Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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3N . Osteenj SUMTER, S. C. TERMS : $1.50 per annum-in advance. 1DTISTIS I'S S X v : Gn Square Srst insertion......$1 00 Svery subsequent insertion-. 50 Contracts for three months, or longer wil be mude at reduced rates. All communications which subserve private iateriists will becbargedforasadvertiements. 'Obituaries and tributes of rest ects will be ehar&ed for. Lively Fightiog in Lazon. Yesterday's Progress of the Calumpit Expedition. Manila, April 25-10 30 a. m. Although tba sticky eocdition of tbs ground, doe to a raia storm, seriously impeded its progress. Geo. Lawton's column left San Jose today and ia expected to reaeh Norzagay this even i og. Col. Sammers is roarchiog across from Bocave with two battalions each from the Oregon od Minnesota regi ments, three troops of cavalry-and two guns. Io the meantime Geo. MacAr thur's division is in front ol Calumpit preparing to attack the rebels' stronghold, andcGen. Hale, with several guns, 9 threatening: the enemy's flank. A few rebels between Novs.liches and La Loma have persistency interferred with telegraphic communication, bot the signa! corps have repaired the breaks and captured several prisooers. A small body of rebels at Taktay was discovered this morning by the armored launch Lapidan. A few shots scattered the rebels and drove them inland from the lake. ADVANCE OF HALE'S BRIGADE. Manila, April 25-6 15 p. m.-Gen. Hale's brigade, consisting of the Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota regiments, with three guns, which leis Malolos on Monday, followed the west i bank of the Rio Grande River to a ford. Macy small bands of. rebels were encountered, and during, toe afternoon the Americas discovered several hundred of the enemy entrench ed near Puliian, north of Qaiagao. Oar troops attacked the rebels, losing sis men , kilted and eleven wounded. Gen. Beale's troops claim that nearly two hundred dead natives were counted along the country traversed. Among the dead was a Spanish captain. The South Dakota regiment bore the brunt cf the fighting and had 5ve mee killed and nine wounded. \ . .The temperature today was 94 de grees and several cases of sunstroke were reported. The weather was cloudy. The coantry traversed by cur troops is thickly wooded and the hard est for fighting. The rebels along the Bagbag Uiver were reinforced from Calumpit as the troops under Gen. Hale approached. Daring the day the American cap tured 350 prisoners As this dispatch is seut the rebels are retreating io the direction of Calumpit. The Filipino troops engaged were well uninformed and well drilled. As the campaign progresses the rebel troops are improving. They are adopt ing American methods, and the accur acy of their shcotiog is evidenced by the fact that five Americans were shot in the bead. Gen Hale at 4 o'clock this morning crossed the river and advanced on Ca lumpit. Gen MacArthur's division also advanced and nine of the armored fiat oars were pushed ahead on the rail road. Tee Kansas regiment advanced on the right of the traok aod the Montana regiment pushed on its left. ?^p - - - ? rn - Negro Troops for Otis. Washington, Aprii 25-A proposi tion to utiliza negro troops to a larpe extent io future military operations in the Philippines is attracting much attention, and it is believed will be considered by the Administration io the near future. Such a policy vs urg ed oe the theory that certain racial affiliations may be utilized io a way to defeat rebellious acts on the part of Aguinaldo and bis party, and to bring \ peace to the newly acquired possessions ol tbe United States in the East. One third of the population of the Philip pines are negroes of the same race ss those io the United States, and while not numerous about Manila comprise nearly the entire population of some of the islands The advocates of the scheme believe that io a short time there would be an assimilation between he negroes of the Philippines and their kindred from the United States, aod that there would follow for the colored people opportunities to get homes and possibilities of careers they could not hope for in this count.7. They Make a Determined Stand in Defending Ca lumpit. Manila, April 26, 6 10 p m. Aguinaldo's army to day is defending Caiampit energetically, which is said to indicate that the rebeb are firjaliy making that place their last ditch, or stand, which the Am ricains expected them to make at Male los For the Filipinos are employing artillery. They brought two guns into action in the trenches to-day before Calumpit, firing modern shrapnel, which burst ever the heads of Gen. Wheaton's men without effect. The ghtieg was resumed at 6 o'clock this morning. Daring the engagement the American engineers repaired the Bagbag bridge, thus en abling our troops to cross the river. Gen Wheaton's brigade advanced in extended order, wita the KaDsas regi ment to the west