on the spot
justifies the prediction that all organised hostile operations on a
definite plan are at an end.” |
| November 14th. | The U.S. cruiser Charleston lost on the Guinapak rocks to
the north of Luzon, and the crew land on Camiguin Island. |
| November 28th. | The province of Zamboanga [Mindanao] said to have surrendered
unconditionally to the commander of the gunboat Castine. |
| December 20th. | General Lawton shot by the insurgents at San Mateo whilst
personally directing the crossing of the river by two battalions of the
29th U.S. infantry. |
| 1900. January 20th. | The Filipinos capture a pack train of twenty ponies in the Laguna
Province. American losses, two killed, five wounded, nine missing. |
| February 15th. | American newspapers report many cases of insanity amongst the U.S.
soldiers. |
| February 20th. | General Otis signifies to the War Department his desire for leave
of absence from Manila to recruit his health. |
| March 30th. | The bubonic plague, extending in Luzon, and appears in other
islands of the Archipelago. Cases suspected to be leprosy reported
amongst the U.S. troops. |
| Independent reports represent the situation in the Philippines as
most unsatisfactory. The islands are practically in a state of
anarchy. |
| April 6th. | The War Department issues an order recalling General Otis,
because his work has been accomplished, and appoints General
McArthur in his place. |
| May 1st. | Judge Canty, of Minnesota, makes a report upon the condition of the
Philippines. |
| He says: “All the native tribes, except a small band of
Macabebes and the Sulu Mahometans, are against us, and hate the
Americans worse than the Spaniards.... The American soldiers are
undergoing terrible hardships, and are a prey to deadly tropical
diseases.” |
| June 2nd. | General McArthur asks for more troops, and at least three regiments
are to be sent. |
| June 14th. | Rear-Admiral Raney cables for another battalion of marines. |
| June 15th. | Macaboulos, a Filipino chieftain, surrenders at Tarlac with 8
officers and 120 riflemen. |
| June 17th. | A regiment of infantry and a battery of artillery embark at Manila
for China. |
| June 19th. | It is reported that, in all, 5000 men are to be sent from Manila to
China. |
| June 20th. | But to-day, the idea prevails in Washington that, under present conditions, every soldier in
the Philippines is needed there. |
| July 27. | Negotiations are being carried on between Spain and the United
States for the cession by the former to the latter of the Sibutu and
Cagayan Islands on payment of a sum of $100,000. |
| August 4th. | The Filipinos kill or capture a lieutenant of Engineers and fifteen
soldiers. |
| August 8th. | Miss Margaret Astor Chanler, who was engaged in Red Cross work in
Manila, declares that the hospitals are inadequate. This is confirmed
by the Washington correspondent of the World. He says 3700 men
are now in hospital, and large numbers are unable to find
accommodation. Thousands who are down with fever and other diseases are
without doctors or medical supplies. Eight per cent. of the entire
force is incapacitated. |
| August 15th. | The Filipinos reported to be gaining ground. |
| The cost of the war said to be nearly £40,000,000, 2394
deaths, 3073 wounded. There are said to be still 70,000 American troops
in the Philippines. The “goodwill” of the war cost
£4,000,000. |
| August 19th. | Censored news despatches from Manila show that the Filipinos are
increasing their activity, and scorn the offers of amnesty. |
| September 1st. | The Civil Commission in the Philippines, presided over by Judge
Taft, assumes the direction of the Government. Judge Taft reports that
the insurrection is virtually ended, and that a modus vivendi is
established with the ecclesiastical authorities! |
| September 3rd. | General McArthur cables that an outbreak has occurred in Bohol, and
that in an engagement near Carmen the Americans lost 1 killed and 6
wounded, and the Filipinos 120 killed. |
| September 6th. | The estimated cost of the Philippines to America is estimated at
three-quarters of a million dollars per day. |
| September 12th. | The first public legislative session of the Civil Commission was
held. Two million dollars (Mexican) were voted for the construction of
roads and bridges, $5000 for the expenses of a preliminary survey of a
railroad between Dagupan and Benguet, and $5400 towards the expenses of
the educational system. |
| September 17th. | General McArthur cables that Captain McQuiston, who had become
temporarily insane, shot a number of men of his company. The others, in
self-defence, shot and killed the captain. |
| September 20th. | The Civil Commission reports that large numbers of the people in
the Philippines are longing for peace, and are willing to accept the
government of the United States. |
| General McArthur cables reports of fighting in the Ilocos
Provinces, from whence General Young telegraphs for reinforcements,
also in Bulacan, and in Tayabas. |
| A desperate engagement is fought in the Laguna Province, where the
Americans made an attack upon the Filipino positions, and were repulsed
with heavy loss, including Captain Mitchell and Lieutenant Cooper. |
| The Filipinos are constantly harassing and attacking the American
outposts and garrisons around Manila, and have caused fourteen
casualties amongst the troops. |