GUEVARA TO LOCAL CHIEFS, JANUARY 8, 1902

Exhibit 1364.

[Original in Spanish. L.S. P.I.R., 1074.5.]

JANUARY 8, 1902.

To the local chiefs named in margin:

(Tubig, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan, Lanang, Hernani, Salcedo and Mercedes.)

Eugenio Daza, major of Infantry, now in these military headquarters, has made an exact report to me of the booty of war taken by him in the glorious flight of Balangiga, as on account of the immediate appearance of the enemy's war ships in that town, from which the bolomen were obliged to retreat to different points with the articles taken, he could only take the amount of arms and ammunition as stated to you in the circular from headquarters, namely 75 rifles and 40,000 cartridges, which afterwards, with the addition of another 50 rifles placed in two cases, and 10,000 cartridges, amounts in all to 125 rifles end 50,000 cartridges. Furthermore, among the killed of the enemy were a major, a captain and a lieutenant, this report being confirmed by the new American volunteer, Mr. William Denton, who formerly belonged to that detachment.

The rumor of the uprising in Guivan is confirmed by Seņor Daza himself, 50 rifles having been taken from the dead together with much ammunition, and one gunboat with a rapid firing gun having been sunk. The uprising resulted from some residents of the town who were to be deported to Guam, conspiring with the people of the town for this purpose.

In the town of San Julian on that coast 1,040 cartridges were taken from the enemy.

After a slight skirmish with the enemy on board a launch on the river Gandara, our soldiers seized 8 rifles and some ammunition, and also the launch, the bodies of the victims being thrown into the water.

Lieutenant Colonel Abuke took the enemy's position in Afano (La Granja) capturing 54 rifles and much ammunition.

Recently one of our saltpeter works was raided, but on the demand of an American for the knife of a workman, the 1atter handed it to him in the sheath, and scarcely had the former taken it by the point when the Filipino snatched the blade with which he stabbed the American in the stomach, killing him, the said workman securing his rifle and ammunition. The cowardly companions of the unfortunate man fled.

The local chief of Basay, in a communication recently received in these headquarters, informed me that with his guerrilla de lantaca alone (guerrillas armed with native guns) had several hard fights in that town on the 7th and 8th of November of last year, the enemy invariably coming of second best, and finally being obliged to retreat from the field with a considerable number of casualties, which, according to report, amounts to 63. Among them was a captain, the chief of the detachment. There were no losses on our side. Furthermore, a boloman on the same town, on the 27th of the same month, withstood two armed Americans, killing one and putting the other to fight, after which he took possession of the dead man's arms.

As you see in these brilliant exploits, our side is always triumphant the longer the struggle continues, in spite of the invader being powerful and his forces increasing; for while we continue loyal as we have up the present time, we shall, at no remote day, attain our adored ideal, liberty and independence.

In conclusion I wish to remind you of the circular issued by the superior politico-military headquarters with regard to planting the most necessary crops; and knowing your patriotism, I have entire con· fidence in all of you; but I warn you that at the same time that I would be very sorry to find a transgressor, as I would be obliged to punish him most severely.

God preserve you many years.

CAMP OF SAMAR, January 8, 1902.

(Signed) C. GUEVARA,
2nd Military Chief.