of the raiiraod and the Montana regiment to the east of it ! and took up a position covering one ! and a half miles on the sou h bank of the Rio Grande. Oa the opposite back were fortified trenches, from which a few American soldiers wheuld have ! been able to defy thousands, so strongly were they Constructed. The Americans found the trenches oa ihe south bank of the river deserted, which furnished them with cover from which they could piok off Filipinos whenever one of them showed his head. When the rebels began firing, two puffs of smoke, simultaneously, from ."the trenches of each side of the rail road track Ehowea ^they were using canoon, which was a genuine surprise to the Americans. Several shelis bur^t close to Gen Wheaton's stafl. bat it ssemed that the the Filipinos failed to master the machinery Of modern shells, as they were unable to get the right range. Young's Utah battery was ordered into position in the Kaosas reginmeut, to silence the rebel guns, asd at ll o'clock the rapid fire guns had been ferried across the river and came into line At noon the rebei3 were still pouring & heavy fire in the direction of the Americans, who returned it spiritedly. Two Americans were killed and seveo wousded. At about this time Gen. Hate's brigade was advancing east of the line, apparently to cross this river and attack tho rebel trenches in the flank, as the Americans did yesterday. Gen. MacArthur has secured an order issued by Aguinaldo to the rebel commanders, telling them to instruct their men to economize their fire, save the empty snells and not to fire at the enemy when the latter is under cover. The Fiiipincs are also instructed never to fire at a longer range than 150 metres, and wheo they have a river or other obstruction io front to hold their fire until within 80 metres. This order was issued after the recent encounters between the Filipinos and the Americans. Gen. Liwton is meeting with tte greatest obstacles io the character of the country. His troops have only had a few skirmishes tbes far, resulting io five of his men being wounded. Bat he has boen forced to put bis men at work building roads, aod the transport service is giving much trouble, bollocks dying of the heat ard exhaustion, and Chinamen having to be employed io polling some of the carts. Therefore, the general has been ucabie to eover the ground he hoped to cover. The natives flee before the expedition, but they swarm back to their buts as soon as the American troops have passed A few Filipino sharpshooters are harassing (he American flanks. The commissary department is pre paring to send more rations, under a strong escort, to the front The United S.'ates transport Zelan dia, from San Francisco, March 28, having oo board several companies of :he Ninth infantry aod a large quantity of supplies, arrived here today uner an uneventful voyage, Ker troops are now camped on the water front. The United States transport Sheridan sails for home tomorrow. She will r&ke amoog her passengers Gen. Chas King and Mrs Stotzenburg, who is convey ing her husband's body to the United States. Tbe Sheridan also has on board several omcers' families who find Manila an undesirable place of resi dence. Tbree Thousand Filipinos Given an Unexpected and Terrible Recaption by Americans. Manila, April 27-9 45 p. ra. Gen MacArthur's division crossed the Rio Grange to day and advanced on Apalit, completely routing the flower of tbe rebel army. The enemy were very otroogly en I trenched on the river bank, near both j sid;-*? of the aiiroad bridge Gen : Wheaton sent Col Funston across ; with two companies of the twentieth ! Kansas regiment, a cocpie of privates ! swimming: the swift stream with a i rope, under a guiling fire, for the j purpose of guiding the raft, j The men crossed in squads of 20 j and attacked the left Sank of the rebels, who scuttled like rabbite into covered ways and trenches The rest of the regiment was com pelled to cross the bridge in single file along the stringers Ali the wood wotk and much of. the iron work had been removed. The First Montana regiment followed the Kansas across the bridge The First Nebraska regiment, act ing as a reserve, attacked the rebels in three lines of trenches, driving them out, killing 16 and wounding many. In the meantime a large body of Filipinos, estimated at no fewer than 3,000, led by Gen Antonio Luna on a black charger, that was evidently coming to reinforce the rebels who were engaged with the Nebraskans, appeared in the open field about two miies to the left. ! Emerging from the jungle the enemy formed an open skirmish line nearly, two miles in length, with very thick reserves behind The men advanced at double quick until they were about 200 yards from the Arae-ican line when Gen Wheaton ordered his troops to fire The rebels, who were evidently an aware that the Americans had crossed i the river, broke-and ran in the direc lion of M ac bele. The other Filipinos flow toward Apaiit station The heat in