The Americans before Iloilo

On January 19, 1898 four American warships appeared before the Iloilo harbour. General Marcus Miller the commanding officer asked permission to land his troops but was denied. With the Treaty of Paris still pending ratification by the U.S. Senate, President William McKinley had ordered the American forces not to provoke any armed conflict with the Filipinos. For forty four days remained cooped aboard their ships. This incident became known as the “The Iloilo Fiasco”

            - Demy Sonza from the book, ILOILO A Rich and Noble Land

On January 19, 1899 this two page illustrated spread appeared in the Illustrated News of Leipzig * translated from the original Old German by Ilonggo-German Josef Lacson Arroyo Montilla Sagemuller

The Americans before Iloilo

 According to the most recent news, the situation of the North Americans in the Philippines has taken a very serious turn. It is a question of principle if the (American) Union should lay its ambitious hand permanently or temporarily on the rich east Asian archipelago has become apparent that it is a question of power if the Americans will be able to take Iloilo, the capital of the island of Panay without having this important place destroyed by insurgents, or whether the star-spangled banner will even have to be taken down in Manila. That the situation currently has taken a turn for the worse is entirely the fault of the Americans who gave weapons to the Filipinos at the onset of the (Philippine) Spanish War and thereby recognizing them as a belligerent power and to top it all even signed an agreement with the bold insurgent chief Aguinaldo in Singapore in April 1898.

The Imperial German Vice Consulate

 With the preliminary peace treaty signed 12 of August (1899) in Washington has left the fate of the hilippines in limbo because a few days afterward, Manila surrendered to the American landing forces, the American government insisted that aside from Cuba and Puerto Rico, the Philippines be handed over to the United States and enforced this demand despite stubborn opposition of Spanish delegates at Treaty of Paris 12th of December. On the 4th of January the peace treaty was presented to the Senate in Washington was referred to the committee on Foreign Affairs. In the senate there is a strong tendency against the annexation of the Philippines however without gaining the majority in the higher body.

A street in Iloilo

The executive power of the Union has not been waiting for decisions of the law makers and has already made resolutions that the Philippines henceforth will remain attached to the dominion of the United States. The instructions telegraphed by President McKinley to General Otis, the highest commanding officer in Manila arranged for the preliminary establishment of an American military administration in the archipelago and opening of ports that are in the possession of the US to international trade subject to the payment of duties. Aguinaldo who was recently surrounded himself with the war-minded cabinet of Mabini responded with the manifesto in which he raises an objection against General Otis as military governor of the Philippines and assures that never agreed to the recognition of the sovereignty of the United States. Meanwhile the government in Washington ordered the deployments of the gun boats USS Princeton, Northtown (?) and Bennington. Aside from the three already assigned to depart, a fourth infantry regiment was ordered to embark to East Asia. In a recently issued proclamation, Aguinaldo again threatened to banish the Americans from the islands hold them responsible should blood flow.

The interior port of Iloilo

Then events took a fateful turn: on the 18th of December, Otis ordered General Miller to deploy to Iloilo an expedition corps comprised of infantry and artillery regiments while Iloilo was still under Spanish occupation. However, before Miller arrived at his destination, the Spanish General Rios cleared his troops from Iloilo and consolidated all of his remaining forces in the southern Philippines in Zamboanga at the extreme southwest corner in the island of Mindanao.  On the 26th of December the insurgents entered Iloilo and established an administrative authority in the city and put up guards to protect the property of the foreigners. It was only after the 28th that the American expedionary forces reached Iloilo. The insurgents put up barricades in the city and braced against an attack by General Miller. The foreigners fled on board the British cruiser Bonaventura. Otis deployed reinforcement and Admiral Dewey sent the gunboats Concord and Petrel. While General Miller prepared for the Iloilo attack in Guimaras island in front of Iloilo, the insurgents in Manila gathered for a counter attack.  The situation here became so alarming; General Miller received orders to retreat to Manila where the American troops were to assemble.

Plaza Alfonso XII and the southern part of Iloilo with a view over Guimaras Island

The turmoil in the Philippines has increased due to the fact that the peace treaty between the US and Spanish crown the by no means enviable fate of the Spanish prisoners fallen into the hands of the insurgent Tagalogs has taken a turn for the better. Although the Washington cabinet has pledged to take responsibility for the release of the prisoners in the Philippines. Spanish Minister for Foreign affairs the Duke of Almodovar has repeatedly reminded the Americans of their commitment. If there has been no satisfactory answer from Washington is because of the fact that the Americans are trying to find a way to keep up their promise with regards to the Spanish prisoners. Because the Tagalogs firmly refuse to deliver the prisoners to General Otis because they not wrongly fear that this accommodation would be recognition of American rule over the Philippines. Aguinaldo would rather deal with Spain but he will not release the Spanish merchants and officials before the deported Tagalog have received their freedom. With regards to the officers and soldiers, they will stay as prisoners of war as long as Spain addresses this matter directly with the government of the Republic of the Philippines and thus bestow international recognition on the newly-fledged republic. The release of the monks or friars highly unpopular with the Tagalogs is dependent on the concession of the Roman Curia (Vatican).

Landscape near Iloilo during low tide and sunset

       The previously mentioned Spanish General Rios has made the announcement to the Spanish government that they should not expect a successful brokering because of their strained relationship with the insurgents and Rios himself would seek a satisfactory solution to the problem. Spanish Premier Sagasta, (Prexedes Mateo 1825-1903) also had his doubts and after the approval of all his colleague decided to authorize General Rios to proceed with his proposal.

Salog Village in Guimaras

The recently much mentioned city of Iloilo is the most important of the Visayan island of Panay and lies on the southeast coast of the said island and is on a narrow strait which separates Panay from Negros and made narrower by the Guimaras Island. Iloilo is blessed with a good natural port and engages in a lively trading with the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao. Some German businesses from Manila have established branches here as well as the British and Swiss. Iloilo is an open city and is only defended by a fort against surprise attacks.

A village in Negros