the early part of the afternoon was terrific, but a drench ing thunderstorm which came later, greatly refreshened the Americans. Mo6t of the rebels fled to Apaiit station, where two trains were wait ing them They left hurriedly, presumably for San Fernando. The towns of San Vincente and Apaiit were simultaneously burned and evacuated by the natives. Twenty prisoners were captured in cluding a Spaniard The American troops also captur ed a brass cannon and a quantity ef arms and ammrnitiou and the same evening they charged 3 Maxim gun on the railroad The fighting lasted from noon until 4 o'clock. The American loss is one man of the Montana regiment killed, and three officers and six men wounded Gen Lawton's advance has been a remarkable demonstration of the re sistless energy which characterizes all his undertakings The last trooos forming his column only reached Norzagary today. The men were badly wornout, as during the past two days they have dragged bullock carts over roadless jungles and through swamps, cutting their way for miles. They will rest three days and then, with Col. Sumner's command, con sisting of the Oregon and Minnesota r giments, the troops will resume the march westward, cooperating with Gen MacArthur's forces in the important enterprise. Aguinaldo Weakening. A Story Tbat he Waots tc Como to Terms. New York. April 27 -James Creelman cables the Journal from Manila that Aguinaldo is conferring with his cabinet io regard to making terms with the Americans There have been many desertions from the Tagalo army. General Lawton's march is admirably, carried out Washington, April 27.-The post ponement of decisive operations against Calumpit for at least twenty hours bas increased the feeling of suspense and expectancy which has prevailed for the iast few days among the officers of the army and admin istration. Yesterday it was thought would bring conclusive results from the campaign region around Agui naldo's headquarters The onward march of Lawton, however is attend ed with great difficulty and hardships Lawton reached Nozagary a little too late apparently, to assist Mac Arthur's forces in an effective joint attack. Nevertheless, it is impossible to find anything in the present situation to cause very great anxiety. Both Lawton and MacArthur seem now to be occupying the positions sought, and the next dispatches are expected to bring news of the successful com bined attack on Calumpit. Some anxiety is felt in Washington at the possibility of Lawton's force being cut off from supplies. - Ma - y - -? Washington, April 28 -Secretary Hay this afternoon was notiScd by the French ambassador that Spoin would accept, through him, tho 20,000,000 to bo paid u^dcr the treaty ci peace for thc Philippins. Thc payment will be made to the ambassador os eooo aa thc president returns. ! FILIPINOS SURRENDER, j BUT PEACE HAS ISQT YET BEEN DECLARED. j New York, April 28 - The World j 3ays : A dispatch received in this I city this morning says General Luna, j the Filipino commander in chief, has sent an insurgent colonel through the Hues, under a flag of truce, to ask a cessation of hostilities. A Journal special from Manila says : Thc forces of General Luna have surrendered to General Otis, commanding the American forces He sent two of his most prominent officers to ask for terms of peace. The result of the surrender is a practical ending cf the revolution as General Luna has been a long time regarded as head and front of the Filipino movement. There 9 great jubilation among the American officers and troops, especially the volunteers, who are convinced that the end of the war is at band and hat they wiii be allowed to go to their homey. The surrender includes practically all the Filipino foi ces against whom MacArthur has been operating with such dashing success for the last few weeks The officers who arranged the surrender on behalf of Gea. Luna were Col Aguiiies, chief of staff, and LieuL Jose Bermel, who were admitted through the lines by a flag truce, and at once interviewed Gen. Otis-, rnak j ing the format offer. j Manila, April 23 - (Lster )-Fur ! ther details of tiic surrender state i that Agilities said that he was ern j powered to request a cessation of hostilities pending negotiation looking to the settlement cf the war Mac Arthur complied with the request pending instructions from Otis A full surrender of the forces followed Still later in tho afternoon -The Filipino advance as to peace was fruitless. Col. Aguiiies and Lieut. Jose Bermel came into MacArthur's lines with a flag of truce. They told Gen Otis that they were the repre sentatives of Gen. Luna, who had been requested by Aguinaldo to ask a cessation of hostilities in order to allow time for summoning the Filipi no congress, which body would decide whether the people want peace. Gen. Otis replied that be did not recognize the existence of a Filipino government.- Tnere will bc another conference tomorrow. { ? - Products of the Philippines. j The monthly bulletin of the bureau of statistics of the United States ; treasury ccprrtaasnt contain some interest'ng facts with reference to the products of the Philippines, it is declared that only cne-ninth of the area of the islands is under cultivation and that the islands are capable of sustaining a population cf more than 40.000,000. Gold is mined in a very . primitive wsy, but neither tho minerai cor agricultural resources of tho island are developed. \ The principal produces of the Philippines are rice, cern, hemp, sugar, tobacco, cocoancts and cocoa. Coffee and cotton were formerly raised in large quantities-coffee for export and cotton for horne' consumption-but the coffee plant have been almost extermi nated by insects, asd the home mads cotton cloths have 'reen driven out by the competition of these imported from England. Tbc rice and corn are cbtc-Sy produced in Luzon and Mindoro, and are consumed in the island . They eat rice ia the Phi nnines, for while the crop is about 765,000 tons, it is not sufficient for the demand, and 45.000 tons of rice were imported in 1894, the greater part from Saigon and ihe balance from Hong Kong and Singa pore. Flour was also imported to the extent of 60,000 barrels, of which two-thirds esme from China and less - than one-third from the Uni:ed States. The cocoa is raised in tne joufhern islands, the best quiiiry of it in Min d'.nao. The production amounts to only 150 ions, and it is all n:ade into chocolate and consumed in the islands The sugar cane is raised in thc Visayas In 1894 the yeild was about 235,000 tons of raw sugar, of which one-tenth was consumed in tho islands, remaind er, valued at 11.000,000, wa3 export ed. The hemp is produced in southern Luzon, Mindoro, the Vissyas and j Mindanao lt is eeariy all exported tn j bales. In 1894 the amount was i 96,000 tons, valued at $12.000.000. i Tobacco is raised iu all tbs islands, j but tho best quality ard the greatest j amount in Luzon. A largo amount is consumed io the islands, smoking being universal among women as well as mc ."-.lUgu^ta C lironicle. Washington. Apr.I 29. - A telegram ins. been recoived by toe state denart ment. from the consol at Chee Foo, Chios, requesting bids by cable for sixiy ;hoG.-3.')d bushels of the best shelled yeiiow corn de livered at Chee Foo within ten wee;;n. All charges must be included io thc bids. tailed n.uoart. J. W. Tolbsrt Testified Against Men of McCor mick. Specie! to The State. Greenville April 27.-When the United States court took a recess this evening at 7.30 o'clock all the leading witnesses for the government in the much-taiksd of conspiracy case, the outcome of the Phoenix election riots and the banishment cf James W. Tolbert from McCormick, had been examined and the distric; attorney announced that, in all probability, the government had closed its case. The witnesses examined proved to be extremely poor ones for the purpose of making cut a case against the citizens of McCormick-M. L B. Sturkey, J. H. Doolap, James L. Revoolds. Luther Tooker, T. J. Bentley, Wade F Cothran, J. P. Jennings, J. Q Stillwell and Henry L Martin, who are charged with the conspiracy The court room was packed and great interest was manifested. The prisoners are represented by Hon George Johnstone, Senator Dean and N G. Evans, It wa3 not until afternoon that the ! case was taies up. At the outset the ! attorneys had a lively tilt as to whether fcke offense charged was a misdemeanor or a felony. It was held to be the ! latter, aid thc defense got its extra challenges. A fine looking jury of white mee, six from this county, was obtained. Every Edgefield man was objected to by tho government. R. R. Toibert. the man whose candidacy for congress was at the bottom of ail the troub/e, was the first witness, morely testifying to requesting J. W. Tolbert to get affidavits for him. Then J. Tolbert was put on the stand, and from that time till the recess the proceedings were brimful of interest and at times exciting. The witness wished togo way beyond all questions asked by the district attorney and arguo matters. When Mr. Johnstone got bold of hie? there were numerous warm pas pages, the witness using his tongue freely and often to his own undoing. He told cf the calling of Mr. Sturkey at his house ; how he invited him inside because he was afraid tor to go to Starkey's store; how both he and Starkey secured witnesses to thc con ference ard S^ur'tiey read to him the resolutions adopted by the citizens, Pt vine him 36 hours to leave town. He' swore Sturkey told him "We wou'd have killed you last night, but for your wife and child." Tho resolutions had not been given bim. There were 30 cr 40 names signed to the r solutions. He remembered those of thc defend ants. He told how he got cut of town by a back way and said be was "Scared to death, nearly." Mr. Johnstone made him acknowl edge that he came upon the streets of the town after going the back way and no one molested him He had seen Mr. Cothran crossing a street with a Winchester rifle Hs also admitted Mr. Sturkey told him he was sorry that he had to ieavo, and shook hands with him. He denied tba* he bad written a frirndiy letter to Sturkey asking him to get bim a job in Washington, saying he bad written a letter wiih a purpose. He also denied thal thc resolutions had reached b^m in Washington. He also admitted tbat Sturkey had sVid ne would protect him 35 hours. In argu ing with Mr. Johnstone the witness exclaimed : "And you told me your self thia morning that if I went back to McCormick I would be killed." Mr. Johnstone-"And I believe that. But didn'i I tell you also io that con versation i hat wouid st::nd for it that these defendants would not touch a hair j of vour head." Tolbert-"You couldn't prevent it." Then ensued a sensational scene. Mr. Johnstone, wheeling and in a most j dramatic maori'r exclaimed : '.Now didn't you call mc in to your room this very crorning and talk with j mo. and dide7.: we pledge our honor no; tc divulge one word of that conversa tion ?" Tolbert stammered, was confused and fin-11 - said, ?.Yes, I did, but I forgot it" ' Mr Johnstone, with biting sarcasm - ' And you are the kind of man on whose wori the jury is expeored to send men to the penitentiary." Tolbert admitted that he did not know whether Mr. Tucker, (83 years old), had been in McCormick. He had ! indicated hies because bi.- natue was OD I the re?0!ationi. Mrs J. 57. Tolbert testified ra tbs ! maio as ber husband had docs, station i frankly tu at Starkey had expressed j sympathy fcc her Mr Johnstone, ! with c.-"T2tr:G politeness, tbaoked the . witness and asked no questions. Mrs. Pdimer, who was present when i tbe resolutions were read, could nc ! remember their nature, and said there : was ' DO unkindness, no impoliteness7' shown by Sturkey cr tbs others, but ' everything was pleasantly done. Mr. I Johostone also tbaoked ber kindly, i Tbe district attorney than announced i that be had summoned some other wit I cesses, oat mainly for the purpose of ! refuting what the defense might bring out. He did not like to close, but the probability was he wonld have oo fur ther testimony. The court then recess ed. End of tbe Phoenix Conspir acy Case. _ Greenville, April 28 -The trial of i the famous McCormick conspiracy case, ! growing ont of the Phceniz election j riot and lynching in Greenwood County i last November, ended in the Federal ; court here today in a verdict of not j guilty. The jury was composed of white men, ; half or ibem cf Greenviilo CouDty ace I waa cut ie?3 than fifteen minutes; j Tho verdist was announced at 1.25 p. m. The case went ta the jury with ! oct argument and tbe verdict is gen I orally endor.-ed. Toe evidence fer the i government began to come ia at 4 o'clock and from tl;e time James W. ! Tolbert, the prosecutor and Republican ! assistant postmaster at McCormick lefJ tbs stand it was predicted that the jury would be but a few minutes an arriving at a verdict of acquittal. When tbs government rested this morning A. E Dean, senior counsel j for che defendants, asked Judge j Brawley to instruct the jury to bring in I a verdict of acquittal, but ne declined, j sayi g fae thought there was some j evidence that ought to be passed cpoa ! by the jury. / Tolbert made s. bad witness, j fre I qcentiy displayisgr bis temper. He ! was contentious aci contradicted him ! self and lacked candor. The defecd I ants are prominent Greenwood County ! men, who at the (laue cf the Phoenix ! riot served r solutions upon him j advising bim to leare, telling him they I would ncc be responsible for his life, ; though they worJd protect him for i thirty-sis boors. Six boars after he j left, a cob rode into McCormick to kill ! bim. ^ ^_ New Esg!an Cheek, The New Eaglaod newspapers men who have been touring tbs Soath to write it up ia their papers at so mueh per city, were in New Orleans on the 26tb inst In tbe States cf that etty they announce that their tour will end at Durham, N. C , on May 27. They further say : "At tbe close of the tour ali tbe j Important .sections of Virginia, North 1 Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, ! Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Missis ! gippi and Louisiana, will have been visited and the resources and advao ! tagfs cf es.cn section carefully studied.'7 in their itinerary as published in the Sta:e-9, but two dates aro assigned to this State as follows : "Tuesday and Wedossday, Moy 23 and 24, Cbarieston, S. C ; Thursday, May 25, Charlotte, S C " As Char lotte is in Nortb Carolina ned not ! Sooth CareHsa, Charleston h the only point in rbis State thwiii visit, yet they have " the amazing effrontery and impudence io an nounce that at bs end of tho tour "all of the important sections" of South C*rolica "will have been vis ited ard tbe advantages of each care ful!? studied." So, only cities which vriii pay tribute are regarded as import ant B:tb, ten dez:n New England newspaper leagues cannot wips our the importance of such p!ace3 as Columbia, Spartanburg, Acderson, Rock Hiii and mai.y o her growing, thriving, pro gressive towns of Scuth Carolina. WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY London, Aprii 28.-Wireless teleg raphy was first put to practical use today. The Goodwin Sands 'light ship was 6truck by a passing vessel and the crew, utilizing the wireless telegraphy apparatus, notified South Foreland that their ship was in a siuking condition. Tugs were there* upon dispatched to the assistance of the lightship. TJE S SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850 'Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." Consolidated Aug. a, 1881. SUMTER, S. C.. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3.1899. THIS TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jane. 13* 6 Sew Series-To!. XVIII. No. 40 3N . Osteenj SUMTER, S. C. TERMS : $1.50 per annum-in advance. 1DTISTIS I'S S X v : Gn Square Srst insertion......$1 00 Svery subsequent insertion-. 50 Contracts for three months, or longer wil be mude at reduced rates. All communications which subserve private iateriists will becbargedforasadvertiements. 'Obituaries and tributes of rest ects will be ehar&ed for. Lively Fightiog in Lazon. Yesterday's Progress of the Calumpit Expedition. Manila, April 25-10 30 a. m. Although tba sticky eocdition of tbs ground, doe to a raia storm, seriously impeded its progress. Geo. Lawton's column left San Jose today and ia expected to reaeh Norzagay this even i og. Col. Sammers is roarchiog across from Bocave with two battalions each from the Oregon od Minnesota regi ments, three troops of cavalry-and two guns. Io the meantime Geo. MacAr thur's division is in front ol Calumpit preparing to attack the rebels' stronghold, andcGen. Hale, with several guns, 9 threatening: the enemy's flank. A few rebels between Novs.liches and La Loma have persistency interferred with telegraphic communication, bot the signa! corps have repaired the breaks and captured several prisooers. A small body of rebels at Taktay was discovered this morning by the armored launch Lapidan. A few shots scattered the rebels and drove them inland from the lake. ADVANCE OF HALE'S BRIGADE. Manila, April 25-6 15 p. m.-Gen. Hale's brigade, consisting of the Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota regiments, with three guns, which leis Malolos on Monday, followed the west i bank of the Rio Grande River to a ford. Macy small bands of. rebels were encountered, and during, toe afternoon the Americas discovered several hundred of the enemy entrench ed near Puliian, north of Qaiagao. Oar troops attacked the rebels, losing sis men , kilted and eleven wounded. Gen. Beale's troops claim that nearly two hundred dead natives were counted along the country traversed. Among the dead was a Spanish captain. The South Dakota regiment bore the brunt cf the fighting and had 5ve mee killed and nine wounded. \ . .The temperature today was 94 de grees and several cases of sunstroke were reported. The weather was cloudy. The coantry traversed by cur troops is thickly wooded and the hard est for fighting. The rebels along the Bagbag Uiver were reinforced from Calumpit as the troops under Gen. Hale approached. Daring the day the American cap tured 350 prisoners As this dispatch is seut the rebels are retreating io the direction of Calumpit. The Filipino troops engaged were well uninformed and well drilled. As the campaign progresses the rebel troops are improving. They are adopt ing American methods, and the accur acy of their shcotiog is evidenced by the fact that five Americans were shot in the bead. Gen Hale at 4 o'clock this morning crossed the river and advanced on Ca lumpit. Gen MacArthur's division also advanced and nine of the armored fiat oars were pushed ahead on the rail road. Tee Kansas regiment advanced on the right of the traok aod the Montana regiment pushed on its left. ?^p - - - ? rn - Negro Troops for Otis. Washington, Aprii 25-A proposi tion to utiliza negro troops to a larpe extent io future military operations in the Philippines is attracting much attention, and it is believed will be considered by the Administration io the near future. Such a policy vs urg ed oe the theory that certain racial affiliations may be utilized io a way to defeat rebellious acts on the part of Aguinaldo and bis party, and to bring \ peace to the newly acquired possessions ol tbe United States in the East. One third of the population of the Philip pines are negroes of the same race ss those io the United States, and while not numerous about Manila comprise nearly the entire population of some of the islands The advocates of the scheme believe that io a short time there would be an assimilation between he negroes of the Philippines and their kindred from the United States, aod that there would follow for the colored people opportunities to get homes and possibilities of careers they could not hope for in this count.7.